Security

Beginning October 1, 2020, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

Check for the star.

REAL ID-compliant cards are generally marked with a star located in the upper portion of the card. If you’re not sure, contact your state driver’s license agency on how to obtain a REAL ID compliant card.

It’s the law.

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act and implementing regulations establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibit federal agencies, like TSA, from accepting licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards for official purposes, such as getting through the airport security checkpoint to board a plane. Learn more about REAL ID enforcement.

Passengers need to have a boarding pass prior to entry to screening. If not printed at home or downloaded to a smart phone, boarding passes may be obtained at the airline ticket counters; please be reminded that all ticket counters close 30 minutes prior to published departure time.

View the latest TSA operating times. Please note, TSA Screening Hours and Airline Ticket Counter Hours are independent of Airport Terminal Hours. TSA is operational for all scheduled departures; however, federal budgeting does not allow TSA to remain open at night for seriously delayed departures.

The Transportation Security Administration has a complete list of items that are permitted and prohibited. View the complete list of these items.

Air travelers can carry liquids, gels and aerosols in their carry-on bag when going through security checkpoints with some restrictions. The 3-1-1 on Air Travel has a complete list of rules that apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols.

Be prepared for the security checkpoint. Before proceeding through the security checkpoint, travelers should remove coats, jackets, blazers and shoes.

Keep boarding passes and photo IDs out and visible until you have exited the security checkpoint.

All metal objects should be placed in carry-on luggage or in the containers provided by the TSA at the checkpoint.

Scissors with a cutting edge of 4 inches or less and tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers smaller than 7 inches in length will be permitted on board.

Lighters will continue to be banned from the cabin of an aircraft and checked baggage.

Leave gifts unwrapped, as they may need to be opened and are subject to search.

Due to security regulations, unattended parking is not allowed in the drop-off and pick-up zone in front of the airline terminal. No cars should ever be left unattended in this zone. If dropping off a passenger and bags and intending to stay until that passenger’s plane departs, please drop off the passenger and their baggage and park in the short term lot. If picking up a passenger, do not leave your car unattended while you wait for your passenger to exit the terminal.

Drivers are not permitted to idle curbside to await arriving passengers. Please see our parking map for the free cell phone lot. Passengers must be actively involved in loading or unloading.

GPD staffs an office at Gainesville Regional Airport with at least one officer on premises at all times. GPD maintains the airport’s Lost and Found for items left in the commercial terminal.

There are several avenues for searching for a missing item. Options depend on where the item was lost.

Commercial Terminal

Contact a GPD officer in the terminal, email info@flygainesville.com or call (352) 373-0249.

Left at TSA Security Checkpoint

(352) 514-3430 or http://www.tsa.gov/airport-lost-found-contacts

Left on the Airplane

American Airlines: Contact the airport of arrival and departure.

Delta Air Lines: Delta Air Lines Website  or (800) 325-1999