What’s bumpier than a turbulent flight? Well, in 2025, it was the airline industry’s ever-shifting rule book. While the airport experience may feel the same—dragging overstuffed suitcases to check-in counters, suffering through the security-screening process and bum-rushing the gate area (or judging those who do)—there have been a lot of new and altered rules over the past 12 months.
“The only thing constant in aviation is change,” explains Pensacola International Airport (PNS) Deputy Director Roy Remington. Aviation experts try to build as much predictability into the system, he explains, but some disruptions are simply impossible to plan for. “We can’t control the pace of technological progress, and we’ll never control the wind,” he says.
Joanne Magley, director of marketing and customer experience at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), echoes that thought. “Air travel is constantly evolving and changing, and that’s a good thing,” she says. “The rules need to be tweaked because the world changes constantly with new technology, new safety needs, new ways to make travel less stressful.”
In 2025, some of those updates were roundly applauded, especially at TSA checkpoints. Others? Not so much. Whether the changes were helpful or frustrating for fliers, passengers should be aware of the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly so they can stay on course for an upcoming flight. Read on to brush up on the biggest air-travel rule changes from 2025—you’ll want to know them before heading to the airport in the new year.
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Is it our imagination, or have there been more travel changes than usual this year?
If you thought there were more travel rule shake-ups this year, you’d be right. “It has felt slightly busier than a typical year in terms of updates that affect passengers,” Magley says.
Some of the churn is typical when there’s a federal leadership transition, such as Donald Trump taking office at the beginning of 2025. “We’ve also seen TSA continuously roll out more technology into the field,” Magley notes, pointing to game changers like computed tomography (CT) machines that generate 3D volumetric images that give screeners a much clearer view inside bags.
“The CT machines have really enhanced screening procedures,” she says. “These upgrades have allowed TSA to relax some longstanding rules, like removing certain items from bags or, in some airports, removing shoes.”
What were the biggest air-travel changes in 2025?
Some rule changes fly under the radar, while others affect the air-travel experience in a big way—but thankfully, not in entirely bad ways! Below are the top developments that have had a real impact.
Shoes are now OK
Probably one of the biggest game-changing rule refreshes this year was the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) doing away with the long-standing mandate that most passengers must remove their footwear during security screening. The rule initially covered anyone between the ages of 12 and 75, though the agency waived the requirement for TSA Precheck passengers beginning in 2013.
The rule was enacted in 2006 after Richard Reid, a passenger on American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami, attempted to detonate 10 ounces of explosives hidden in the soles of his shoes on Dec. 22, 2001. The failed plot to blow up the airliner over the Atlantic Ocean led to his life-sentence conviction and prompted nearly two decades of shoe-removal at U.S. checkpoints.
But according to DHS, today’s technological advancements and multilayered security protocols have made the shoe-removal rule no longer necessary. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced in July that officials expected that getting rid of the awkward (and sometimes gross) step would “drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints” and lead to “a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience.”
Remington says the change has already produced the desired effect. “At airports like PNS, removing that one step has made a noticeable difference,” he says. “Any time you eliminate a task that requires passengers to stop, bend down and juggle more items, the entire line moves more smoothly. Pairing that with advanced screening technology has essentially created more PreCheck-style efficiency for all travelers.”
U.S. airports require REAL IDs
Despite four postponements over 17 years, the requirement that passengers over 18 have a REAL ID or TSA-approved identification, like a passport, to fly finally went into effect in May 2025. While inconvenient for some, the rationale behind the change is solid. According to security experts, machine-readable Real IDs incorporate security features like RFID chips, biometric data and encryption. They also provide faster verification and meet global standards for security.
Though many expected delays during the height of the summer travel season, most passengers took heed of the many warnings to update their identification. In July, DHS noted that there had been a 94% compliance rate with the Real ID requirement, and the agency said it had “led to a more efficient security process.”
Both Remington and Magley say that the Real ID rule hasn’t negatively impacted operations. “Fortunately, Real ID has been a very smooth transition for us,” Remington said. “Florida has done an excellent job educating residents, and our community has been preparing for years. By the time national deadlines arrived, almost everyone traveling through PNS had compliant identification.”
Magley was also impressed with the ease of the rollout. “We still see occasional issues that look like travelers who haven’t updated their license or who are unsure whether theirs is compliant, but it truly hasn’t been the disruption many expected.”
Travelers no longer get automatic refunds for delayed or canceled flights
Consumers scored one of the most significant wins with the Biden-era rule that passengers who experience significant flight delays and cancellations caused by issues within an airline’s control were entitled to automatic cash compensation. In September, the Trump administration halted the rule and, along with it, the requirement that airlines compensate affected travelers for their inconveniences, including costs associated with rebookings, meals, hotel stays and transportation to and from their hotels.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) rule change now puts the decision of whether or how to compensate affected passengers squarely back in the airline’s control. That means passengers may have to navigate sometimes confusing and frustrating airline policies on their own when facing unexpected delays and cancellations.
American Airlines ditches gate bag-sizers
American Airlines surprised its customers by doing away with those annoying, line-slowing bag-sizers at the gate. Those rectangular metal or hard-plastic frames often frustrated passengers and agents alike, who had to stand by as travelers caught toting a suspiciously oversized bag during the boarding process struggled to fit their carry-on inside the stand to check that they weren’t in violation.
Starting in October 2025, passengers boarding with a seemingly oversized bag no longer have to jam it into a gate bag-sizer, though American Airlines continues to limit carry-ons to 22 by 14 by 9 inches, including wheels and handles.
