Pack your carry-on with liquids in a clear quart-sized bag, each under 3.4 oz, and keep medications easily accessible in original containers. Place electronics and power banks in your bag’s top compartment—they’re not allowed in checked luggage. Use a REAL ID, passport, or Trusted Traveler card to avoid a $45 fee and extra screening. Digital IDs speed things up but always carry a physical backup. Opt into biometrics at supported airports for faster identity checks. You’ll move quicker through new screening tech like CT scanners and eGates. There’s more to know about staying prepared and efficient at checkpoints.
TLDR
- Use digital IDs from Apple/Google Wallet at supported airports to speed identity verification, but carry a physical backup.
- Pack medications in a separate, clear part of your carry-on and keep prescriptions handy for quick inspection.
- Place liquids in a single quart-sized bag following the 3-1-1 rule to avoid delays at screening.
- Bring a REAL ID, passport, or Trusted Traveler card to skip biometric screening fees and extra checks.
- Keep electronics and power banks accessible; use PreCheck or CLEAR Plus for faster processing when available.
Get a Real ID Before 2026 or Pay $45 at TSA
If you’re not ready with a Real ID by 2026, you’ll face a $45 fee every time you fly domestically.
You can pay it online or at the airport, but it’s not a one-time fix—renew it every 10 days if needed.
The fee covers biometric screening, which takes 10–30 minutes.
Skip the hassle: get your Real ID early and keep your travel simple.
This additional biometric screening is required for all travelers without a Real ID who opt to pay the fee.
Expect document verification and enhanced screening procedures when you travel without standard ID.
No Real ID? Here’s What Happens at Screening
If you don’t have a REAL ID, you’ll be directed to a biometric kiosk called Confirm.ID to verify your identity. You’ll need to provide biographic and biometric data, and then go through additional security screening even after approval.
Starting February 2026, expect to pay a $45 non-refundable fee, though digital IDs in Apple, Google, or Samsung Wallet can help speed things up at over 250 airports.
Check accepted alternatives like a passport or Trusted Traveler card if your driver’s license is suspended or otherwise unacceptable, since TSA allows other valid forms of identification accepted ID alternatives.
No Real Id? Here’s What Happens at Screening
What happens if you show up at the airport without a REAL ID or passport? You’ll face extra screening at a biometric kiosk, verifying your identity with facial or personal data. A fee—possibly $18 or $45—covers tech costs and isn’t refundable, though it lasts 10 days.
This doesn’t guarantee boarding or sterile area access. Delays and additional checks are likely, so bring an accepted ID when possible.
Tsa Verification Process
When you reach the TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID–compliant license or other acceptable identification, you’ll be directed to an alternative verification process using the Confirm.ID system.
You’ll pay a $45 non-refundable fee and verify your identity, which takes 10 to 15 minutes on average.
Be prepared for added screening time, especially at busy airports, and have your name, address, and other details ready for confirmation.
Digital ID? You Still Need a Physical Backup
While digital IDs are now accepted at more than 250 TSA checkpoints across the country for travelers from 16 participating states, you still need to carry a physical ID as a backup.
Your phone could die, apps might glitch, or TSA may ask for a traditional license.
Even with digital access, having a REAL ID-compliant license or passport guarantees you keep moving freely through security without delays or extra screening.
Passport numbers are printed on the passport data page and encoded in the MRZ to verify identity quickly.
Speed Through TSA With Biometrics (Opt-In Guide)
Tap into faster airport screening by opting in to TSA biometrics, a touchless system now streamlining identity checks at select U.S. airports.
You’ll verify your identity via facial scan, then proceed to security without handing over documents. PreCheck members see even faster processing. Be sure to check airline policies before traveling, since final authority on allowed items like multitools rests with TSA officers.
Pack Medications for Fast Screening in 2026
Keep your medications separate from other liquids and pack them in a clear, easy-to-access part of your carry-on for quick screening.
Solid pills are fine in original bottles or labeled organizers, but liquid meds over 3.4 oz must be declared and shown to TSA at the start of screening.
Having prescriptions handy and communicating early can speed things up, especially for injectables or items like insulin pens and syringes.
TSA officers may also offer a visual inspection of medications instead of X-ray screening to accommodate passenger preferences.
Separate Medications From Liquids
Pack your liquid medications separately from other liquids to speed up security screening and avoid delays.
Remove them from your bag and place them in a clear bin.
Declare them verbally as “medically necessary liquids.” Though exempt from the 3-1-1 rule, they require extra screening.
Keep prescription labels on hand, especially for controlled substances, and expect possible X-ray or manual inspection.
Pre-Pack For Quick Screening
Getting ready for a smooth security check starts with how you organize your medications before you even leave home. Pack pills in original bottles for quick ID, or use labeled organizers.
Keep prescriptions and doctor notes handy, especially for injectables. Separate meds from liquids, and place them in a clear bin.
Declare them upfront, request visual inspection if needed, and screen solids without declaration.
Liquids Rule Still Applies: No 2026 Exceptions
You might’ve heard rumors about looser liquid restrictions coming in 2026, but the 3-1-1 rule is here to stay—with no major exceptions on the horizon.
Each container must be 3.4 ounces or less, fit in one quart-sized clear bag, and remain easily accessible.
Even with new CT scanners, these limits apply, though some airports let you keep the bag in your carry-on.
Remember to pack larger bottles in checked luggage to avoid security problems and prevent leaks when possible.
Carry Power Banks Safely: 2026 Battery Rules
Leaving power banks at home won’t solve your charging needs, but packing them the right way guarantees you stay powered without hassle at security.
Carry them in your carry-on, never in checked bags. Keep them under 100 Wh unless approved. Avoid damaged units or unlabeled models. Tuck them in a clear pouch for quick screening.
Freedom to charge starts with smart, safe packing.
What to Expect at TSA With New Screening Tech
New screening technologies are changing the way you move through TSA checkpoints, building on the same principles of safety and efficiency seen in updated power bank rules.
You’ll face facial recognition at eGates if you’re a CLEAR Plus member, or use Touchless ID with consent on your boarding pass.
Biometric kiosks verify identity fast, while CT scanners let you keep liquids and electronics in bags.
You keep moving—no pod stops, just quick checks and seamless screening.
And Finally
You’ll move faster through airport security by preparing ahead. Get your Real ID before 2026 to avoid delays and fees. Keep liquids under 3.4 ounces in a clear bag, and pack power banks in your carry-on, not your checked luggage. Medications should be labeled and easily accessible. Even with digital IDs or biometrics, carry a physical backup. New screening tech means quicker scans, but rules still apply—know them to save time.
