It's the start of a new era at O'Hare and at airports across the country.
Passengers are now required to travel with a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification.
Transportation Security Administration agents were on-hand checking to make sure folks have the correct form of identification.
"So far so good," TSA regional spokesperson Jessica Mayle said. "We are definitely seeing smooth operations, lower volume on a Wednesday, which is helpful."
Mayle said if you don't have your REAL ID just yet, don't panic, but be prepared.
"Just give yourself some extra time," Mayle said. "If you are not in compliance, you don't have any form of acceptable ID; you might be subjected to some extra screening."
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According to the Department of Homeland Security, you can show a passport, Military ID, Green Card or Global Entry Card in place of a REAL ID at airports or some federal buildings.
"Hopefully I get through the enhanced screening pretty quickly, which is why I'm two and a half hours before my flight," traveler Jonathan Washkevich said.
Washkevich was heading to Tampa early Wednesday morning. He arrived extra early with vital records at the ready in case of any unexpected delays with the new identification protocol in effect.
"I have my driver's license with a hole in it, I have my temporary ID they just issued me because my REAL ID is in the mail hopefully, Social Security card, a birth certificate, mail and also a paycheck," Washkevich said.
Other travelers, like Craig Berryhill, have their new ID at the ready.
"We got ours early on; so it wasn't a big hassle," Berry said. "No lines, no waiting."
ABC7 saw only a couple early morning long lines form outside security, but people didn't wait long at all. TSA agents kept it moving.
"Right now, this really isn't bad, it's been way worse," traveler Andrew Howell said.
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Lynn Poat was heading to Lexington, Kentucky to see her 88-year-old mother for Mother's Day, and had to go through additional security screening because she only had her temporary REAL ID from the Wisconsin DMV.
"Just that anxiety that something's going to go wrong," Poat said.
But it wasn't a problem for Shane Kowaleski, who had his REAL ID at the ready, as he returned home from a business trip to Fargo, North Dakota.
"Fargo's pretty simple. There was really nobody in line; so, it was pretty simple there, so no hangups," Kowaleski said.
The Illinois REAL ID compliance rate is currently below 50%, the Secretary of State's Office said.
And the REAL ID Supercenter downtown Chicago processes roughly 1,500 REAL IDs on a daily basis.
More than 185,000 were issued in the month of April: a record monthly total for the office.
Last Friday, more than 10,000 REAL IDs were processed: a one-day record for the office.
Here are the requirements to apply for a REAL ID in Illinois:
1.A U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Naturalization Certificate, Report of Birth Abroad or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, an employment authorization document, a permanent resident card or a foreign passport with an approved I-94 form is also acceptable. If you've changed your name, you'll need to provide name change documents.
2.Proof of a full Social Security number (SSN). Examples include: a Social Security card, a W-2 or a pay stub with your full SSN.
3.Two current residency documents that list your full name. Examples include: a utility bill, rental agreement, deed/title or a bank statement.
4.Proof of your signature. Examples include: a signed credit or debit card, canceled check, or current state driver's license or state ID.
Illinois has an interactive checklist to make sure applicants don't forget anything. The checklist can be found here.