Some Americans have found a new way to make their domestic travels a lot easier, and no, it’s not getting a REAL ID; in fact, the exact opposite of that. It’s truly a humorous turn, given how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has mandated getting a REAL ID to board domestic flights. The new policy went into effect on May 7. As the deadline approached, a nationwide panic sparked, prompting many people to stand in line at the local DMV facility to get this required document.
However, some Americans are using this to their advantage. Due to this new policy, TSA had to split pre-checks into separate lanes at certain airports. For instance, officials tweeted that at Santa Barbara airport in California, those without a REAL ID need to go through a separate security check, while those with the document could directly go through TSA.
While this seems like a hassle for those who don’t have the document, it’s quite the opposite in reality. The U.S. Homeland Security announced that those without a REAL ID could still board domestic flights until the rule goes into effect. According to the agency’s Secretary Kristi Noem, the lines for non-REAL ID-compliant identification are much shorter, because 81% of Americans now possess the document.
On Social media, various travelers described their experience of going through screening for non-REAL ID users. One flyer wrote on X, Just skipped the entire 250-person line for security at the airport because I don’t have a Real ID. Had to be sent to the crew/captains’ line. Convenient and hassle-free with zero wait. I would advise all to stick to standard state-issued ID.”
Just skipped the entire 250 person line for security at airport because I don’t have Real ID. Had to be sent to crew/captains line. Convenient and hassle free with zero wait. I would advise all to stick to standard state issued ID.
— DJR_III (@DJR_III) May 11, 2025
Another wrote on Reddit how shocked he was to walk through an empty airport in Oklahoma City on May 7. He described that there was a man who approached the non-REAL ID line instead and ended up moving faster than those who had the document.
“What happened next made me chuckle at all the doomsday predictions: he gets to the front, where there is no agent checking identification,” he wrote.
“Instead, the agent standing nearby told him that he would be next and hollered over to his colleague who was checking in a family, effectively getting him ahead of the General and Precheck lines!” the user added.
Another American with a state-issued ID claimed, “Got to airport early so decided to see what happens if you don’t have REAL ID. Hid my passport and ironically the line they sent me through was shorter than TSA Pre.” One person declared on X, “No Real ID ‘special screening line’ is quicker than TSA pre-check.”
As it seems many passengers, especially those who couldn’t get the document after the deadline passed, are now using the loophole as the latest airport hack to get through security checkpoints faster.
