Ahead of a spike in summer travel and deadline for "REAL IDs," the Transportation Security Administration is urging travelers to plan ahead. TSA had information set up at Love Field in Dallas Wednesday.
"Every state has a different design, but usually, a REAL ID-compliant document will have a star in the upper right-hand corner," says TSA's Patricia Mancha.
In Texas, a compliant driver license will have a white star inside a gold circle surrounded by a gold outline of Texas.
REAL IDs will be required for travel starting May 7. Mancha says TSA is setting up information kiosks now because the process to book an appointment at the DMV and get a new license can take time.
"It may be weeks or months ahead of the time you make your appointment," she says. "If you have a flight May 7 and you don't have a REAL ID, it may already be too late, but start that process now."
People who do not have a REAL ID can use a passport, Department of Homeland Security "Trusted Traveler" card, Department of Defense ID or another option listed at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification .
Mancha says if someone does come to a checkpoint without an approved identification starting May 7, TSA can verify that person's identity, but the process can take several hours.
"We may be able to validate who you are and allow you to fly, but we may not," she says. "There's no guarantee we'll be able to do it, do it quickly and you're going to be able to not miss your flight."
