We’re Tipping the TSA One Million Dollars Per Year
Jennifer Billock May 30, 2019
Flying soon? Make sure that after you empty your pockets, you keep track of your belongings. Recent reports show that the Transportation Security Administration found nearly $1 million in loose change last year after passengers left it in the bins and bowls that run through the security machines.
Do your pockets feel a little lighter after going through security at the airport? It’s possible you left some change behind in the bins and buckets endlessly running through the machines. In 2018, the Transportation Security Administration collected nearly $1 million in loose change from security lines.
The amount collected annually has steadily been rising. In 2014, it was about $675,000; in 2015, it was $766,000; and last year, it was $ $960,105, Vox reported.
“There is no real way for TSA to know why this happens,” TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein told CNBC. “It makes sense to point to an increase in the number of travelers as one likely reason, but other than that, we have no theories.”
All that extra money people have left over the years has a destination, though. Congress passed a law in 2005 saying the TSA can spend it on a civil aviation security project of its choosing—so it all gets logged and put into a bank account. In the past, the money has been used to expand TSA Pre-Check services and to translate security signs into other languages.
The largest airports aptly tend to collect the most money each year. In 2017, JFK in New York collected $72,392. LAX pulled in $71,748, and Miami bankrolled $50,504.
[Image Source: Shutterstock]
I have no concerns if it all gets recorded then goes towards a staff function / coffee run. These workers could use any moral booster possible.
Before I even get to the security line, I take all the things from my pockets including credit cards, cash, etc and put it in an envelope in the outer pocket of my carry-on bag. Then I can easily re-assemble myself on the other side without losing anything. And I don't have any trouble with the metal detectors. I enjoy giving to charities, but TSA isn't one of them.
The TSA "screeners" are only concerned with the "security theater" of checking what's in your bag. That's why whenever they pull a bag, they ask, "whose bag is this?" I've never seen them make sure that customers retrieve their own things when they are standing around doing nothing.. pmiranda, that is a great comment!
For at least 15 years, I’ve used ziplock bags. Before I get to the security line, I put coins, glasses, phone, pens, etc. in the baggie. I can do that when I’m not rushed and might forget something. When I get the plastic bin, I simply drop the baggie in with the other stuff. I’m not holding up the line trying to empty my pockets. And because the baggies are clear, if an agent wants to check something, he can see everything without emptying it. On the airside I pick up the bin and go to a table or bench and retrieve everything. Again, not unnecessarily holding up the line trying to retrieve $1.37 in coins from the bin. If I’m pushed for time I can put the baggie in a pocket to sort out later at the gate or after boarding. If the left coins are given to charity/ies, who decides which charity? Let TSA keep it. Use it to keep expanding precheck!
No, giving it to charities is NOT a good idea. Most of the charities that it would end up with are already choosing to pay their CEOs and senior staff hefty 6-figure sums as it is.