HOUSTON – Monday is the first day of higher airfares for all travelers. The Transportation Security Administration is raising the fee it charges flyers, more than doubling what's already tacked on to every airline ticket.
The TSA is collecting the additional fee, but some are finding issue with where the money is going and how it will be used.
As if airfares aren't high enough already, the overall cost for you to fly is soaring again. Starting Monday, the TSA security fee is more than doubling for some flights and some passengers are disgusted.
"If it's not going to help speed up security, to help make things faster for us at the airport then I'm not sure what the point is," said passenger Jody Moore.
The reason some travelers are so annoyed is the fee increase that was approved by Congress last year is set to cut the deficit and won't necessarily improve airport security at all. The increased revenue is expected to raise more than $12 billion to cut the deficit and the money will go into the general fund.
TSA issued a statement that read, "In accordance with Federal Law, the revenue generated from the security fee will be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. The revenue is to be used to offset TSA costs for providing civil aviation security services, after stipulated amounts are applied to reduction of the federal deficit."
So here is the breakdown: For a nonstop flight, round trip before Monday you would have paid $5 for the Sept. 11 security fee. But now that fee is more than doubling to $11.20.
While some are frustrated, others say it's not necessarily surprising.
"I don't like taxes any more than anyone else, but we have to have them. They are going to do with it what they are going to do," said passenger Rich Ward.