Illinois travelers, this is one of those "read this now so you don't panic later" type of situations.

A new rule proposed by the TSA could end up costing you $18 if you show up to the airport without a REAL ID or a passport.  If your driver's license isn't REAL ID-compliant, you might be sent to a separate kiosk where the government will basically double-check that you are, in fact, you.  For that privilege, you pan an $18 extra fee that covers access to TSA checkpoints for 10 days.

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Trust me, it happened to me the last time I traveled!  They question you, take long to get you through TSA, and you could potentially miss your flight.

Here's the part that makes me question things: paying the $18 doesn't even guarantee that you'll be cleared to fly.  The TSA has already said that using this "modernized alternative identity verification program" doesn't totally guarantee your identity will be verified or you'll be allowed through TSA.  So, in theory, you could hand over your money, go through the extra process, and still end up being turned away.

Read More: I Showed Up at O’Hare Without a REAL ID — Here’s What Happened 

That's not exactly comforting, right?  This is all tied to the REAL ID Act, which has been a thing since 2005 (yes, twenty years ago) but kept getting delayed.  It finally started being enforced in May 2025, and this proposed fee is another step in tightening that process.  The TSA says it's about making things more secure and efficient, and while I understand the reason behind it, but it still feels like one more hoop to jump through when flying is already stressful enough.