Airport Security May Soon Come With A Price For Missing ID

If you've got an upcoming flight or trip and you don't have a REAL ID or passport to get you through security, you might be charged a fee. A recent addition to the Federal Register seems to suggest that the TSA will charge passengers without the correct ID a fee to verify their identity. Here's what we know.

Flying Without REAL ID May Mean An Extra Fee To Fly

According to the Federal Register, a daily journal of the U.S. Government, the Transportation Security Administration is looking at implementing a fee for travelers who don't have the correct identification when flying. Here's what the entry into the register said for the November 20th entry.

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"The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is launching a modernized alternative identity verification program for individuals who present at the TSA checkpoint without the required acceptable form of identification (AFOID), such as a REAL ID or passport. This modernized program provides an alternative that may allow these individuals to gain access to the sterile area of an airport if TSA is able to establish their identity. To address the government-incurred costs, individuals who choose to use TSA's modernized alternative identity verification program will be required to pay an $18 fee."

Yup, no REAL ID, no passport, it's looking like you will be charged a fee.

When Will The Fees Start For Those Without A Proper ID?

It's unclear as to when the TSA will start to charge the $18 fee, but the register states the fee will begin, but be reversed if you can provide proper ID within 10 days of being verified, once the new option called the "modernized alternative identity verification program" is offered on the TSA website.

So far, as of November 21st, the new option hasn't been rolled out on the TSA website.