TSA's New $45 Fee at U.S. Airports Unfairly Punishes Families in the Fine Print

US air travelers without REAL IDs will be charged a $45 fee

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46115731

"Passengers don't listen, a lot of them think the TSA is a joke. The fines are a way to enforce the rules for the REAL ID," the former TSA officer told TheTravel.

I've got one very concrete reason why I do think the TSA is a joke. They list a Veterans Affairs health ID card as valid ID even after this new Real ID rule. Despite that, I was forced to go thru "extra screening" in Austin because a bunch of agents were not aware of this (even though I had a print out of the website). Even in the TSA press release announcing this new fee still lists the VA ID as sufficient, but I'll forever just recall the complete lack of professionalism and knowledge of these agents.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46115731 US air travelers without REAL IDs will be charged a $45 fee (apnews.com)

1 day ago | 69 comments

The VA recently gave out more recent ID cards that seem more detailed than the older ones.

It’s right there, last bullet point.

Typically, in the states, veterans are presumed to be less of a safety risk and receive preferential treatment at all sorts of venues.

1. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

Previously, if you didn't have your "Real ID" (which, is a terrible name IMO) or passport, you were just... denied. And presumably that would cost far more than $45.

This seems like an extra step to help you get through airports and prevent delays.

Also, $45 for 30 minutes of a TSA agent's time + their software seems very reasonable? That could even be operating at a loss.

I get it, the median person flies 0 times a year, the average person flies 1.5-2 times a year, there's a huge number of people who fly 0-2 times a year. Mistakes happen and they should result in seizing the whole system.

...but it's just insane to me that someone could go to an airport and not have an ID, let alone a passport. Come on.

Edit (didn't realize the article continued):

> American travelers were still permitted to fly without this updated form of ID with no penalties; they simply had to undergo additional screening, including handing over current addresses, per the TSA's website.

I'm speechless.

I can't find that information anywhere in the article despite it being the entire point of the headline.

That is incorrect. You could still fly. You could just use any valid government ID, of which every state license was one.

I've gone through more than one airport where TSA had someone yelling at everyone to keep their shoes on ... then like 20 feet later an angry TSA guy yelling at people things like "haven't you ever flown before, take off your shoes".

I dared mention that the other TSA agent up the line was telling people something different ... TSA just ignored me.

And what is the delay in those lines? It's always the scanner speed, not the people. People are usually rushing, and then just stand there and wait.

TSA operates like elementary school hall monitors all too often.

I agree I read it as being the same cost for 4 individuals.

There is a 10 day window so both groups could end up paying on the way back too.

(Apologies if this is a stupid question, I'm not familiar with how these things work in the US)

The TSA is not a joke, it’s a sleeper cell. Wait for the ICE-TSA collusion a bit longer and a $45 fee won’t save you from being the wrong color

I am assuming this is just AI slop, given that it is needlessly 1700 words, including redundancies like "who spoke on condition of anonymity—their name is therefore off the record". Plus this gem of a final sentence regurgitating the lede and entire point of the article: "The upcoming fee will likely shift that figure even higher by February next year, when travelers without a REAL ID or a passport will have to shell out $45 when passing through airport security."

It's only been in effect for a short while, then we had COVID. It took them two decades to even get it live.

Some state licenses don't expire for 10 years. Americans will avoid trips to the DMV until it's absolutely necessary to go. YMMV on if your local one is well-run and efficient or a madhouse with long wait times.

I have a passport, and apple wallet recently enabled support for US passports, so I personally don’t see myself going to the DMV until I absolutely must

But as long as it’s possibly to renew without realID, I think most people will take that option

A family of four typically has one or two incomes

I have travelled domestically without even providing an ID at all for my underage children. Keeping current passport-level IDs for a large family is indeed a new burden that a group of adult friends does not have to account for

For example, how often does your child need a current realID? Not until they hit the TSA. Good luck tracking all the expiries of every child, and making sure it’s all updated before your next 1hr flight to visit grandma.

I know this is HN and demographically you largely skew younger without large families, but this is a real PITA for no actual security benefit

TSA is not required to allow people without ID to fly but they do and because suddenly a lot of people do not have acceptable ID, and not because of circumstances beyond their control, TSA is instituting the fees.

It's like when they take the supposedly dangerous potential bomb bottle of liquid from your bag, and just put it in a trash can right there still in this crowded airport with hundreds of civilian victims all around.