Tagged: transportation-security-administration

TSA Makes Leap Toward Privatization with TSA Gold+

Fresh off a monthslong partial government shutdown that led to chaotic airport checkpoint lines, staff working without pay for 44 days, and more than 1,000 agents walking off the job…

First-of-Its-Kind "Remote Terminal" Lets You Go Through TSA Before Arriving at the Airport

For the first time, some air travelers will soon be able to complete the Transportation Security Administration screening process at a remote location, before arriving at the…

Some Airports Have Suspended Wait Time Reporting Online Due to Shutdown Chaos

Remember how we advised you last week to consult the website of the airport you're flying out of in order to find reliable estimates for security wait times? The Transportation…

"The TSA’s New $45 Fee to Fly Without ID is Illegal," Says Regulatory Expert

On Sunday, February 1, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began charging travelers without REAL ID $45 to fly.This may come as a surprise, but no U.S. law requires you to…

7 Tips for Surviving the FAA Flight Reduction Crisis—Including One You'll Wish You'd Thought Of Yourself

You’ve read the news: The U.S. government shutdown is now the longest in history. TSA agents and air traffic controllers haven’t been paid in over a month, so Transportation Secretary…

The TSA Has Banned These Hair Care Products from Checked Luggage

This year, the Transportation Security Administration has made a few important tweaks to security rules at the airport.In February, the TSA clarified that portable chargers and power…

It's Official: The TSA Has Ended Its Loathed Shoe-Removal Policy

At airports across the United States, the Transportation Security Administration is now letting passengers in the standard screening line keep their shoes on. First noticed by flyers…

Flyers without REAL ID Asked to Arrive 3 Hours Early (Or Just Bring This Instead)

REAL ID is a case study of how constantly shifting politics in the United States makes it nearly impossible to get constructive long-term projects done. First developed in 2001 after a…

Don't Have a REAL ID? You Can Use These Forms of Identification Instead

Update, December 1, 2025: As of February 2026, the United States government will charge its citizens a $45 fee to fly if they go to the airport without a REAL ID. Read more about the…

Can You Really Get Water Past TSA by Claiming It's "Medical"? Fact-Checking Social Media

An Instagrammer says he figured out how to get full-size bottles of water past Transportation Security Administration checkpoints."Here's the greatest travel hack of all time,"…

Exclusive: TSA Chief Reveals Huge Changes for Faster Airport Security—And Some Are Already in Place

With no fanfare, and with little public comment, one of the most dreaded aspects of air travel got faster, less intrusive, and far more pleasant. I’m talking about airport security,…

10 Surprising Things That Could Trigger a Bag Search at the Airport

Most travelers already know the warnings about packing hazardous and prohibited items—we're well informed to avoid sharp objects, flammable liquids, and firearms. But at airport…

Is the TSA's 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Ending Now That Technology Has Improved?

The days of bringing a full-sized bottle of water or shampoo in your carry-on bag for a flight are, by and large, a distant memory. In fact, some young travelers have never known such…

Accidentally Traveling with Cannabis: Does Anyone Care Anymore?

The majority of U.S. states have now legalized access to marijuana, whether it's for recreational or medical use. People ranging from young adults to great-grandmothers now casually…

What's in the New Infrastructure Bill for Travelers? Lots of Great Stuff We Need

Travel in the United States is about to get a lot more safe, convenient, enjoyable, and—possibly—less expensive. And it's all thanks to the just-passed infrastructure bill. Officially…

Apple Users in 8 States Can Soon Use Their Phones as ID at Airports

A lot of Apple customers will soon be able to leave their IDs in their bags when going through airport security. Earlier this month, the company announced that eight U.S. states have…

With Covid Still Uncontained, U.S. Extends Airline Mask Mandate

The United States' Transportation Security Administration has decided to extend its mask requirement for all passengers on airplanes, trains, buses, subways, ferries, and within…

TSA Is Training Fight Attendants to Take Down Unruly Passengers

Coffee, tea, or a clock-cleaning? That'll be the new menu aboard the major U.S. airlines soon. Following a spate of antisocial behavior by passengers, the Transportation Security…

Masks Will Be Required on Planes, Trains, and Buses Into September

Masks aren't going away anytime soon, at least not on public transportation in the United States. The Transportation Security Administration has extended its mask mandate through…

Pandemic Forces a 19-Month Delay in Real ID Enforcement at Airports

Many notorious fibs have been told to modern travelers: High-speed rail is coming soon. Competition will make airline service better. Mergers will give travelers more choice. But among…

Going Maskless on Planes, Buses, or Trains Could Now Cost $1,500 or More

For most of 2020, airlines and other travel suppliers urgently told customers to wear masks. But if passengers were unwilling to comply, there wasn't much that could be done. The major…

This Year, You Finally, Really, Truly Need Real ID to Fly

Update, April 27, 2021: Guess what? The government delayed Real ID yet again. Click here to read about the new deadline.We really mean it this time: Real ID becomes mandatory at U.S.…

TSA Rolling Out Self-Scan I.D. Checkpoints That Don't Need Boarding Passes

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has converted 100% of its security checkpoints at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to accept self-scanned identification…

Are TSA Screenings About to Become Self-Serve?

Earlier this week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released information about a pilot program the agency has been testing at Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan…

What to Expect at TSA Screenings This Summer

May 21, 2020 The number of passengers moving through airport security checkpoints in the United States is ticking up, passing 200,000 on several days in May, according to data from the…