BNA adjusts to REAL ID enforcement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Wednesday, May 7, is the first day that the REAL ID requirements are being enforced. There were some concerns that this would cause long lines or frustration at the airport. Luckily, that wasn’t the case at the Nashville International Airport (BNA).

“Operations are running as normal. You wouldn’t know that there was a change really today,” TSA spokesperson Mark Howell said.

Travelers arriving from airports across the country say it’s been smooth sailing there too.

“Most people were prepared, and it seems like they either had their passport or REAL ID,” one traveler said.

TSA says in part they’re not experiencing long lines because so many people remembered to bring a REAL ID or other compliant form of identification like a passport. They said out of the 30,000 travelers at BNA only 10% didn’t have one. Across the country they said more than 80% of air travelers have had a compliant ID.

“We’ve seen a small handful of people that have not had their REAL ID, compliant ID or another acceptable form,” Howell said.

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For most, the panic was earlier this year to make sure they had a compliant ID before they traveled.

“I stumbled across it on Facebook in early February, so that’s when I realized ‘Oh shoot, our son needs a passport,’ so we were kind of scrambling,” another traveler said.

If you are traveling without one, you will likely still make it on the plane. It just will take longer, and you’ll have to go through an identity confirmation process. The details of which TSA are keeping vague for security reasons.

“The additional screening is going to be random and a little bit unpredictable. So it’s not the same thing every time. We don’t want people to know what’s coming. So you’ll find out really when you get into the checkpoint,” Howell said.

They are recommending if you don’t have a compliant ID to get to the airport at least three hours early to give yourself time to get through security.