Thousands in Louisiana Could Be Banned From Flying as of May 2025

The state of air travel in the state of Louisiana has improved greatly over the past five years. In that five-year time frame, we've seen major improvements at New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport and at the Lafayette Regional Airport that serves Lafayette and Acadiana. It was just announced yesterday that air passengers traveling from Shreveport would have some new destinations, including Nashville, Tennessee, to choose from.

So the future for air travel in Louisiana is bright, assuming you take care of what you need to take care of. Part of having a brighter future means planning for that future and if you plan on boarding an aircraft at a Louisiana airport this spring, there is a step you'll want to consider taking.

We all know that since September 11, 2001, flying anywhere in the world has taken on a whole new level of security and responsibility. Airports around the world have devised and developed some amazing security procedures to stop "incidents" before they become "incidents." One way the transportation industry and national governments worldwide are doing that is by scrutinizing passengers even more before letting them board an aircraft.

This whole process harkens back to a lesson I learned as a child from my father. My dad would say, "A lock will only keep an honest man out; a thief will find a way." So, like Diogenes of Ancient Greek Mythology, TSA and other transportation security officials in the United States are "looking for honest travelers."

And the way they are doing that is through the Real ID program. The Real ID looks very much like your typical driver's license. The major physical difference between a regular ID and a Real ID is a "Gold Star" in the upper right-hand corner of the lD card. As of May 7th, you will not be able to board any aircraft on a domestic or international flight without a Real ID.

Of course, you could still board a plane using your valid passport or valid military ID. But why do that when getting a Real ID is as simple as visiting your local OMV office? You'll need to bring a birth certificate or passport, and two pieces of mail that have your name and address on them.

And that's all you need to do to upgrade to a Real ID. The cost of upgrading to a Real ID is the same as getting a standard driver's license or identification card. So, there is no additional fee to obtain your Real ID. There could be a convenience fee added should you choose to obtain your Real ID at an authorized Real ID-compliant third-party vendor. 

Remember May 7, 2025, is the current Real ID deadline across the country. Take action today so your spring and summer travel plans won't be thwarted by government red tape that's designed to keep you safe in the air.