Coming Soon:   Your Driver’s License May Not Be Enough For Airport Security……..

Coming Soon: Your Driver’s License May Not Be Enough For Airport Security……..

As a result of laws enacted by Congress in 2005, passengers traveling on January 22 and beyond will need a ‘compliant’ driver’s license in order to clear security at airports in most US states.

The ‘Real ID Act’ requires enhanced identification to be put in place by January 22, 2018.   This basically meant that your basic driver’s licenses needed to be updated with either barcode or ‘RFID’ technology that would contain more information than what is printed on the license.   28 States and  several US territories are currently compliant to the new standard, while 22 states received extensions to implement the changeover.

For residents traveling from states that have already enacted the ‘compliant’ licenses, they’ll have to provide the enhanced ID when clearing security, otherwise they run the risk of not be allowed through security.    For residents in states that have been granted extensions to implementing the new ID program, you can continue traveling on your current ID.  However, it may be wise to carry another official ID such as a passport or Global Entry card as a backup piece of ID.

The map below shows which states are already part of the Real ID program and which states are operating under an extension.   States shaded in Green are already compliant, while the yellow states are those with extensions.

 

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Map courtesy of CNBC.com

 

 

So for example, if you are a Texas resident, you need to use your ‘Real ID’ license on January 22, otherwise you will need to show additional ID (Passport, Global Entry Card, etc) if you wish to clear security.    According to the TSA, if a resident of a ‘Real ID’ state shows up at security without the right ID and the TSA can’t prove the identity at screening, the passenger can be prevented from traveling.

Another example…..  If you are a Michigan resident (a state under extension), you can still use your normal driver’s license at security.   According to the TSA, if you are a resident of a state that is currently under extension, and are traveling from a state already in compliance you should be OK to use your Michigan license (i.e. Michigan resident flying from Texas).   But if we know anything, it’s that the TSA rules can be interpreted differently by each ‘officer’, so it might make sense that if you are in a state that is under extension to take along your Passport or Global Entry card as a back-up piece of ID.

Regardless of the changes coming on January 22, it will be required of all residents of all states to have a ‘Real ID’ Driver’s License by October 1, 2020.    At that point only Real ID Licenses will be acceptable, otherwise you’ll need to provide another valid ID, such as a passport or other officially recognized piece of identification.

The TSA expects this to go smoothly.

Where have we heard that before! 🙂


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LUFTHANSA Updates 747 Operations Between Frankfurt and Berlin

LUFTHANSA Updates 747 Operations Between Frankfurt and Berlin

In the days following their takeover of most of Air Berlin’s routes, Lufthansa has deployed their 747s on certain flights between Berlin and Frankfurt to help move passengers between hubs.

Initially, plans called for the 747s to stay on the route for certain flights until November 30.   Due to load factors, LH has now extended this strategy to at least December 21, primarily to help manage increased passenger traffic during the Christmas season.

Keep in mind that not ever flight between Frankfurt and Berlin is operated by a 747.  In fact, only 28 flights in total will fly between the 2 cities between December 1 and December 21.  All other flights between the city pair will be operated by A321 aircraft.


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More Plane Spotting From Zurich……

More Plane Spotting From Zurich……

As I find time to go through and process photos taken from my transfers through Zurich a few weeks ago, I’ve come up with the next batch of shots that I think are worthy of being posted.

Having a 13 hour layover on the outbound and a 7 hour layover on the inbound segments gave me plenty of time.

These shots were taken from the SWISS First Class Lounge in Terminal ‘E’ which gives you a fantastic view of all of ZRH’s runways.   The only issue is that the sun is not your best friend during most of the day because it either ‘back lights’ or ‘top lights’ the aircraft so it’s tougher to get a nice vibrant profile of any plane.

Regardless, ZRH is still one of the best all-around airports to spot in and is extremely ‘spotter friendly’ whether you are in a pre- or post security part of the airport or outside the airport property altogether and just hanging around the perimeter fences with your ladder looking for that perfect shot.

I’ll post more as I get through them.

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SWISS 777 Spools up for departure…….

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Austrian’s Dash8 is Vienna bound….

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Another one heading for Vienna…..

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Delta’s 767 departing towards the Alps before turning west for the USA

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Dubai-bound Emirates A380

a plane on the runway

Arriving from Keflavik Airport in Iceland

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SWISS C-series sports a new livery…..

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A very clean C-Series arrives

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Thai’s 777 heading to Bangkok

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United 767 heading for the States…

 

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