REAL ID is here: 5 things to know before flying

After 20 years of delays, the REAL ID deadline to fly commercial in the United States has landed. Here are five things to know before flying. 

On May 11, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the REAL ID Act into law to enhance national security in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Passed by the U.S. Congress, the act set federal standards for issuing identification cards, like driver's licenses. 

In addition to the compliance requirement to board a federally regulated commercial aircraft, beginning May 7, 2025, American adults will need a compliant ID to access certain federal facilities and enter nuclear power plants, according to the Department of...