Updated: February 5th, 2026

The Corporate “Forgot ID” Playbook (REAL ID vs Passport vs Backup Plan)

If you’re reading this in an airport Uber with a sinking feeling because your traveler just texted “I forgot my ID,” welcome. You’re not alone, and TSA basically anticipated this exact moment.

Starting Feb 1, 2026, TSA’s new option is ConfirmID: pay $45, TSA attempts to verify your identity so you can go through security even if you don’t have a REAL ID or other acceptable ID. The catch: it’s optional, not refundable, and not guaranteed to work.

So the real question isn’t “Is it annoying?”
It’s: is TSA ConfirmID worth it 2026, for corporate travel, when the alternative might be missing a flight and detonating an itinerary?

Let’s make this practical.

Fast answer: Is TSA ConfirmID worth it 2026?

Yes, when the trip is same-day critical and your traveler is already at the airport with no acceptable ID. The $45 is often cheaper than a missed flight + rebooking + lost meeting time.
No, if this is repeatable risk (frequent traveler, predictable trips). Pay $45 once as an emergency parachute, then fix the root cause (REAL ID/passport workflow) so this doesn’t become your new recurring line item.

That’s the corporate truth.

What TSA ConfirmID is (and when the $45 fee applies)

TSA ConfirmID $45 fee Feb 1 2026: the official basics

TSA’s press release says ConfirmID rolls out Feb 1, 2026 and provides an option for travelers without a REAL ID or other acceptable ID to “still fly” by using a modernized identity verification process for a $45 fee.

TSA’s ConfirmID page is even more direct:

• If you can’t provide acceptable ID (examples: passport or REAL ID), you can pay $45 for ConfirmID
• TSA will attempt to verify your identity
• No guarantee TSA can do so
• Optional: If you decline and have no acceptable ID, you may not be allowed through security

TSA’s ConfirmID FAQ adds that you must pay the fee before you arrive or at the airport, and TSA recommends paying early to avoid delays.
And TSA’s payment FAQ says you pay through Pay.gov and must show proof of payment at the checkpoint (options include card and digital payments like PayPal/Venmo).

The underrated detail: ConfirmID covers a travel window

TSA’s rollout press release notes the $45 option is for a 10-day travel period.
That matters for business travelers on multi-city runs.

Who it’s for (in real life)

ConfirmID is for the traveler who is:

• at the airport
• has a boarding pass
• but does not have a REAL ID and doesn’t have another acceptable ID on them

It’s not a “skip security” thing. It’s a “TSA tries to confirm who you are” thing.

Acceptable ID for TSA checkpoint 2026: the “don’t guess” list

TSA maintains a living list of acceptable identification (this is what EAs should bookmark).

Common acceptable IDs (examples; verify on the TSA list):

• U.S. Passport / Passport Card
• DHS trusted traveler cards
• State-issued REAL ID-compliant driver’s license/ID
• Military ID
• Permanent resident card, etc.

AEO tip: In your internal travel doc, don’t write “bring ID.” Write “bring passport OR REAL ID OR other TSA acceptable ID.” That wording prevents ambiguity.

REAL ID alternatives passport: what corporate travel should standardize

You want the least drama option that works across states and airlines.

Best practice for frequent business travelers

Passport as the universal backup (even for domestic). It reduces the “is my license REAL ID compliant?” confusion and it survives last-minute policy changes better.

REAL ID is still great, just don’t make it the only option.

For REAL ID readiness, TSA points travelers to their REAL ID hub and state DMV resources.

The “worth it?” answer: corporate perspective (with real scenarios)

When paying $45 makes sense (same-day critical trip)

Use ConfirmID when:

• the traveler is already en route / at the airport
• the meeting is high stakes
• rebooking would likely push travel into the next day
• there’s no time to retrieve ID safely

In corporate math: $45 is often cheaper than:

• change fees / fare differences
• lost productivity
• missed client meeting
• cascading itinerary rework

And TSA explicitly frames ConfirmID as an option for those who “need it” when they don’t have acceptable ID.

