TSA's New $45 Fee at U.S. Airports Unfairly Punishes Families in the Fine Print (opens in new tab)

The TSA is a joke. The whole thing is security theater.

TSA is a joke.

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.

How can a VA health ID card be considered a valid ID? Maybe a supplemental ID, but I can't imagine it would be allowed as a primary ID for TSA screening.

That's how I read it, it is a per person fee.

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.

It's just a terrible article. The primary example doesn't even make sense, since the fee only applies to those aged 18+. Basically if your "family of four" is entirely adults, and none of you ever bothered to get Real ID, and your vacation is 11+ days long, then you have to pay the per-adult fee eight times instead of four... big deal.

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."

A group of four friends typically will have four incomes

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

No, you're not. The fact that people think the TSA is a joke (as noted within the body of the article) is what stuck out to me. The headline is lame.

>Given how long this "REAL ID" standard has been in effect, why have the non compliant IDs not expired yet? Do some states not issue REAL ID compliant licenses?

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.

My state was one of the slowest to adopt REAL ID. Last time I had my driver's license renewed, none of the available information made it seem like I could get an REAL ID. Next time I renew ill likely get a REAL ID compliant license, but mine has not been compliant since airports required REAL ID starting 3(?) years ago.

In my state you still have a choice to pay more for a REAL ID, or just get a plain old drivers license.

States will give you a real ID if you can prove you are a US citizen. This article is covertly trying to argue for easier travel for illegal aliens

The TSA is a sleeper cell?

Not the correct link. Presumably you meant:

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

You linked the wrong article - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46136901 takes you to a steam article

wrong link?

The argument in the headline is sorta silly - I agree - but the quote I put in my other comment is the real reason I submitted this article.

You have always been able to fly without ID by submitting to enhanced physical screening. John Gilmore sued the TSA over the ID requirement but lost, *edited I reread the opinion and the court found there was no 4th amendment violations, but enhanced screening was an option available to him even back in 2004 that he declined.

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.

> Previously, if you didn't have your "Real ID" (which, is a terrible name IMO) or passport, you were just... denied.

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

You make a great point, but (as noted in the article) some of us feel that the TSA is a joke for various reasons; one of which may be that the TSA did not actually accept forms of ID which their website states are acceptable :)