Is a Global Entry Card considered a REAL ID?
Read today's edition of Gate Access • May 12th, 2025
Happy Monday. I hope you had an incredible Mother’s Day. Today’s edition of Gate Access is loaded with travel intel. First up, let’s squash a rumor: the REAL ID Act has not been pushed to 2027. Despite what you might’ve heard, it’s officially live.
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🚨 On The Radar
🟢 Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is upgrading its Plane Train system with 14 new Innovia 300R vehicles, aiming to boost capacity, cut wait times, and modernize operations by 2026. The expanded fleet will improve efficiency for the world’s busiest airport, serving over 108 million passengers annually.
🟢 Alvin Brown, recently appointed vice chair of the NTSB, has been dismissed in a move consistent with President Trump’s broader shake-up of independent federal agencies. The NTSB is critical to airline passenger safety, overseeing investigations into major transportation accidents—including aviation crashes. With the board now skewing heavily toward Trump appointees, the shake-up raises concerns about political influence on air safety oversight at a time when the NTSB is leading probes into high-profile incidents.
🟢 Delta Air Lines is set to adjust its boarding process for Delta 360° members, the airline's invitation-only elite tier. Effective May 16, 2025, these members will transition from pre-boarding to boarding in Zone 2, alongside Diamond Medallion members, following Delta One and First Class passengers.
🟢 United Airlines is launching its Starlink-powered in-flight Wi-Fi service this week, May 15, 2025, with the inaugural flight from Chicago O’Hare to Detroit. This initiative, in partnership with SpaceX, aims to equip over 1,000 aircraft with high-speed, low-latency internet, starting with regional jets and expanding to mainline aircraft by year-end.
An easy option to be REAL ID compliant? I share a tip in today’s extended version.
😳 Wild TSA Bag Checks
Not every cane at TSA is what it seems. Case in point: security officers at St. Louis International Airport recently discovered knives hidden inside walking canes.
Yep, actual blades.
This is exactly why all canes and walking sticks must go through the X-ray machine, no exceptions, no matter how innocent the traveler may appear.
When it comes to airport security, looks can be deceiving.
✈️ ATC Watch: Weekly Updates in Gate Access
The ongoing breakdown of America’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) system is too severe and too disruptive to ignore. That’s why starting this week, Gate Access will include a dedicated ATC Watch section to help you stay ahead of system failures that could impact your travel.
From staffing shortages to outdated infrastructure, what’s happening behind the scenes is not just bureaucratic noise; it’s causing real, measurable delays and flight chaos. These weekly updates will give you a clear, traveler-focused briefing so you can make smarter, safer travel decisions.
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Duffy held a press conference unveiling a historic plan: a full rebuild of the nation’s Air Traffic Control system from the ground up. This marks the most significant aviation infrastructure announcement in decades.
Price tag: The overhaul is expected to cost tens of billions, with $12 billion already confirmed in initial funding.
Timeline: While no formal launch date was given, the FAA confirmed that upgrades will occur in real time, with construction happening while the airspace remains active.
More on ATC Watch in today’s extended version of Gate Access. Upgrade to Paid
Cancel For Any Reason? Yep, It’s a Thing
Most travel insurance policies love a loophole, only reimbursing you if your cancellation fits a very specific list. But this Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) upgrade is gold. It’s one of the few options out there that actually lets you get reimbursed if you cancel for literally any reason.
Newark Airport Is in Crisis — Here’s What Travelers Need to Know
Happy Cinco De Mayo. The REAL ID Act officially takes effect this Wednesday, introducing a new layer of ID requirements for domestic air travel. If you're flying this week, plan to arrive early. It's still unclear how the rollout will affect security wait times, especially at major airports.
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👀 Is a Global Entry Card considered a REAL ID?
One of my favorite things about Gate Access is knowing that actual airline staff are subscribed and find value here. Yep, the people in uniform are here, learning alongside you, which just goes to show: no one knows everything.
And while we tend to assume the folks at the airport always have the final word, that’s not always the case. Which is exactly why you need to know your rights, the rules, and when it’s time to push back.
Respectfully of course…
Last week marked the official launch of the REAL ID Act. And while I was bracing for chaos at security checkpoints, I’ll admit, I was pleasantly surprised. Fewer issues than expected (yes, I’m capable of being wrong... on occasion 😏).
Still, a few hiccups popped up. Some passengers were turned away at TSA for trying to use their Global Entry cards as ID, even though those are valid REAL ID alternatives.
Instead of breezing through, they were pushed into unnecessary secondary screening. Annoying? Yes. Avoidable? Also yes.
Here’s what to do when this kind of thing happens.
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