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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

#31

Post by evanelias »

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.

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."

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

#32

Post by JBlue42 »

ch_123 wrote: post #27
jtbayly wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Are there some onerous requirements for REAL IDs which require it to be more expensive, or is this a short-sighted money making scheme for the states?

Depends on the state: https://www.usa.gov/real-id

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

#33

Post by JBlue42 »

ch_123 wrote: post #25

Question from a European: I assume that most people flying within the US would use their driver's license as ID. 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? (Apologies if this is a stupid question, I'm not familiar with how these things work in the US)

>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.

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

#34

Post by mingus88 »

JBlue42 wrote: post #33
ch_123 wrote: post #25

Question from a European: I assume that most people flying within the US would use their driver's license as ID. 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? (Apologies if this is a stupid question, I'm not familiar with how these things work in the US)

>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…

My DL expired this year. I renewed it with an online web form, so I was not able to upgrade it to real ID

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

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

#35

Post by mingus88 »

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.

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

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

#36

Post by Simulacra »

jtbayly wrote: post #21
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.…

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

IMO it's intended to grid people down to accepting facial and other biological identity check.

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

#37

Post by Simulacra »

duxup wrote: post #23
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.…

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…

TSA has little to no accountability and once in the web little to no recourse.

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

#38

Post by hackingonempty »

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 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.

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

#39

Post by evanelias »

mingus88 wrote: post #35
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.

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…

The fee doesn't apply to children. The article is nonsensical; it even mentions this 18+ aspect but then makes an increasingly-contrived example involving "grandparents, older siblings, or extended family" (all of whom inexplicably don't have Real ID either?)

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

#40

Post by cosmicgadget »

stevenalowe wrote: post #30

In many states a RealID costs $40 and is good for 5 years; if the info/vetting process is the same then the $45 fee should come with an ID good for five years or more 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

The TSA is a sleeper cell?
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