Starting February 1, 2026, air travelers in the United States who show up at security without a REAL ID or other acceptable identification may face a new surprise at the checkpoint. The Transportation Security Administration is rolling out TSA ConfirmID, a fee-based process that lets adults pay $45 so agents can try to verify their identity and still allow them to fly.
The payment covers a ten-day window, but it is nonrefundable and does not guarantee boarding if TSA cannot confirm who you are.
On paper, this sounds like a bureaucratic fix for forgotten wallets and outdated licenses. In reality, it adds one more cost to a form of travel that already carries a hefty price for the climate.
What changes for travelers
REAL ID rules have been fully enforced for domestic flights since May 7, 2025. Anyone 18 or older must present a REAL ID compliant license or another acceptable document such as a passport, passport card, permanent resident card, Department of Defense ID or trusted traveler card to clear security.
TSA says about 94% of passengers already show acceptable ID. That leaves roughly 6% who risk being turned away or routed into ConfirmID. If they choose the new option, they can pay the $45 fee online through Pay.gov before their trip or at the airport.
The payment lets TSA attempt to verify their identity for up to ten days, a grace period meant to cover a typical week-long journey.
There is a catch. ConfirmID usually means extra questions and additional screening, which TSA and outside reports say can add 15 to 30 minutes at the checkpoint. So if you are the person sprinting through the terminal with your shoes half-tied and your bag banging your hip, this policy could make that dash even more stressful.
Why this matters for the climate
At first glance, a $45 ID fee has nothing to do with ecology. The rule is about security and about shifting administrative costs from taxpayers to those who did not update their documents.
Yet every time we talk about flying, climate scientists quietly remind us of the bigger picture. Aviation accounts for about 2.5% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and its share has grown faster than emissions from road or rail. When non-carbon effects such as high altitude contrails are included, the sector contributes an even larger slice of overall warming.
Per mile, flying is one of the most polluting ways to travel. One analysis finds that a typical domestic flight emits around 246 grams of CO2 per passenger kilometer, while national rail averages about 35 grams. Put simply, the train can have a footprint that is a small fraction of the plane for the same distance.
So when a new rule makes people think twice about their boarding pass, it quietly opens a door. If you are already checking your license, your booking date and your bank account, it is also a good moment to ask a simple question. Do I really need this flight?
Smarter choices for wallets and atmospheres
The new ID rule will not magically shrink aviation emissions. Most frequent flyers already carry compliant documents and will glide through security as before. But for occasional travelers, that $45 risk may be enough to nudge habits.
Some will finally upgrade to a REAL ID or start traveling with a passport, avoiding the fee entirely. Others might look at a short-hop trip and decide a train, bus or carpool makes more sense than another spin through the metal detectors. On many routes, especially at moderate distances, trains already beat planes on both emissions and door-to-door time once airport processing and security queues are factored in.
Airlines and airports also face mounting pressure to clean up. Sustainable aviation fuels can cut lifecycle CO2 from flights by up to about 80%, but so far they supply well under 1% of global jet fuel and often cost two to five times more than conventional kerosene. That means ticket prices and policy choices will decide how fast cleaner fuels scale up.
Getting ready for your next trip
In practical terms, the new rule gives travelers three simple tasks.
- Check your ID now and upgrade to a REAL ID or make sure you carry a valid passport or another accepted document for domestic flights.
- If you truly have no acceptable ID and must fly, use TSA ConfirmID online before you reach the airport and plan for extra time at security.
- Whenever you book, weigh the climate cost along with the price and schedule. For shorter trips, consider rail or coach where those options exist, and for longer journeys, try to combine meetings or visits into fewer flights.
None of these steps will erase the emissions from aviation on their own. But they stack up, trip by trip, in the same way that small fees and small delays shape the way we move through the world.
The official statement was published on TSA.gov.
