When Christa Andrews, an advisor with Practically Perfect Vacations in Lake Orion, Mich., saw that Real ID enforcement would be implemented at TSA checkpoints on May 7, and there would no longer be a phased approach, she quickly posted a notice on her Facebook page.
"Heads up, U.S. travelers!" she wrote. "We're less than a month away from a major change to airport security procedures: the rollout of Real ID enforcement."
She put a breakdown of what it would mean for travelers. "Don't wait until the last minute," she added. "Check your ID now, and make sure you're ready to fly without delays."
Andrews has long been keeping her clients updated about Real ID. But the latest TSA directive was different.
"The change in approach has definitely prompted me to be more proactive," she said. "I'm taking extra time to ensure my upcoming travelers are fully informed about the updated requirements so there are no surprises as we get closer to the deadline."
The TSA said April 11 that flyers who do not have Real IDs or an acceptable alternative, such as a passport, will have to have their identification verified at airports, starting May 7.
Who has Real ID (and who doesn't)?
Most advisors said they are not overly concerned about their clients, who mostly have Real IDs or passports, in part because they have done so much outreach about it.
But still, the new language from the TSA that doesn't mention the term "phased approach" is likely to catch some travelers off guard.
"As much as the TSA and local governments have been talking about Real ID for years, any member of the traveling public who isn't using an advisor is likely to have quite a bit of confusion about what exactly they need to do and when," said Michael Schottey, ASTA's vice president of membership and communications. "Not only has the shifting deadlines encouraged some of that confusion, the fact we've been talking about this for years likely means many consumers will drown the news out," he added.
Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations/CruiseOne, agreed, and added that the many delays in implementation might have made the public complacent.
Real ID was supposed to go into effect in 2020, so some travelers might have brushed off the 2025 implementation date.
"This is where the value of a travel advisor really presents itself," he said. "Having those conversations can help prepare clients and allow them to focus to make sure all their documents are up to date.
"This could be a good reason to reach out to a client you haven't heard from in a while," he suggested.
Peter Vlitas, executive vice president of partner relations for Internova Travel Group, said most Internova clients already have Real ID, Global Entry or a passport card, in part because Internova's travel agency brands have been sending out emails, conducting webinars and including the deadline on all itineraries to make sure everyone is aware.
"We've been advising and assisting our clients in obtaining a Real ID, and when processing passport renewals, we've encouraged everyone to also get a passport card so they can avoid going to the [Department of Motor Vehicles]," he said.
Vlitas said he suspects those most affected will be those who don't travel often and the elderly who may not actually have the proper government ID. "I do hope that they have given the TSA discretion in such cases" to work with those travelers, he said.
For some, 'zero Real ID appointments'
But even travelers who use advisors but mostly travel domestically may not have passports or a Real ID.
Since the majority of Andrews' clients take domestic trips, "I do have some concern about whether they're fully aware of the upcoming Real ID requirements and whether they have the proper documentation," she said. "It's definitely something I try to bring up early in the planning process to avoid any last-minute surprises."
Obtaining a Real ID this close to the deadline won't be easy for some. New Jersey residents, for example, are required to book an appointment at a Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) office to obtain a Real ID; a check on the MVC's scheduling website on April 16 showed no available times at any location in the state.
Chelsea Barrows, a mother of three in northern New Jersey, is among those who don't travel often and doesn't have a Real ID or valid passport.
Last week, she decided she would either cancel plans to travel to Florida this summer or drive rather than take a chance she can get through with the additional screening at the airport.
"There are just zero Real ID appointments available," she said.
Robert Silk contributed to this report.