So in a case of severe bad planning, it seems I will be flying one day after my driver's license expires. Been on a series of trips, and haven't been home in time to renew. How will TSA handle something like this? I may try and call the DMV to see if they can quickly send me some sort of extension (the expiration isn't for four or five more days). Hopefully, the answer is that I'll just have to put up with some secondary screening?

Do you have a passport?

If this is a domestic trip -- and presuming you are not on a no-fly list, can do self-check-in and have only carry-on luggage -- then you can definitely fly but will be subject to additional security screening at the airport security checkpoint to get airside.

Odds are that you will have no problem with the airline, because the check-in rep rarely look at DL expiration dates.

Odds are that the TSA will make an issue of your expired DL, but all the TSA can do for a failure to present ID -- when you have a valid boarding pass -- is to send you to secondary screening of the sort that haraSSSSment-selectees are subjected to at the airport security checkpoint to get airside.

I would not worry about it, since this is something that the airlines and TSA see quite often during domestic travels.

Just use your passport for identification.

When my DL was 2 months from expiration, the Spothole ID checkers made an issue of the near-expiration. While I avoided haraSSSSment, they still made mention of it... and I had to look at them and respond "and what part of that DL is NOT legal ID?"

I hadn't even gotten the forms from the State in the mail to renew it and TSA was harassing me over it. I went to using a passport, and then got harassed at BWI for using a passport instead of a DL.

It is all about systematic harassment.

When I saw your thread title I thought you had some inside info about the imminent demise of Delta.

I have read that many if not most states now allow online renewals. Florida does, so when I was faced with the same situation, I renewed online and printed the confirmation so that I would have something that showed that I had already handled the situation but had not yet received the new license. Worked fine at the airport.

Here's the link to the DC DL site - looks like you can renew online and clearly you have a computer with you, but you may or may not fall in the "within 10 days" rule.

http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/serv/dli...al_online.shtm

Of course, you may actually have VA or MD license, but I'm guessing they have online options too.

You should be able to renew your license before its expiration date

"Yes, but how do you know whether the OP has time between now and then? Some people have busy schedules."

don't know if you're being facetious or not, but my online renewal took about 1 minute, about the time I would guess the OP took posting. If he has a computer, it's just that easy. If you are being facetious, then

There's nothing in signed law that states you have to present an ID to fly within the US borders!

Print your boarding pass, if you have luggage go to the ticket counter to check your luggage, they'll ask you for ID, say you don't have any, they'll give you an SSSS'ed boarding pass and take your luggage.

On your way to the checkpoint dump your SSSS'ed boarding pass, enter the line for the BP check, inform the reviewer of no ID (you'll probably get a cute question like "What? No Costco card or anything with your picture on it?") and they'll direct you where to go.

It's all quite painless and I've done it numerous times (EWR, LGA, JFK, DCA, DFW, MSP, SFO, DSM) and thankfully the TSA has finally (FINALLY) figured out the process for those traveling w/o ID (or refuse to show).

The best/easiest answer to the ID question is "None." and not "I refuse to show." as that puts the requester into a suspicious attitude and may get you a bit less "friendly" (can the warm, cuddly TSA really be considered friendly?).

Again, no ID doesn't mean no flying. Just a secondary (LOVE those TSA massages!) with an ETD swab of your stuff.

Best of luck - I'm heading out of EWR this evening and plan to do the same myself!

BF

takes bow

First, SPOT and 'ID checkers' are two different positions.

Second, a lot of people forget to renew their DL/ID. I doubt that you were being harassed, just given a reminder that it was almost time to renew.

that's nice for you. i own a computer, as well. but my state doesn't have online DL renewal...so it's not quite that easy