Today's Article

"We'll have staff in front of all our 2checkpoints to help and 3direct our customers as they 4transit through the 5security process."

After nearly 20 years of delays, airline travelers now need a state-6issued ID or driver's license that 7complies with the nationwide standards recommended by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005.

That means, no matter where it was issued, that ID has a star in the upper right corner.

"If it's not 8compliant, they may be 9diverted to a different line, have an extra step, but people will be allowed to fly."

Extra steps could include additional 10TSA screening and 11verification, even for those who use TSA PreCheck. The May 7th date, 12prompting a rush nationwide, from this busy Department of Motor Vehicles in Southern California Tuesday....

"I completely forgot about the 13deadline."

....to this massive line at this Real ID Supercenter in the Chicago Loop Wednesday. 

Travelers can still 14obtain Real IDs beyond Wednesday, and while Katy Nastro of travel website Going says it's best to get one 15sooner rather than later, there are other options.

"If you haven't traveled with a passport in quite a while, you might want to 16dust it off, because people actually can use that as a form of Real ID as they wait for an appointment or just in its place."

Other acceptable 17alternatives include: a trusted traveler card like Global Entry, a Department of Defense ID, a permanent resident card, and a veteran's health identification card, among others.