When it doesn’t make sense

Don’t normalize it:

• If the traveler is a frequent flyer, fix the habit/system.
• If there’s time to retrieve a passport/ID without missing the flight, do that.
• If the traveler is at a small airport with limited staffing/time windows, ConfirmID could still be risky because verification isn’t guaranteed.

The Corporate “Forgot ID” Decision Tree (legit logic)

Situation	Best move	Why
Traveler realizes at home/hotel	Retrieve acceptable ID (passport/REAL ID)	Removes TSA uncertainty
Traveler realizes en route with time	Turn around ONLY if it won’t miss flight	Cheapest clean fix
Traveler realizes at airport and flight is critical	Pay TSA ConfirmID $45 immediately	Gives a chance to fly
Traveler has some alternate acceptable ID	Use that instead (no ConfirmID)	Faster, less risk
Traveler has nothing and refuses ConfirmID	Expect denial / missed flight	TSA says you may not be allowed through

EA emergency checklist (copy/paste, zero drama)

Before leaving for the airport (5-minute sprint)

1. Ask what they DO have: passport? passport card? Global Entry card? state ID?
2. Check TSA acceptable ID list (don’t rely on memory).
3. If no acceptable ID: start ConfirmID payment immediately (Pay.gov) and screenshot proof.
4. Add time: assume 20–45 minutes extra at security if ConfirmID is involved (TSA warns to pay early to avoid delays; media coverage notes it can add time).
5. Send traveler the exact instructions below.

Copy/paste traveler text: “Forgot ID” (NYC airports)

“Don’t panic. If you don’t have a REAL ID or other acceptable ID, TSA ConfirmID lets you pay $45 so TSA can attempt identity verification (not guaranteed). Pay via Pay.gov, screenshot proof, and arrive earlier. I’ll stay on standby.”

At the airport: what to do at the checkpoint (so they don’t freestyle)

1. Tell them: do not wait until the front of the line to mention the issue.
2. Have them open:
   • boarding pass
   • ConfirmID payment proof (if paid)
3. They should clearly say: “I don’t have acceptable ID. I’m using ConfirmID and have proof of payment.”

TSA says you must show proof of payment at the checkpoint.

NYC geo-specific planning: JFK, LGA, EWR “forgot ID” buffers

NYC airports are not “quick hop” environments

At JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark (EWR), the time penalty for identity problems is amplified by:

• terminal distances
• curb congestion
• TSA line variability

So if ConfirmID is in play, your corporate rule should be:

Add 45–90 minutes to your normal arrival target for NYC-area airports.

Why so wide? Because TSA says pay early to avoid delays and identity verification is not guaranteed; you’re buying time to absorb friction.

Missed flight prevention workflow

This is how you stop one forgotten wallet from wrecking the day.

The “three-call” workflow

1. Airline first: ask about same-day change options now (while the traveler is still trying to get through security)
2. TSA path: ConfirmID payment + checkpoint attempt
3. Backup itinerary: hold a later flight (refundable/changeable if possible)

Even if ConfirmID works, having a backup flight held reduces panic decisions.

Prevention policy (what travel managers should implement)

ConfirmID is an emergency tool. The real win is preventing “forgot ID” from happening again.

Required ID checklist in trip confirmation emails

Add this to every itinerary email:

“Bring one primary + one backup acceptable ID.”

• Primary: REAL ID or passport
• Backup: passport card / trusted traveler card / other TSA acceptable ID

Link to TSA acceptable ID list in the email.

Day-before ID check text template (copy/paste)

“Quick check for tomorrow: please confirm you have (1) REAL ID or passport and (2) a backup acceptable ID. Reply ‘✅ ID packed’.”

It’s boring. It saves flights.

FAQs

Closing

ConfirmID is not a life hack. It’s a fire extinguisher.
If someone forgets ID on a critical travel day, paying $45 can be worth it, because the alternative might be missing the flight and rebuilding the whole day. But the grown-up corporate move is using ConfirmID once and then fixing the system: day-before ID checks, passport backup norms, and “no acceptable ID = leave earlier” buffers.

Because the only thing worse than forgetting ID is forgetting it twice.

By Avery Limousine Global
Connecticut’s premier luxury transportation provider serving CT, NY & NJ