TSA charges $45 fee for traveling without REAL ID
Starting February 1, U.S. air travelers will pay a fee if they do not have a REAL ID or other acceptable identification.
- Travelers can legally opt out of the TSA’s full-body scanner and facial recognition technology.
- Opting out of a full-body scan will result in a manual pat-down by a TSA officer.
- If you choose another testing method, your wait time may be longer.
There are many rules when stepping into an airport, but not all of them apply.
Would you like to present your REAL ID document? Yes, or there will be a $45 fee. Do I take my shoes off at the security check? No, that’s not a problem anymore.
But when it comes to airport security technology, passengers have more options than many realize, and this has recently sparked debate online.
In a post on X on Thursday, Dec. 18, Evita Duffy-Alfonso, daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, said she opted out of the full-body scanner when passing through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint because she was pregnant, forcing her to wait.
“I almost missed my flight this morning because TSA made me wait 15 minutes for screening,” she wrote. “Finally, I was barely able to get on a plane after an absurd and invasive crackdown. This is all the fault of an unconstitutional agency that isn’t even doing its job properly.”
Duffy Alfonso went on to accuse TSA agents of “pressuring me and another pregnant woman to go through the scanner because it was ‘safe’.”
Her post brought renewed attention to a little-known but legal option for travelers to opt out of TSA’s body-scanning technology and request a different screening instead.
The TSA has said that passengers whose boarding passes indicate enhanced screening will still need to be scanned in “very limited circumstances,” but the agency is legally obligated to comply with opt-out requests, even if it means additional screening or longer wait times.
If you want to avoid using scanning technology at airport security for medical, personal, or privacy-based reasons, here’s what you need to know about requesting an alternative test and how to prepare for the process.
Can I refuse a facial scan at airport security?
Yes, participation is voluntary. You must (politely) tell the TSA officer that you do not wish to participate, and you must use the standard ID verification process. Don’t lose your spot in line.
TSA says if you choose biometric scanning, your photo and personal data will be deleted after your identity is verified.
“TSA uses facial comparison technology at airports to improve and automate passenger identification, not for law enforcement or immigration purposes. Additionally, TSA does not condone racial profiling,” the agency said.
Can I opt out of the full body scanner during TSA screening?
Yes, it is legal to refuse a scan. You should give as much notice as possible and tell the agent (again, politely) that you want to “opt out” of the scan. The agent may first notify you that the scanner is a safe tool to see if you want to reconsider, or it may immediately perform a manual search, colloquially known as a “patdown.”
“The pat-down may include an examination of your head, neck, arms, torso, legs, and feet, including head coverings and sensitive areas such as the chest, groin, and buttocks. You may be asked to make adjustments to your clothing during the pat-down,” TSA says on its website. “Officers will be advised of procedures so they can anticipate action before they feel it. Patdowns require sufficient pressure to ensure detection, and multiple patdowns may be conducted on an area to ensure that TSA officers do not detect any threat items.”
Passengers with disabilities or disabilities may also request to pass through a metal detector and undergo a body search.
It is important to note that the knock-down should be carried out by a “same-sex” police officer. If no one is immediately available, you may have to wait until the appropriate person is available.
You should let the officer performing the pat-down know if you have mobility issues, difficulty staying in the same position for long periods of time, if you are using external medical equipment, or if there are any areas of your body that are painful when touched.
You can request a chair or request a private screening if needed. If you choose private screening, a second officer must be present.
Contributor: Josh Rivera, USA TODAY
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and can be reached at zwichter@usatoday.com.
