Travelers are furious after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced an increased fee for underprepared passengers.
TSA More Than Doubled Fine for Lacking a REAL ID
Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, the TSA will begin instituting a $45 fee for any passenger who arrives at a security checkpoint without valid identification, such as a passport or a Real ID. The previous penalty was only $18, more than doubling the fine for unprepared passengers. The new process is expected to take travelers between 10 and 15 minutes to complete, but it could take up to 30 minutes. If the TSA is unable to verify a passenger’s identity, they will not be permitted to fly.
Passengers Expressed Fury on Social Media
Unsurprisingly, travelers far and wide are furious about the policy changes. “This will surely help speed up the line,” wrote one critic on social media. “‘Here, move to the side and scan this QR code to fill out a form that’ll take upwards of a half hour, then come back in line and show me the code.’ What could go wrong?”
Some expressed nothing less than outrage, saying passports should be “sufficient” documentation. “Real ID is just a scam to make you run out and pay more money for an ‘enhanced’ ID,” an angry commenter wrote on The Daily Mail’s coverage of the fee. “Passports, the way they have been for a long time, should be sufficient. There was no need for Real ID to even be a thing, there’s nothing…in one that a regular driver’s license doesn’t have.”
But Some Were Confused About the Anger
But some expressed confusion over the ire the announcement provoked. “Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or haven’t flown in a decade, you have had plenty of time to update your ID,” wrote one. “The majority of people already had Real ID after they renewed their [driver ’s license]. I don’t feel sorry for them at all.” Another concurred: “Doesn’t affect me cause I don’t fly. But, this has been known for a loooong time. If you fly often and don’t have the real ID then that’s on you. Consider it a stupid tax.”
