While there remain plenty of cheap traveloptions, such as cheapairplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages, soonit is likely to be a little more expensive to fly as a result of increasingairfare security fees due to be implemented in July.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) hasannounced its intention to raise the security fee to $5.60 for each leg of aflight (defined as a separate takeoff and landing) where the connection betweendomestic flights is more than four hours vs. now charging $2.50 each way for anonstop flight and no more than $5 for a trip that comes with connections. Previously round trip security fees werecapped at no more than $10.
Congress approved higher TSA security fees as part of aDecember budget deal. There is a publiccomment period before the increase will be implemented, but it would mostlikely take another act of Congress to change this fee.
Airlines for America, an industry trade group, says thatthe new fees will disproportionately hurt people from small and ruralcommunities who must often take more connecting flights to reach their final destinations.
Last December Congress estimated that the fee hike wouldraise an additional $12.6 billion over the next ten years that could be used toreduce the deficit. Many travel expertshave criticized this fee increase because it is being used to cover generalgovernment expenses vs. aviation priorities.
The TSA has estimated the proposed fees will generatealmost $17 billion more over the next decade than the current feestructure. The agency claims that theadditional revenue is not designated for deficit reduction and will go to civilaviation security services. The TSAclaims that the fees will apply to those who benefit the most from securityservices.
The TSA has redefined a round trip to mean any trip leavingand returning to the same place. In thepast a traveler could fly from DC to New York, then head back and forth toChicago over a period of days, before returning home to DC for a total $10 insecurity fees.
Soon the same itinerary, with at least four hours betweeneach flight, would cost $22.40 in fees.
Members of Congress have argued that It is inaccurate tocite congressional intent through the (budget agreement) as a basis for changesto the definition of a round trip.
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