If you’re getting ready to fly and don't have a Real ID, you might want to check your wallet. Starting February 1, the Transportation Security Administration is enforcing a new rule that requires passengers without compliant identification to pay a $45 fee before boarding domestic or international flights. Yes, you read that right—no ID, no easy pass through security.

While many travelers at San Diego International Airport have already secured their Real IDs, some, like Londell Anderson from Minneapolis, found themselves caught in the new system. Anderson, who was fleeing unrest in Minneapolis, shared his struggles when his Real ID didn't arrive in time. He had to flash a receipt from the DMV instead, making his travel experience a bit more complicated—he's not alone in this bureaucratic bind.

According to Acting Executive Assistant Administrator Steve Lorincz, this fee is part of the government’s Confirm ID program aimed at upgrading the system to better serve the 6% of the population without a compliant driver’s license. If you're one of those unlucky ones, you can still use a valid passport. However, it seems like air travel is becoming increasingly complex, and the last thing you want is to add a side quest involving fees to your packing list. Let’s just say, getting through airport security may soon require as much preparation as your actual trip!