Tagged: real-id

"The TSA’s New $45 Fee to Fly Without ID is Illegal," Says Regulatory Expert

On Sunday, February 1, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began charging travelers without REAL ID $45 to fly.This may come as a surprise, but no U.S. law requires you to…

TSA to Charge Travelers Without REAL ID an Extra Fee to Fly

Showing up at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint without a REAL ID or passport will cost you an extra fee to get through airport security. Under the new program, set…

Can You Fly with an Expired ID? Here's What the TSA Says

Turns out the Transportation Security Administration will let you fly with expired identification—and for a surprisingly long time. According to the federal agency's rules on valid…

TSA Tips for Getting Through Airport Security This Summer

Summer is upon us once again and you know what that means: way more people at the airport and all of them in front of you in the TSA line. The agency says it's "ready for the…

Flyers without REAL ID Asked to Arrive 3 Hours Early (Or Just Bring This Instead)

REAL ID is a case study of how constantly shifting politics in the United States makes it nearly impossible to get constructive long-term projects done. First developed in 2001 after a…

Don't Have a REAL ID? You Can Use These Forms of Identification Instead

Update, December 1, 2025: As of February 2026, the United States government will charge its citizens a $45 fee to fly if they go to the airport without a REAL ID. Read more about the…

What Documents Do I Need for REAL ID?

Update: Since publication of this post, REAL ID requirements went into place.The oft-postponed REAL ID deadline is almost here—only 17 years or so behind schedule. Passed by Congress…

Can I Fly Without an ID? TSA Rules for Lost or Stolen ID Cards

Needing to catch a flight after your ID has been lost or stolen is a scenario stressful enough to panic the coolest of cucumbers, especially if you're away from home and don't have…

How to Get a Copy of Your Birth Certificate for Travel

If you love to travel, sooner or later, you will need to show a government official your birth certificate to prove who you are. Birth certificates can unlock the ability to travel…

TSA Confirms Real ID Will Be Mandatory to Fly Starting May 7, 2025

This post was originally published in December 2022 and contains updated information.The deadline for all Americans to be using Real I.D., the strengthened identification format that…

Can I Cruise with Just a Driver's License?

Despite tightened modern security requirements, there's a loophole that allows American passengers to cruise the Caribbean and other destinations without using a passport.In some…

Pandemic Forces a 19-Month Delay in Real ID Enforcement at Airports

Many notorious fibs have been told to modern travelers: High-speed rail is coming soon. Competition will make airline service better. Mergers will give travelers more choice. But among…

This Year, You Finally, Really, Truly Need Real ID to Fly

Update, April 27, 2021: Guess what? The government delayed Real ID yet again. Click here to read about the new deadline.We really mean it this time: Real ID becomes mandatory at U.S.…

Arthur Frommer: Americans Remain Unaware of the Looming Real ID Requirement

Update, February 1, 2021: The deadline for Real ID has been postponed to October 1, 2021. October 1, 2020. That date, only seven months away, is when the new Real ID requirement…

Tour Operator to Pay Passport Fees for Travelers Age 18–35

More than half of Americans age 18–35 don't have passports, according to Contiki, a tour operator specializing in that very demographic.For a limited time, Contiki is offering some…

Now Is the Best Time to Apply for or Renew a U.S. Passport, Says State Department

If you need to apply for or renew a U.S. passport, the best time to do so is right now, according to the U.S. State Department.Processing times are shortest between September and…

Bulletproof Wall Around the Eiffel Tower, U.S. Passport Time Crunch, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Today's update is all about entry requirements and restrictions. * BULLETPROOF WALL SOON TO SURROUND BASE OF EIFFEL TOWER (Condé Nast Traveler)A wall is being…

Put These Free Travelers' Services On Your Speed Dial

Even though we'd prefer otherwise, not everyone carries Frommer's guidebooks with them everywhere they go. But that's okay: you still have a powerful travel information tool with you…