TSA’s New ‘Express’ Fee Change Could Cost You $20 More Per Flight – Here’s How to Skip It
If you’re already frustrated with airport security delays, listen up: the TSA is quietly rolling out a new “Express” lane pilot program at select airports, and it’ll ding your wallet an extra $20 per trip unless you act fast. It sounds like a scam, but it’s real—travelers who aren’t TSA PreCheck members will be offered a chance to pay for a faster security line at the checkpoint. Consumer advocates are calling it a “pay-to-play” tax on the average flyer, arguing it punishes the 70% of travelers who can’t afford the $78 PreCheck membership fee. The real kicker? If this pilot goes national, you could face paying up to $100 extra per round trip just to avoid missing your flight. To protect your wallet, skip the premium add-on: arrive two hours early, fly during off-peak times, or evaluate if a $18 annual PreCheck membership (after the sign-up fee) saves you more long-term. Until the TSA proves this isn’t just a cash grab, don’t feed the beast—your $20 is better spent on a coffee and a good book at the gate.