REAL ID enforcement is finally becoming real, and if you show up at an airport TSA security checkpoint unprepared next year, it will cost you.
If you pay in advance, clearing security should take only a few minutes. If you wait until you arrive at the checkpoint, expect delays. Either way, you will still pay $45. You’ll be directed to a kiosk where you can look up your passport, if you have one, or answer some “identity verification questions” (sort of like the ones you sometimes have to answer when applying for a credit card or opening a bank account).
Most flyers will never encounter this problem: passports, Global Entry cards, and military IDs remain accepted forms of identification and 94% of Americans have one of these. But a driver’s license without a REAL ID star will no longer be enough to reach the metal detectors without opening your wallet.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
