The deadline to get a Real ID to be able to fly domestically is May 7, but if you don't and you have a flight, what should you expect at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports?

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said most people do not need to get a Real ID by the Wednesday deadline, and is encouraging residents who can wait to stay home as lines at DMV facilities around the state have stretched for blocks and hours of wait time.

Starting Wednesday you'll need a Real ID or another compliant form of identification for domestic air travel. Officials are urging people who are not traveling in the next couple of weeks to wait to get their Real ID until the rush has passed, but those who are traveling soon found themselves spending hours a day in line at DMV facilities and the Loop Supercenter.

"I wish I did this a while ago," Olivia Pertchi admitted. "I'm traveling the first week of July and I don't have a passport."

Sandra Villanueva is traveling even sooner than that and also doesn't have a passport. She said she's just happy the long line will eventually lead her to her vacation.

"This line is OK, as long as I'm going to Puerto Rico to enjoy myself, I'm good," she said.

But Villanueva said anyone who does not need a Real ID right away is best off staying home and not getting in the long line.

"If you don't need to fly, don't come," she said. "They're saying it's not really a deadline, so if you're not flying, don't bother."

Passengers at O'Hare Wednesday were prepared for the new rules, and all had either their Real ID, passport or passport cards ready. 

"I have my passport card, so I am set. I got checked in," said Paru Patel. "I still plan to get the Real ID."

Overall, wait times have been pretty standard at O'Hare Wednesday.

While officials are reassuring people they won't get kicked off their flights if they don't have a Real ID by Wednesday, you will need to take extra steps and plan to spend extra time at the airport.

Here's what you need to know.

Can I get on a plane without a Real ID?

Giannoulias said that the Department of Homeland Security has reassured him and other secretaries of state that travelers arriving at airports Wednesday will not be kicked off their flight if they don't have a Real ID.

"Homeland Security has told us there will be essentially a two-year enforcement period, even if you don't have a passport, don't have a Real ID, they won't kick you off your flight," he said. "You'll probably get a warning, maybe fill out some paperwork."

The Transportation Security Administration said if you don't have a Real ID or passport, you can still fly but you will have to submit to a more intense identity verification process that involves collecting personal information like your name and current address to confirm your identity.

Once your identity is confirmed, you will then have to go through enhanced screening at TSA checkpoints.

Other compliant forms of ID include a military identification card or a Trusted Traveler card from a program like Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST. A full list of acceptable IDs can be found on the TSA website.

If you don't have acceptable ID, won't cooperate with additional identity verification, or your identity can't be confirmed, you will not be able to enter a security checkpoint.

If your ID is non-compliant, you may also be pulled out to a separate area to complete your screening process.

What should I expect at the airport starting Wednesday?

Acting TSA Director Adam Stahl sat down with CBS News Chicago to give travelers an idea of what to expect if they don't have a Real ID but must fly after the deadline to get one has passed.

It will be easiest for travelers with other accepted compliant forms of ID, but if you have a valid state-issued but noncompliant ID like a driver's license, you will still be able to fly after advanced screening.

Travelers who do not have a Real ID or a passport should plan to get to O'Hare or Midway at least three hours early for that additional identity and security screening. You will likely either be directed to a separate line or be pulled out of the standard security line and move to another area for additional screening.

The Department of Homeland Security said separate lines for people with and without Real ID is one of the strategies TSA may employ to manage the flow of travelers through security checkpoints. Officials also said there may be times of day and/or certain terminals where noncompliant travelers are directed to separate lines, but TSA is working to maintain flexibility in the screening lanes to minimize delays whenever possible.

The TSA said fliers can make it through screenings even in the worst-case scenario, but emphasized that extra security measures take extra time and hold up lines.

"If somebody comes with no documentation whatsoever — say they lost their wallet over the weekend — we do have ways of processing those passengers. It is extremely time-consuming, and we don't anticipate people with noncompliant ID would need that level of screening or ID verification, but they need to bring something," said TSA Great Lakes Regional spokeswoman Jessica Mayle. "If you start with nothing, and we're starting from scratch, it is a really, really time-consuming process."

When it comes to wait times, the TSA says the average at O'Hare in March was 2.5 minutes — jumping to 6.5 minutes in peak times, and even reaching a max 28 minutes.

"We constantly are in communication with the airports and the airlines," Mayle said. "We can project hour by hour how many passengers we are projecting, so we are staffed appropriately to meet demand and we are ready to enforce with our current workload."

Stahl said while enforcement begins Wednesday, you will still be able to get your Real ID after the deadline has passed, so if you don't have your Real ID yet, still plan to go out and enroll in the program as soon as is feasible.

Giannoulias asked residents who have other compliant forms of ID or who are not imminently traveling to wait to get their Real ID after the rush is over. It will take two to three weeks to receive your Illinois Real ID in the mail after you complete your application.

Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, said he plans to test out how things go on Wednesday with Real ID rules in place.

"I booked the cheapest ticket I could from Minneapolis to Denver to check things out in two airports, and just kind of see how things shake out tomorrow," he said.

Potter is bracing for the worst.

"This has been a long time coming with a lot of delays, a lot of extensions, and I think a lot of Americans are still going to be caught off guard by these requirements," he said. "I think a lot of Americans have probably understandably written off the idea of needing a new ID in order to fly as something that would just never happen."

But Potter said he hopes he is proven wrong Wednesday and everything moves smoothly.

One of his predictions is that he thinks we could see more people signing up for programs like Clear or TSA PreCheck to try to save some time as security.

TSA spokesperson Jessica Mayle said busier times of day at the airport may impact your trip. Mayle recommends coming prepared. 

"Whether you're checking bags or not, that's a big factor. We always say two hours. If you have everything you're supposed to have, you pack smart, and you brought an ID. So if you know you're out of compliance with your ID, just give yourself a bit of extra time on top of that."  

Will people without a Real ID affect my wait time at the airport?

TSA said they do not expect those who are flying with the Real ID to be affected by those who aren't; they plan to have different areas where they do additional screening to keep things moving. Anyone with a noncompliant ID will be pulled out of the main line and to those separate areas. 

Map shows Real ID compliance state-by-state

According to recent figures compiled by the CBS News Data Team, Illinois is lagging behind other Midwestern states when it comes to Real ID. As of April, only about one-third of all active Illinois identification is Real ID compliant.