Travelers upset about higher security fees on airline tickets

ATLANTA — Some travelers are upset about an increased security fee to buy an airline ticket. The security fee will soon be $5.60 for a one-way domestic ticket, or $11.20 for a round-trip ticket. The measure was passed by Congress as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, and signed by President Barack Obama on Dec. 26.

"Leave us poor, hard-working, middle-class people alone," said traveler Brenda Nixon.

The security fee will go toward the Transportation Security Administration, but fees collected in excess of $250 million will go towards the general fund.

Right now, the 911 security fee is $2.50 but will increase on July 1.

"Ever since 911 we've been paying the price, we have to strip down buck naked, now you want to charge us extra money," Nixon said.

The new bipartisan budget deal, signed into law by the president, repeals the Aviation Infrastructure fee imposed on carriers.

"On one hand Congress has decided that consumers need to pay more and on the other hand Congress has decided that the airlines can pay less," said Charlie Leocha, director of the Consumer Travel Alliance. "This is a fee that acts like a tax; it happens to hit every single person that flies."

Right now, if you buy a $300 round-trip ticket, you pay about 20 percent or $61 in taxes or fees, according to Airlines for America.
"Does the money really go for TSA not just for administration of TSA, more bureaucracy," asked traveler Mark Seal.

WSBTV