By the end of July, airport security fees will increase. The Transportation Security Administration says this is necessary to keep all air travelers safe. Previously, the security fee cost $2.50 for each leg of a flight. There was a $10 cap on a roundtrip ticket. The $2.50 fee will now be $5.60 for each leg of a flight and will NOT be capped.
Without a cap, passengers with layovers of more than four hours on a domestic flight or 12 hours for international destinations will be charged an additional fee!
According to an example from the TSA, a traveler who takes a round-trip flight to and from Newark Liberty International Airport with stops at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport and Las Vegas International Airport will pay $28 in fees (instead of the capped $10 fee).
The higher fees are expected to generate an estimated additional $16.9 billion over the next 10 years and fully cover passenger security, which TSA noted the current fees never fully covered. But that’s not all.
Airports are also planning to increase the facility fee that many charge, at a rate of up to $8 per passenger each time they board a plane. It was $4.50 per boarding. Plus, Customs and Border Protection is pushing to raise its immigration fee on international tickets from $7 to $9.
More Bad News: TSA is also implementing tighter measures for overseas passengers carrying electronics onto international flights (especially travel to Europe, Africa and the Middle East). You will probably be asked to power up laptops, cellphones and other devices to show the devices aren’t bombs,” said the TSA in a statement. “Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft.” This means that if the battery has died on your cell phone or iPad, you will not be permitted to board with it.
As if the long security lines and pat downs weren’t punishment enough for air travelers…
*Information compiled from GlobalTraveler
Airports are confusing and overwhelming-esp foreign ones. I am planning my first trip oversees and know I will need to exchange my money for theirs. Can I do this in the US first?
Well, you can exchange money here at many banks (such as BOA) before departure if you prefer. Or you can utilize exchange bureaus at the airport. You can even exchange money at your hotel, although they generally have the worst exchange rate. Another option is travelers cheques. To be on the safe side, I recommend planning 1/3 in cash, 1/3 in credit card (and a back up credit card) and 1/3 in travelers cheques. Here’s why: Most European countries now offer credit and debit cards with a computer chip that requires a PIN to activate and make a purchase. This is especially common in automated ticket machines in Europe, even on European toll roads. If your credit or debit card doesn’t have a chip and PIN (hardly any U.S. credit or debit cards do), then you may not be able to buy a ticket from a machine with your card. Although both Visa and Mastercard promise U.S. cardholders that their cards are usable anywhere in the world where they should be accepted with just a signature, you may still have some occasional problems in Europe using your card. Taking credit cards, cash, and travelers cheques covers all potential issues.