The Price Of TSA's New Fee Is Steep

Flying has undoubtedly gotten more expensive in recent years. The Federal Reserve of St. Louis reports the consumer price index for airfare shot up over 30 points from June 2025 to September 2025. It's increased by over 60 points since September 2021, and that's not including the sneaky ways airlines trick individuals into spending more at check-in. Unfortunately, air travel is set to become even more expensive for some, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced a new fee for individuals without a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification.

Beginning February 1, 2026, travelers will have to pay a $45 fee before boarding their flights. The fee would cover the cost of the identity verification process required to keep air travel safe. The fee and verification process, called TSA Confirm.ID, would cover a passenger for a 10-day travel period. Travelers on longer trips could potentially have to pay the fee again, increasing the cost to $90 for a round-trip flight in some scenarios. For those that don't have time to get a Real ID before their next big trip, you may be able to cut flight costs by flying through LAX for domestic round-trip flights to offset some of the added expense.

Even if you are one of the lucky few with TSA PreCheck, it won't save you from the new fee. So, some might add that service to the long list of travel upgrades that are a total waste of money. To skip the new charge, the most effective solution is to carry a Real ID while traveling. The Real ID is a state-issued driver's license or identification card that can be used in lieu of a passport when traveling domestically. There is a fee to obtain a Real ID which varies by state, but it could more than pay for itself if it means getting around this new charge.

It can take several weeks for a Real ID to arrive once you're approved for one, which could put individuals with rapidly approaching flights in a tricky position. Luckily, the TSA does accept other forms of identification to avoid paying the Confirm.ID fee, including passports, permanent resident cards, border crossing cards, and U.S. Department of Defense IDs. The full list of acceptable documentation is available on the TSA's website. Anyone reluctant to visit their local DMV to secure their own Real ID may want to note the TSA has also warned that those without an acceptable ID may face longer wait times at the airport in addition to the fees. So, paying that $45 might not save you any time anyway.