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Today's post is an introduction to two important changes coming in May.
- Real ID Enforcement Division
- It's about the introduction of Southwest baggage fees.
Before we get started, here's a quick rundown of the card offers that are coming to an end.
Capital One's limited-time offer for the Venture card is reportedly ending on 5/12.
It's a pretty good offer for a card that could be worth at least $1,000 if you use it for travel expenses, so if you've been thinking about applying, don't miss the deadline.
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | |
|---|---|
| Signup bonuses | 75,000 'miles' after spending $4,000 for 3 months |
| For more info | You can apply through the partner site. |
So, let's get started with today's post.
1. Real ID Mandate for U.S. Domestic Boarding: Effective May 7th
After numerous delays, the REAL ID mandate finally kicks off this week.
A Real ID is a driver's license or ID card that has enhanced requirements for issuance under the REAL ID Act of 2005.
If your driver's license has a star in the upper right-hand corner, you already have a Real ID and don't need to apply for anything new. (Sometimes the star itself is golden or black, and sometimes it's on a golden/black background, like in the image below.)
https://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/files/ca-real-id-driverlic_graphic-with-bubble.jpg
In fact, many states, including Texas, have been issuing REAL IDs in their entirety for many years, so in those states, the 90% or higher on your current ID is called a REAL ID. For example, Texas is 981 TP3T, Hawaii is 961 TP3T, Utah is 961 TP3T, and Vermont is 921 TP3T..
But for one reason or another, some states have been slow to adopt and roll out.
New Jersey at 171 TP3T, Pennsylvania at 261 TP3T, and Washington and Maine at 271 TP3T each.so these states have a long way to go.
So does that mean you can't get on an airplane without a Real ID right now? No, it doesn't.
While not Real ID, there are several forms of identification that work just as well as Real ID for boarding domestic airplanes.
To cut to the chase,
- Passport (Korean passports are accepted as a matter of course)
- Permanent Resident Card
- Global Entry Physical Card
- U.S. Military ID (U.S. Military ID)
- Enhanced Driver's Licenses and identification cards (Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Washington)
And so on.
So, even if you don't have a Real ID right now, it's safe to say that you'll never be turned away from an airplane if you pack the above IDs.
However, no one can predict right now how long airport lines will be on May 7, so if you have travel plans right after May 7, you may want to consider arriving at the airport a little earlier than usual.
2. Southwest baggage fees are now fully implemented: starting with tickets issued on 5/28
"Bags Fly Free"
Free baggage is pretty much synonymous with Southwest, but this policy has changed and baggage costs will apply to tickets issued on or after 5/28.
- If you're ticketed by 5/27, you'll be able to send 2 bags under 50 lbs for free, the same as now.
- This means that tickets ticketed after 5/28 will be subject to baggage fees.
Exactly how much you'll have to pay hasn't been announced yet.
Considering that other US airlines charge $35 for the first bag and $50 for the second bag, I'm guessing they'll be priced at a similar level. I'm sure there will be some adjustments for credit card benefits, annual fees, etc.
I think there will be a lot of consumer backlash in the short term because it's removing an iconic airline benefit, but it will be interesting to see what the impact will be in the medium and long term.
Let's wrap up today's post.
I don't know if Real ID will cause significantly longer checkpoint lines at airports for a while.
If you're planning on traveling for the upcoming school holidays, it's a good idea to make sure you have your ID handy and get to the airport a little earlier than usual.
Featured image: 810324286 (Depositphotos)
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13 Comments. Leave new
I can't wait for tomorrow, it's Wednesday 5/7, hopefully the TSA and airports will be able to handle it.
There's a lot of talk about Real ID, but it's the most basic (lowest) level of federally recognized ID (among state-issued IDs). The higher level is the Enhanced, which is only issued to U.S. citizens (in only five states) and can be used in place of a U.S. passport card. There are quite a few other federally recognized IDs (Global Entry card, NEXUS, etc.). If you're traveling, don't worry too much about your state driver's license not being a Real ID, and check to see what other IDs are available.
I saw Enhanced as equivalent, but it's a higher tier card.
Thanks for the information.
So does that state give REAL ID to non-citizens?
I also want to apply, but I can't because I've been trying to extend my permanent residency for 2 years. When I first got my permanent residency, I was excited to finally not have to carry around all the f-1 documents, but the amount of documents has decreased, but I'm still carrying around a bunch of paper identifying my identity lol.
We're sorry to hear that, and we hope you get your updated card soon.
싸웨 너무 안타까운 소식이네요 흑흑
Just a suggestion for anyone who might have misunderstood, the following sentence in Mamo's tweet is a bit confusing (Sogeun)
"...the free bag policy is effective for tickets issued on 5/28."
Ah, I see, I was able to edit that to make it a bit clearer. Thanks.
What if I have a Korean passport but am undocumented? What if I entered the country on a 3-month visa and didn't leave, so I have a passport but that in itself is evidence of illegal immigration?
Oh, I don't know about that, TSA agents aren't immigration officers, so I don't think they're going to check if you have a visa, they're just going to check your passport, but I think you have to be a little more careful these days.
hello!
Good read^^.
Thanks to you, I booked my summer vacation flight before the Saweh rule change 🥹 .
This is such sad news.
Great job on the sharp cards and thanks as always!
Also, could you please put me on the signup list? Thank you.
Sway is changing the core benefit of the brand, so we'll have to see what happens.
Added.
Hi, I just got my Sahara Companion Pass and have tickets for my winter vacation, so please add me to the list. I'm always looking for help with wear and tear. Thank you.
Well done.
Added.