Yes, COVID rates are falling in most places. And yes, communities everywhere are lifting their face mask requirements. But the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has decided to buck the trend. TSA will keep the face mask requirement for travel on public transportation in place for at least another month after the planned March 18 expiration.
Here’s the agency’s statement:
At CDC’s recommendation, TSA will extend the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for one month, through April 18th.
During that time, CDC will work with government agencies to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor. This revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science. We will communicate any updates publicly if and/or when they change.
2021 was an odd one for travel, with so many COVID-related unknowns throughout the year. But that didn’t stop passengers from bringing along some odd things in their carry-ons and checked baggage.
See the video above for the TSA’s Top Ten Catches of 2021.
Unruly airline passengers may face fines and the wrath of crew members and other passengers.
Now, under a new partnership between the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), unruly passengers may also end up kicked off the TSA PreCheck roster.
TSA PreCheck gives travelers access to expedited security screening. Precheck-qualified travelers don’t need to remove shoes, laptops, belts, light jackets, or take out their bag of lotions and liquids. The fee is $85 for five years and requires fingerprinting and a background check.
Under the new partnership, the FAA will share information with TSA about passengers facing fines for unruly behavior. And TSA may then remove those passengers from TSA PreCheck screening eligibility.
“If you act out of line, you will wait in line,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said. “Our partnership aims to promote safe and responsible passenger behavior. One unruly incident is one too many.”
“TSA has zero tolerance for the unruly behaviors, especially those involving physical assault occurring aboard aircraft,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “This partnership with FAA will help ensure the safety and security of all passengers and hold those who violate federal regulations accountable for their actions.”
Other ways to lose TSA PreCheck Status
On its website, TSA spells out other actions that might cause a traveler’s PreCheck status to be revoked ‘for a period of time.’
The list includes refusing to wear a mask, making a bomb threat, or bringing a firearm to an airport or onto an aircraft:
If you commit certain violations of federal security regulations, such as refusal to wear a mask in U.S. transportation systems covered by the January 31, 2021 Security Directive and subsequent amendments, assault, threat, intimidation, or interference with flight crew, physical or sexual assault or threat of physical or sexual assault of any individual on an aircraft, interference with security operations, access control violations, providing false or fraudulent documents, making a bomb threat, or bringing a firearm, explosive, or other prohibited item to an airport or onboard an aircraft, you are denied expedited screening for a period of time.
Once again, it looks like someone is having a little too much fun with the Transportation Security Administration’s social media accounts.
The TSA has a handy “What Can I Bring?” tool that is part of the agency’s standing offer to help travelers figure out what they may and may not put in their carry-on bags and in checked luggage.
But not everything is covered. Hence the question: “Can I take my 850-pound THC infused brownie?”
See the TSA’s answers to that question and their advice on a few other travel items below.
And have a great weekend, wherever you are traveling.
Have you found a tree-mendous noble fir you just can’t leave home without this holiday? Yule be happy to know this wood be pine by us. Branch out though and talk with your airline, they’ll tell you whether it’s truly oak-y or not. More travel questions? @AskTSA here on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/TcuEQ10DAZ
“Pack your own lunch!” At least that’s what cheese said. Whatever solid food meats your needs go ahead and pack it. Even if it's in your snackle box. Do you know what else pears well with this gouda idea? Our "What Can I Bring?" tool, found here: https://t.co/kF698f1APcpic.twitter.com/MkYa59zOhi
While there are still fewer passengers flying on commercial planes due to the pandemic, there is an uptick in the number of firearms people are bringing with them to U.S. airports.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced this week that so far this year its officers have found a record number of firearms at airport security checkpoints.
As of October 3rd, with three months yets to go in 2021, TSA officers had stopped 4,495 passengers with firearms. That already surpasses the previous year-long record of 4,432 firearms caught throughout all of 2019.
In 2019, TSA found 5 firearms per million passengers. So far this year, TSA discovered 11 firearms in carry-on bags at airport checkpoints per million passengers.
Here are Top 10 airports for firearms discoveries so far this year. Note that the most firearms have been found at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and that three Texas airports (DFW, IAH, and DAL) are on this list.
