TSA's new Real ID alternative may not get you through security

"On Feb. 1, travelers arriving at the airport without a Real ID or another acceptable ID for travel can still be cleared through security by paying a $45 fee as part of an alternative identification process called ConfirmID. The fee is valid for 10 days of travel; after that, you will need to pay again. To sign up for the program, people can visit the ConfirmID portal, enter their full name and travel dates and pay the fee."

"The process should take between 10 and 15 minutes, Mayle said, but it can take up to half an hour. You can pay the fee using your phone after arriving at the airport, but you'll have to leave the security queue to do so. "The payment process is not onerous, but take care of it before you get here because you're standing in line, you want to kind of move it along." Mayle said."

TSA implemented a paid alternative identification process, ConfirmID, allowing travelers lacking Real ID to clear security by paying $45. The fee covers travel for 10 days and requires signing up on the ConfirmID portal, presenting a receipt at the checkpoint, and undergoing additional ID verification and screening. The verification typically takes 10–15 minutes but can run up to 30 minutes, and mobile payment at the airport requires leaving the security queue. There is no guarantee payment will result in successful identity verification, and opting out could prevent passage through security. The fee is intended to cover administrative costs.

Read at SFGATE