TravelSkills

News and Tips For Your Trips

Frequent flyers may need a new driver’s license – but when?

Real ID

Current map for compliance with federal Real ID standards (Image: TSA)

There’s been a lot of coverage recently about states with driver’s licenses that do not meet the requirements of the federal Real ID law, and whether travelers holding those licenses might have to bring a passport to the airport as an alternative ID. Now it seems that many state driver’s licenses (including California’s) do not comply with that law – but there’s some question about how soon they need to be replaced.

Over the weekend, we heard from readers concerned about  scary headlines such as “Californians will have to pay for new ID cards soon.” They breathlessly told readers that “Your current California driver’s license or ID card soon won’t be accepted by the TSA.” But a few paragraphs further, they said that new Real ID-compliant licenses won’t be needed until October 1, 2020. Three years away doesn’t seem very soon.

So there is no need for Californians to rush out and get a new license before January 18. You can rest easy. For a while…

California will start to issue Real ID compliant licenses in 2018, but TSA will not require them until 2020. (Image: California DMV)

The California Department of Motor Vehicles, now says on its website that “A valid California driver license or ID card (i.e., not a Real ID-compliant one) can be used to board a commercial flight or enter secure federal facilities until October 1, 2020.”

The confusion came when the DMV also said it will make Real ID-compliant licenses available starting next year, and will start taking applications for them January 22, 2018. Readers and editors thought that mean the deadline to get a new license was January 18 when in fact it’s not until 2020.

Regrettably, the TSA has done a poor job keeping travelers and the media abreast of correct, current and consistent information about new Real ID requirements. Our requests to TSA for clearer information remain unanswered.

For example, the information and links in this statement on the TSA website make it sound like California will not be compliant while state DMV site says that it is.

  • TSA: “Starting January 22, 2018, passengers with a driver’s license issued by a state that is still not compliant with the REAL ID Act (and has not been granted an extension) will need to show an alternative form of acceptable identification for domestic air travel to board their flight.  To check whether your state is compliant or has an extension, click here.  Passengers with driver’s licenses issued by a state that is compliant with REAL ID (or a state that has been issued an extension) will still be able to use their driver’s licenses or identification cards.”

Californians should just be aware that if they want to use their driver’s licenses as an ID to get through TSA screening at the airport, they have plenty of time to get a new one that complies with the law.

Phew! No matter what state you are from, it’s a good idea to simply travel with your passport (or similar ID) whenever you plan to board a plane. Mine is now permanently packed in my go-bag. What about you? 

 

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Kicking “support animals” off the plane

service dog, plane

A great dane “service dog” riding in first class on the Delta California shuttle between SFO & LAX (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Frequent travelers have no doubt seen some strange things in passenger cabins, including a surprising variety of so-called “emotional support animals” (ESAs) – critters that are allowed to fly with human companions who say they just can’t travel without their furry friends close at hand. But now some airlines want to kick the menagerie off the plane.

According to Aviation Daily, carriers including United, JetBlue and Delta are asking the Transportation Department to amend its rules to ban emotional support animals from passenger cabins. 

What kind of animals are we talking about? The most common, of course, are dogs – and there are plenty of stories about passengers falsely claiming their canines are support animals so that they can fly with them in the cabin instead of the cargo hold, or just to gain access to an up-front seat. Or they are simply trying to avoid the additional cost or burden of shipping the animal in the cargo hold?

support dog

Is this cute pup really necessary for emotional support? (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Why are they allowed in the first place? Aviation Daily notes that the laws aren’t in sync on the issue – The Americans with Disabilities Act recognizes “service animals” like dogs trained to assist with the blind, but not “emotional support animals (ESAs).” The Air Carrier Access Act, however, does recognize ESAs and thus requires airlines to accommodate them, unless they are creepy things like snakes, rodents and spiders.

Check out United’s rules here, which distinguish between “service” and “support” animals. Service animals are allowed with few questions. However, “support” animals require a form/note from a doctor attesting to the patient’s need to travel with the animal. And an online cottage industry has sprung up to help pet owners do just that. Here’s a video that explains how:

According to pet behaviorist Cesar Millan’s website, Cesar’s Way, “Recently, some people have been abusing the system. They pass their dog off as a service dog even though they don’t have a disability and the dog hasn’t been trained for a specific task. Not only is this wrong and an abuse of the system, but it can also be disruptive and dangerous for legitimate service dogs.Some states are taking fake service dogs so seriously that they’ve enacted laws making it a crime. In California and Florida, it is a misdemeanor to fraudulently misrepresent a service animal. In California, the penalty can include both a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Florida’s punishment is a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail plus 30 hours of community service, preferably for an organization serving people with disabilities.”

Nonetheless, there are all kinds of other creatures that are sharing the passenger cabin these days. Travel + Leisure magazine found instances of weird ESAs including turkeys, pigs, tortoises, miniature horses and kangaroos. If you think they’re kidding, just Google the term “service animal on plane” and click on “Images,” and you’ll find photos of these and more.

What do you think, readers? Is the system being abused? Should there be tighter rules around which animals are allowed onboard planes? Please leave your comments below. 

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