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

thetravel.com

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

#11

Post by TimorousBestie »

petcat wrote: post #6
stn8188 wrote: post #3

I think this was already discussed recently, but I find this quote in the article very interesting: "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.…

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.

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

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.

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

#12

Post by cwmma »

petcat wrote: post #6
stn8188 wrote: post #3

I think this was already discussed recently, but I find this quote in the article very interesting: "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.…

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.

A Veteran health ID card is a government issued photo id card used to prove your identity with the government to get health care, why wouldn't it be allowed for proving your identity with the TSA.

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

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

#13

Post by CamelCaseName »

After reading the article, this is actually a great thing for Americans?

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.

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

#15

Post by stn8188 »

kgwgk wrote: post #9

Airlines also unfairly punish families because they need to buy more tickets - and so does McDonalds when they buy multiple Big Macs, etc.

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.

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

#16

Post by petcat »

stn8188 wrote: post #10
petcat wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I was surprised too, but since I have one I figured I'd use it (before I got the Real ID). It's listed as "Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)" on https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification The VA recently gave out more recent ID cards that seem more detailed than the older ones.

Yeah wow, TIL.

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

#18

Post by stn8188 »

CamelCaseName wrote: post #13

After reading the article, this is actually a great thing for Americans? 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…

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 :)

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

#19

Post by stn8188 »

cmeacham98 wrote: post #17

Am I missing something obvious? What's the "fine print" that punishes a family of 4 more than a group of 4 friends? I can't find that information anywhere in the article despite it being the entire point of the headline.

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.

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

#20

Post by jtbayly »

CamelCaseName wrote: post #13

After reading the article, this is actually a great thing for Americans? 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…

> 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.

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