After all the commotion over the adaptation of the REAL ID in airports in our country, the TSA has confirmed that not everything is going as planned and that many travelers have had problems validating their new identifications when boarding flights.
In places like Maine and New Hampshire, many travelers have found that their brand-new REAL ID licenses could not be scanned when passing through security… Wow… The worst part is that the error was not their fault! The problem came from technical failures, both in the machines that issue the licenses and in the airport scanners themselves.
Other airports have reported that REAL ID licenses could not be scanned when passing through TSA security, and no, it was not the passengers’ fault again, so that identification that promised so much security is not working as it should…
Is it fair for travelers when an identification they spent money and time on does not work?
What is the REAL ID
All this comes from the REAL ID Act, a law passed in 2005 to standardize official identifications across the country and prevent fraud. The plan was simple: raise the security level of documents so that flying within the U.S. would be safer. But between delays and postponements, it was not until 2025 that it was finally applied.
Since May, if you want to board a domestic flight you need to carry a document that complies with this regulation (the famous golden star in the card). It can be your driver’s license with the REAL ID seal, a passport or some other identification approved by the Department of Homeland Security.
Technical problems in Maine…
Maine has seen several passengers complain that their licenses could not be scanned at TSA security. The problem is that the new licenses were misprinted!!! The state has already fixed this error and offered free replacements to those affected, but it was frustrating and very much so…
Incidents in New Hampshire
In the case of New Hampshire it was different, the licenses were well printed but the redesign of the documents caused the TSA verification system not to recognize them, a system error. More wasted time for users…
And if your REAL ID does not work?
The TSA has reminded that no traveler will be prevented from flying because of a technical failure in the reading of their document… If your license cannot be scanned, there will be other ways to verify your identity, a manual check, another official document… But is it fair after they pushed us to renew our license and now it does not work?
So, if you can, carry an additional document just in case, and arrive early at the airport… We do not want to miss any flight.
A challenge for airport security
The goal of the REAL ID was to strengthen security and prevent passenger identity theft, especially after that fateful 9/11, but in practice, this first phase has made it clear that there are still many things to improve. Authorities say these are isolated failures, but passengers who experienced this uncomfortable moment do not agree at all…
Trust at stake for the TSA
The arrival of the REAL ID marks a new way of traveling in the country, but the challenge remains to fine-tune the system and prevent passengers from suffering this type of inconvenience…
Meanwhile, the most advisable thing is to stay informed, have an extra document and arrive early at the airport. Because even if the failures are considered minor, for the traveler who suffers them, the experience can be anything but fun… What’s going on with TSA?