Gate agents now have discretion if they think a passenger’s bag is too large, and bag-sizers remain available at check-in counters for passengers who want to voluntarily verify in advance that they’re good to go.
Southwest bags no longer fly free
In May, Southwest majorly downgraded its luggage rules for most travelers. The airline, which was famous for its “Bags Fly Free” policy, now charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second. According to Southwest, the new fees for checked bags apply to Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares.
Choice Extra fares, Rapid Rewards credit card members, A-List Preferred Members and Getaways by Southwest customers still enjoy the perk of two free checked bags. Since the other major U.S. carriers all charge a fee for bags, these Southwest options are your best bet for flying sans baggage fees.
Digital IDs are allowed in more states
In 2025, more states adopted the option to allow identity verification using mobile driver’s licenses and other digital IDs at airport security checkpoints. Accessible via a digital wallet on your smartphone, this ID is a digital version of your state-issued driver’s license or ID card. Once you’ve set it up, you can tap it against or scan it under credential readers at TSA checkpoints instead of presenting a physical card to agents.
By the end of the year, hundreds of airports will have begun accepting Apple Wallet’s digital passport feature, which allows iPhone users to add their U.S. passport details for identity verification on domestic flights.
“These changes are meaningful because they streamline the passenger experience without compromising safety and security,” says Magley.
Digital entry starts replacing passport stamps
Those hoping to collect passport stamps from their European adventures got a sad surprise in 2025. Starting in October, the European Union began replacing manual passport stamping with a digital biometric entry-exit system for non-EU visitors. Designed to make entering and exiting Schengen countries faster and more secure, the new rules of the system signal the eventual end of getting EU itineraries memorialized in those iconic ink stamps. The updated border system is expected to be fully operational by mid-April 2026.
What other changes might be coming down the pike in 2026?
Air-travel rules are always in flux, so you can probably expect more changes in the coming year. The three below—one possible and a couple guaranteed—are worth taking note of as you plan upcoming trips.
Those without a REAL ID will need to pay up
The TSA recently announced a new twist on the Real ID rule, set to go into effect on Feb. 1, 2026: Travelers without a Real ID (or valid U.S. passport) who still want to fly will need to pay a $45 fee. The money covers the option to use TSA Confirm.ID, which is valid for a 10-day travel period and establishes and verifies your identity.
“If you know you are going to be traveling, check your ID for a star,” Magley advises, emphasizing the importance of preparing in advance.
Southwest is switching up its seating policy
An upcoming Southwest policy change is solidly in the love-it-or-hate-it category. Beginning Jan. 27, 2026, the airline will move to assigned seating, ending the practice of passengers selecting their seats after boarding.
Executive Vice President of Customer and Brand Tony Roach called the change an important step in the company’s ongoing “evolution,” aimed at giving customers “more choice and greater control over their travel experience.”
Southwest passengers will now choose from Standard, Preferred and Extra Legroom seating options, and the boarding process will reflect the change. “With assigned seating, we are moving from our current A/B/C groups with numbered positions to a new boarding structure using Groups 1 through 8,” the airline noted.
We might bid farewell to the 3-1-1 liquid limits
Perhaps the most anticipated change for airline customers is a potential relaxation of the 3-1-1 rule, which restricts the amount of liquids in carry-on bags to 3.4 ounces or less, all fitting in a quart-size clear bag, with one allowed per passenger. Like the no-shoes requirement, the rule was enacted in 2006 in response to a terror plot to detonate liquid explosives on U.S.-bound flights.
“TSA has been steadily modernizing screening technology nationwide,” Remington says, noting that his airport, Pensacola International, has “kept pace with those updates by adding equipment, expanding our checkpoint queue, creating another screening lane and increasing customer service staffing during peak periods.”
But don’t toss your mini bottles just yet—this isn’t a done deal. DHS Secretary Noem signaled interest over the summer, but U.S. airports would first need to have other methods of security screening in place.
How can you make sure you don’t miss any big travel news in the coming year?
Change is a given in the travel industry, and it can be hard to keep up. Luckily, there are several ways to ensure you don’t miss important updates.
Magley recommends checking with your airline and keeping tabs on your airport’s website and social media channels as your flight approaches. “Many airports, including ours [Daytona Beach International], push updates through social media, which is often the fastest source for last-minute changes,” she says.
She also suggests relying on the TSA app, MyTSA, which provides 24-7 info on everything from wait times and rule updates to guidance on what you can bring through security.
Remington adds that airline apps are equally important resources for accurate, up-to-date information. “Checking them 24 to 48 hours before your flight, and again the morning of, helps prevent almost all surprises,” he says.
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Sources:
- Roy Remington, deputy director at Pensacola International Airport; email interview, December 2025
- Joanne Magley, director of air service, customer experience and marketing at Daytona Beach International Airport; email interview, December 2025
- TSA: “DHS to End ‘Shoes Off’ Travel Policy”
- USA Today: “TSA’s Shoe Removal Policy Is Over. Here’s Why It Started in 2006.”
- TSA: “TSA Announces Final Rule That Enables the Continued Acceptance of Mobile Driver’s Licenses at Airport Security Checkpoints and Federal Buildings”
- NBC Philadelphia: “iPhone users can now add U.S. passport info to their digital wallets”
- Southwest: “What Is Changing with Southwest’s Policies?”
- European Commission: “How the new digital borders system works”
- TSA: “TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without Real ID Starting February 1”
- New York Times: “With T.S.A.’s Shoes Rule Gone, Can Liquids Really Be Next?”
- U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Report: “The Sky’s the Limit: The Rise of Junk Fees in American Travel”
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