TSA Doubles Airport Security Fee For Travelers
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Airline passengers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and airports across the U.S. are going to have to pay a little more starting Monday.
KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports the Transportation Security Administration fees tacked on to tickets are going up to $5.60 for all flights.
TSA Doubles Airport Security Fee For Travelers
Travelers who are accustomed to long layovers or non-stop flight will likely be the most impacted by the fee hike, which more than doubles the TSA security fee from its previous $2.50.
But Airfarewatchdog.com President George Hobica says calling it a fee is a little misleading.
"It's basically a tax increase, it's going toward the general fund," said Hobica. "Some of it is going to fund the TSA, which is underfunded, it doesn't actually pay its way."
TSA officials estimate the hike - which Congress approved last December - could drum up some $17 billion over current collections.
Passengers at LAX such as Steve say no matter what the fee is called, travelers are being squeezed even more.
"It's one of those things, government regulation that's passed on to us," he said. "And we have to pick up the bill for it."
