I’ve gotta say, this doesn’t seem unreasonable to me?
In this post:
TSA could soon start charging to verify traveler identity
In May 2025, we saw the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) finally start to require passengers to have either a REAL ID or passport to travel by air, a mere 17 years behind schedule. Well, sort of. While that requirement was technically put into place, in reality, it’s still possible to travel without either of those documents, but you’re just subjected to extra identity verification.
Along those lines, the TSA has now issued a notice, which is being published in the Federal Register today. With this, travelers without required identification documents will have to pay a non-refundable fee of $18 to have their identity verified on a new biometric kiosk system, before they can pass through a checkpoint.
The idea is that a non-refundable $18 fee would allow passengers to access TSA checkpoints for 10 days, and the intent is for the fee to be used to pay for the new technology. The timeline for this being implemented remains to be seen, and I imagine it will take some time. The new system is supposed to reduce the amount of time it takes to verify the identity of travelers.
The TSA is referring to this new system as a “modernized alternative identity verification program,” and it will use biometric and biographic information to confirm someone’s identity. However, this wouldn’t guarantee that a traveler’s identity would actually be verified, or that they’d be provided access to the airside.
Here’s how a TSA spokesperson describes this development:
“This notice serves as a next step in the process in REAL ID compliance, which was signed into law more than 20 years ago and finally implemented by Secretary Noem as of May 2025. TSA is working with stakeholders and partners to ensure both security and efficiency at our checkpoints. Additional guidance will be announced in the coming days.”
This new verification fee seems reasonable to me
I don’t think the requirement to travel with a REAL ID or passport is unreasonable. For those who don’t have one (and even those who just leave their ID at home), the current process of verifying identity is manual, and takes some effort.
So it seems fair to pass on that cost to travelers, and perhaps it’ll even act as a further incentive for people to finally make sure they get a REAL ID. $18 isn’t an unreasonable fee for such a thing. If new technology can be introduced that greatly simplifies things, that seems like a win-win, so that fewer TSA agents have to focus on these things.
It would be fascinating to know how many travelers per day have their identity manually verified at checkpoints, and how many of those are due to not having a REAL ID, vs. just forgetting to bring their ID.
Bottom line
The TSA plans to add an $18 identity verification fee for those who show up at security without a REAL ID or passport. The idea is that identity verification is currently a manual process, but the TSA would invest in machines that automate this a bit, and the fee would help fund that.
Maybe there’s something I’m not considering, but I don’t think that’s unreasonable.
What do you make of this new TSA fee?
Is the Costco card still a valid ID?
What are we paying a TSA fee for in every ticket purchased if not for things like this. Oh, that’s right, we spent billions on the ANALogic scanners that have slowed screening down to a crawl. Heaven forbid we invest in technology to makes things more efficient.
Strongly disagree. There are lots of scenarios: lost wallet; your real id is your passport and it has to be somewhere for visa processing (and you're a legal non citizen, so you can't get a real id DL); misplaced ID while traveling (could pay, but doesn't feel fair); temporary driver's license in a state that takes two weeks to print them; homeless and going home via donated ticket; intl traveler loses passport and needs to...
Strongly disagree. There are lots of scenarios: lost wallet; your real id is your passport and it has to be somewhere for visa processing (and you're a legal non citizen, so you can't get a real id DL); misplaced ID while traveling (could pay, but doesn't feel fair); temporary driver's license in a state that takes two weeks to print them; homeless and going home via donated ticket; intl traveler loses passport and needs to get to consulate across the us. The cost is built in to TSA fees on tickets already; adding a cost won't change behavior. Personally Ive lost my ID at TSA (take it out but also put everything in your bag) and just needed to get home from the trip. Does the system make us safer? NO.
It's completely unreasonable because a big percentage of users going through TSA without ID are those who lost or forgot their wallet, which means they won't have a credit card to pay with either and need a way to fly home before they can get access to any
How would Lucky feel if he's about to go through airport in Chicago, lost his wallet/phone, and now can't go through without id and without payment method until he finds a helpful friend/local
Do you have a source: re why ppl don’t have their ID?
While not impossible, traveling without ID AND cash/cards would be a deeply unpleasant experience. TSA would be an issue, but so would feeding yourself, checking in to a hotel, etc etc. If I realized at the airport I had left my wallet at home, I’m pretty sure I’d go back to get it, regardless of whether I could get through TSA.
...Do you have a source: re why ppl don’t have their ID?
While not impossible, traveling without ID AND cash/cards would be a deeply unpleasant experience. TSA would be an issue, but so would feeding yourself, checking in to a hotel, etc etc. If I realized at the airport I had left my wallet at home, I’m pretty sure I’d go back to get it, regardless of whether I could get through TSA.
If I lost my wallet while traveling, I think getting through the checkpoint would not be my biggest problem.
So there's going to be a TSA agent processing people's credit cards? I'm sure that will be efficient.
They should allow payment with Delta Sky pesos.
Wow, I wonder what GOP donor got the no bid contract for this.
Or, we just adopt the Australian model. No ID, no boardind pass needed. Show up at their TSA equivalent, get screened, move on.
Australia doesn't mix international and domestic airside though - if that makes a difference.
Real ID has been decades in planning and available to Americans in all states for years. There is no reason for anyone that can get a real ID for not having one.
and the states have borne the cost of issuing Real IDs while the federal government is the primary beneficiary of knowing whether someone is real ID compliant.
$18, but even the TSA isn't confident the identity will be verified? And once the technology is paid for, the fee will go away, of course. It always does.
Now do this for voting.
Nope. That's racist, disenfranchises voters, etc.
How is the equipment any different than what is already being deployed for the pre check face ID system? Seems like double dipping and asking the most from the least prepared and not often travelers. Those same travelers likely aren't ready with the fancy ID or passport because they are traveling for an emergency or some other unique reason, and presumably don't do it often.
I'm on board so long as all of these non-ID folks have to stand in a separate security line.