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Real ID Act

I’ve posted about the Real ID Act previously. This is what came out of Independent Traveler. More sites have additional information.
In some states, your driver’s license soon might not be good enough to board a flight, even if you’re traveling within the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security said it will be making a decision this week.
Before you start worrying, there are a boatload of caveats: The government’s decision will apply only to people in a handful of states. It wouldn’t take effect until at earliest the end of April. And DHS could still decide to postpone its decision, according to a DHS spokeswoman.
Why your driver’s license soon might not be good enough to board a flight
Ten years ago, the U.S. government passed the Real ID Act, issuing stricter standards for state-issued IDs, including drivers licenses. The idea was to toughen standards on what documents were needed to get a driver’s license, an effort to crack down on the potential for terrorists and criminals to obtain state-issued IDs. The act makes it harder to obtain a drivers license with counterfeit records.
Fewer than half (22) of the states have complied with the law.
Though the law states that noncompliant IDs cannot be used to board domestic flights, DHS and the TSA have not been enforcing that standard. But DHS has said it would make an announcement about enforcing the law on air travelers — and what that means for fliers — before the end of 2015. And here we are, in the last week of 2015.
Once the rules are enforced, affected travelers will likely need a passport or another valid government ID to fly.
The good news is that the majority of fliers in noncompliant states aren’t at risk anytime soon: 19 states have been granted waiver extensions through October 10, 2016, and four states are currently under review for an extension.
Five states are noncompliant
That leaves just five states that have been deemed noncompliant, have not been granted an extension and do not have extensions under review.
1.       Illinois;
2.       Minnesota;
3.       Missouri;
4.       New Mexico;
5.       Washington
But even if you live in those states, don’t fret just yet: DHS hasn’t issued its schedule for enforcement. If and when it does, there still will be 120 days notice before the TSA no longer accepts their IDs.
And the situation is fluid: Those states could still appeal DHS’ decision not to grant a waiver extension, the DHS spokeswoman said.
Four states’ waiver extensions are pending review
These states applied for waiver extensions, and DHS is still reviewing their requests. All of these states were previously granted waivers that are set to expire on January 10, 2016.
1.       Alaska;
2.       California;
3.       New Jersey;
4.       South Carolina
19 states have been granted waiver extensions
Except for New Hampshire, all of these states’ waiver extensions are set to expire on October 10, 2016. New Hampshire’s extension lasts through June 1, 2016.
1.       Arizona;
2.       Arkansas;
3.       Idaho;
4.       Kentucky;
5.       Louisiana;
6.       Maine;
7.       Massachusetts;
8.       Michigan;
9.       Montana;
10.   New Hampshire;
11.   New York;
12.   North Carolina;
13.   North Dakota;
14.   Oklahoma;
15.   Oregon;
16.   Pennsylvania;
17.   Rhode Island;
18.   Texas;
19.   Virginia
22 states comply with the law
These states, along with Washington, D.C., already have issued drivers’ licenses that comply with the Real ID Act.
1.       Alabama;
2.       Colorado;
3.       Connecticut;
4.       Delaware;
5.       Florida;
6.       Georgia;
7.       Hawaii;
8.       Indiana;
9.       Iowa;
10.   Kansas;
11.   Maryland;
12.   Mississippi;
13.   Nebraska;
14.   Nevada;
15.   Ohio;
16.   South Dakota;
17.   Tennessee;
18.   Utah;
19.   Vermont;
20.   West Virginia;
21.   Wisconsin;
22.   Wyoming
Stay tuned…this is just one website’s information.

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Lost luggage

You’ve patiently waited for all the bags to take their turn on the conveyor belt. No more seem to be exiting the chute. And, yet, yours is not there. You couldn’t have missed the bright red tape on the handles. Surely no one else took it.

It’s lost.

What do you do?

First, make sure you have the baggage claim ticket. You know those things the check in counter staples to your envelope or hands to you? Don’t immediately discard that little piece.

Most airlines have a counter or office in the baggage claim area. Talk to them and fill out the missing luggage form. It’s possible your bag was sent to the wrong place and you’ll have it in a couple of days. If it is truly lost, you can file a claim for damages. Keep in mind…you will have to make a list of everything that was in your bag. Whew!

And, you will only receive the depreciated value for those items in your bag. You know those shoes you paid $500 for just last year in Venice? You won’t receive $500. Bummer.

So, don’t pack valuable, essential, or priceless items in your checked bag. Make sure your name and address are clearly marked on your bag. Add contact info to the inside of your bag. When the ticket counter puts the destination tag on the bag and hands you the claim ticket, make sure it reads the correct destination. AND…hang on to the claim ticket.

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Cancelled Flights Due to Unforeseen Issues

With the recent events in Paris, many people visiting or there on vacation weren’t sure what to do first or how to get back to the US. Check out these tips from a fellow traveler who was there.

Always have your airline phone number in your phone. Put your current flight information there as well. Then, contact the airline as soon as possible to rebook your flight. In times of a situation like Paris, airlines are aware and will usually do what they can to help.

If you have a relative or friend in the US, call them to see if they can get through to the airline quicker than you can.

Keep your phone charged.

When you need to get to the airport, get there much earlier than normal. There will be lines of people.

Stay patient.

If you’ve registered with the State Department, STEP, you will have access to the local embassy. This helps both you and your family or friends in the US.

Call your phone carrier and request temporary international cell service.

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Do you know where you parked?

Two weeks ago you parked your car in the airport long term parking lot and left on a fantastic vacation to Europe.

Now, you’ve picked up your luggage, made it through customs, and arrived at the shuttle bus stop. All you need is to remember where you parked your car.

If you had taken a photo on your phone of the section where you parked…you’d be able to pull it up and head right to it. If not, you could always try to remember. I’m sure you’ll find it.

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Where are my car keys?

Let’s say you’ve been gone for 10 days. When you parked at the airport parking lot, you stashed your car keys in a pocket or in your carry on bag. After all, you won’t need them for 10 days.

Now you’re riding the shuttle to your car…and you can’t find your keys.

Plan ahead and find the keys before you get on the shuttle to the parking lot. If you’ve really lost them, you can deal with it at the airport terminal instead of standing in the dark by your car taking everything out of your bag.

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Ship Those Gifts

Traveling this holiday season? Taking gifts with you? You do know you have to leave your gifts unwrapped per TSA guidelines, don’t you?

Have you thought about shipping the gifts ahead of time? If you have several packages or ones that are awkward to pack, you might be better off shipping them ahead of time and not worrying about how to get everything packed.