BREAKING: TSA rolls out ConfirmID, a $45 safety net for flyers who forget their ID. The new option launches February 1 at airport checkpoints. It gives travelers a way to verify identity and keep their trip on track. It is not a shortcut. It is a backstop for bad mornings and lost wallets. ✈️
The price is clear. The fee is 45 dollars per traveler, per use. The message is also clear. Bring a valid ID whenever you can.
What ConfirmID is, and what it is not
ConfirmID is an optional identity check at the checkpoint for travelers who arrive without a REAL ID compliant license or other acceptable ID. It helps you move forward when plans and pockets fail. TSA officers will guide you through extra verification. If TSA confirms your identity, you can continue to screening.
It does not replace REAL ID rules. REAL ID enforcement for domestic flights is active. Passports, military IDs, and other TSA accepted IDs still work as usual. If you have one of those, use it. If you do not, ConfirmID can bridge the gap, at a cost.
ConfirmID starts February 1. The fee is 45 dollars. It is optional. It does not waive REAL ID rules.
How the checkpoint flow will change
Expect a slower lane if you choose ConfirmID. The process adds questions and checks. You will share personal details that help confirm your identity. TSA may compare your information with secure databases. You will also pay the fee at the checkpoint.
Plan for extra time. Your airline will not hold the plane. Connections will not wait. If you are flying at dawn or during a holiday rush, pad your schedule even more.
Here is the likely flow:
- Tell the officer you do not have an acceptable ID.
- Enter the ConfirmID process and follow the officer’s instructions.
- Complete identity verification and pay the 45 dollar fee.
- If verified, proceed through regular security screening.
A picture of your license on your phone does not count. If TSA cannot confirm your identity, you will not fly.
Who should consider paying, and who should skip it
ConfirmID is a last resort. It is for the traveler whose wallet vanished in a rideshare. It is for the parent sprinting to a gate with kids and no license. It is not for the organized traveler with a passport in their bag.
If you travel often, the best strategy is simple. Carry a backup ID in a separate pocket. A passport book or card works nationwide for domestic flights. It also helps if plans shift to international routes on short notice.
Use this to avoid the fee:
- U.S. passport book or passport card
- REAL ID compliant driver’s license or state ID
- DHS trusted traveler card, like Global Entry or NEXUS
- U.S. military ID
Remember, ConfirmID is pay per use. If you forget ID twice in one week, you will pay twice.
Smart planning by destination and season
This change touches every route, but some trips face more risk. Weekend city breaks can be tight on time. Ski towns and sun destinations see big winter numbers. Spring break brings long lines and more first time flyers. That is when a missing ID turns into a missed flight.
At major hubs, lines build early. Arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight if you need ConfirmID. Add more time if you are connecting through Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, or New York. Small regional airports can be faster, but they can also have fewer staff. One ConfirmID case can slow a whole lane.
International flyers should bring passports every time, even for a domestic leg before an overseas jump. A passport is still the strongest move. It keeps you in control if weather forces a reroute through another country.
Pack your passport for every flight, domestic or international. It is the single best backup to avoid the 45 dollar fee.
The bottom line for travelers
TSA’s ConfirmID gives you a lifeline when your ID goes missing. It starts February 1 and costs 45 dollars. It is useful, it is fast compared to rebooking, and it could save a vacation. But the smartest play is to beat the fee. Carry a valid ID you can count on. Put a backup in a different bag. Add time at the airport if you ever need ConfirmID.
Trip plans work best when you control the clock. Bring ID, breeze through security, and spend your time where it matters, at the gate and on the way to your next destination.
