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TSA security fees could double next year

TSA security fees could double next year

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SHUTTERSTOCK TSA security
SHUTTERSTOCK TSA security

Airplane travelers may soon have to pay more for the privilege of the TSA's oft-invasive (but apparently ineffective) security measures. According to the AP, travelers will have to pay more than double the current TSA fee that's baked into the price of an airplane ticket starting on July 1st. That's assuming the new budget deal (approved by the House last night) passes the Senate in a vote next week.

The budget is expected to pass, which means that the TSA's current $2.50 security fee for a non-stop, one way flight will increase to $5.60. Under the current deal, fees were capped at $5 per trip if a traveler had a connection — now, it'll be $5.60 per flight regardless.

Unsurprisingly, it sounds like airlines are going to pass this cost on to consumers in the form of more expensive airplane tickets. "Airfares are going up for consumers. So that tax increase will not be absorbed by Delta," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson at an investor presentation in New York on Wednesday. Anderson doesn't speak for the rest of the industry, but it's been common practice to sales tax, security fees, and airport taxes into the cost of an airplane ticket.

While it's only a few dollars, it's still particularly galling considering the fact that a recent government study showed that TSA security practices work only "a little better than chance" — despite spending almost a billion dollars on its programs.