Got through the airport with a broken ID!! Wanted to share my story for anybody else that is freaking out over travel with a broken and/ or bent ID.
The day before my mom and I were supposed to fly to Hawaii, I broke and bent my REAL ID in my pocket while line dancing (I’m an idiot). The ID was chopped clean straight across my face and bent badly right in the middle of the barcode. I ended up taping the whole thing back together with clear packaging tape 1 layer only, ensuring there were no bubbles.
I have an expired passport of 4 years, so my ID is the only identification that’s valid to fly with. On my trip I brought: my birth certificate, expired passport, bank statement (with matching address to ID), my W2 which also had my name and address, and some official mail that came to my house w my address and name.
I have CLEAR to fly from SFO to Kona, so I had no trouble there. Kona, HI airport does not have CLEAR so I had to show my ID.
At the Kona Airport, TSA stuck my taped ID through the ID reader and IT WENT THROUGH. The reader was able to identify my face with the ID (despite the minor crack down the middle of my face) and no questions were asked, although the TSA agent commended me on my taping job. I never had to use the documents I brought and am now writing this waiting 2.5 hours for my flight since I came exceptionally early.
Hope this helps!!