Distracted people of the world, watch out for this. If you are one of those who does the check-in running and leaves home without looking twice at your wallet, now forgetting your identification at a United States airport is going to cost you 50 dollars, and it is a regulation that is already in place, and you will need to pay that amount so that airport staff can access a special verification process, because you are forgetful!
And only if the system confirms that you are you, then you will be able to travel, but be careful because they do not guarantee that you will make your flight or that the system will not fail (and you do not get your money back…)
“It is pedagogy”
This is what they say from the TSA, since the Real ID was implemented, there are people who believe that they can travel without identification and no, sir. They cannot. Until a few years ago, traveling without documentation was something that happened very rarely, almost more anecdote than reality, and now it is the opposite, every day there are several users who “have forgotten” their identification. So, faced with this situation, the TSA wants to “punish” those who believe they can travel without documentation, or at least teach them that they will only forget it one time.
With the new fee, the agency wants to change traveler behavior before they reach the checkpoint. The logic is simple and a bit paternalistic, we are not going to deny it, but surely if it costs you money you will check twice if you carry your identification with you.
How much will have to be paid and how it works
The cost will be around 50 dollars per passenger, almost the same as a checked bag or a dinner in a fancy place. You will pay it at the same checkpoint right before starting the verification, but be careful because if you do not pay, you do not fly, and paying does not ensure that you will fly.
This document “allows” you to travel for 10 days, but it does not replace the ID or passport.
Who does it affect more?
The TSA says that those who are left without documents are not clueless tourists, but people who travel often, people who live between flights, who lose, forget or renew IDs constantly.
There is also concern that this fee punishes people with fewer resources, victims of theft or bureaucratic problems.
The complaints
Consumer rights organizations have already requested humanitarian exceptions, but for the moment there is no confirmation that they are going to reverse their measure.
Airlines and airports cross their fingers
Airlines fear that the new rule will generate anger, arguments at the counters and more stress for workers, plus this measure arrives just in the season when more Americans fly… And the TSA staff is rather short, the idea of charging almost 50 dollars to someone upset because they lost their wallet… does not sound precisely calm.
The phone as ID
That is what they intend, and they are already working with Android and iOS to advance biometric verification and digital identifications, but even so, you still have to carry physical documents every time you travel because technology can fail, but the eyes of a TSA worker do not.
The transition is going slow, we know…
As we say, until it is universal, we will continue depending on the physical document, so better check twice if you carry everything with you than have to pay 50$ and surely miss your flight!! And have a nice flight 😉