What is the Real I.D.?
Starting on October 1, 2020, every US Territory and state resident will have to present a Real I.D. license or another form of acceptable identification to enter:
* Nuclear power plants
* Federal facilities
* A commercial aircraft
This is called card-based enforcement and the Real I.D. must be compliant unless the resident has an acceptable alternative document such as a passport.
The new regulation will not require such identification in areas where identification is not currently required to access a federal facility, such as public areas of the Smithsonian, nor does it prevent an agency from allowing other forms of identifying documents.
To board a commercial aircraft, even for domestic flights, you will have to have a Real Travel I.D. Driver's License or federally issued passport.
What about children?
In regard to children, the TSA does not currently require children under the age of 18 years to provide proof of identity as long as they are traveling in the United States with a companion.
The companion, however, will need to have an acceptable form of identification.
The bottom line:
Unless you choose to carry your passport when flying domestically, you need to contact your state's division of motor vehicles and find out how to apply for a Real Travel I.D. Driver's License.
