JetBlue Joins TSA Pre✓™

Now On Board with the TSA Security Program

While I wrote about JetBlue starting to accept TSA Pre-check™ back in November, at the time only a handful of airports were able to accommodate JetBlue with the expedited screening process. As of this week, however, JetBlue has expanded the program!

Congress's Air Tax: An Unfair Proposition?

JetBlue Is Against the Proposed Tax Hike

According to BlueTales, on a $300 round trip ticket 20% of the cost, on average, does to fees and taxes imposed upon the aviation industry. Currently flying is taxed under the same sinful area as tobacco and alcohol. Now, Congress is proposing a 100% increase on a TSA tax, from $2.50 to $5.00 and the White house is in support of tripling it. This increase is meant to tackle budget deficits, but has no actual correlation with increased security or personnel hires within the TSA.

A few facts about the current situation:

• From 2007 to 2012, the TSA budget increased 19% even though the number of screens performed dropped by 11%.
• The aviation industry is subject to 17 different federal and state taxes.
• Last year passengers paid nearly $2 billion in security taxes when flying.

Is there a lot more to this than meets the eye? That always tends to be the case when it comes to politics and matters of policy. In this case though, this seems to be a transparent grab at funding increasing for an arm of the government whose usefulness has already been called into question in recent years despite more and more money getting pumped into the TSA's coffers. There is no apparent or explicit benefit that we, as passengers, could be gaining by this increase in security tax. It puts strains on the already fragile airline industry, drives up already expensive ticket prices, and sets a dangerous precedent for future moves of similar nature. 

If you'd like to speak out to your representative about your feelings on the tax, you can do so easily at Stop Air Tax Now and stand up with Airlines for America, the Consumer Travel Alliance, IATA, ALPA, and RAA to oppose the additional taxes. I have taken the short amount of time needed to voice my opinion and hope you do too! Traveling shouldn't have to be un-affordable by way of taxes and now is an opportunity to prevent rising costs.

 - John

Jet Blue Joins TSA Pre✓™

Faster Security for Select Customers

Jetblue now supports the TSA Pre✓™ program, where select fliers can go through a less strict, faster version of TSA screening in the airport. Benefits usually include shorter lines, not having to remove your jacket/shoes, and so on. Although this is a free service, you must be a part of a "trusted traveler" program or a member of the  U.S. Armed Forces . Simply input your ID from the eligible organization when booking your flight to have the status added.

Currently, the TSA Pre✓™ boarding pass is only available through JetBlue's mobile app and not available to those who print out boarding passes either at home or at the airport. Even if you are not registered as part of  TSA Pre✓™, if you use the mobile app and qualify as a low risk flier you may be awarded the status on your boarding pass. Since most people can't take advantage of being a member of the program, still being eligible and having it automatically added to your e-boarding pass is a really nice feature.

The ability to print TSA Pre✓™ boarding passes at home, kiosks, or service desks in an airport is slated for the first quarter of 2014. In the mean time, the mobile app offers validation that a flier can go through the more swift screening process. At this time, JetBlue offers the service in the following 22 airports:

Austin, Texas	Newark, N.J. (a)
Boston	Oakland, Calif.
Charlotte, N.C.	Orlando, Fla.
Ft Lauderdale, Fla. (a)	Pittsburgh
Hartford, Conn.	Salt Lake City
Houston (Hobby)	San Francisco (a)
Las Vegas	San Juan, Puerto Rico (a)
Long Beach, Calif.	Seattle
Los Angeles	Syracuse, N.Y.
New York (LaGuardia) (a)	Washington, D.C. (Dulles)
New York (JFK)	White Plains, N.Y.

* Airports with (a) do not have dedicated lines but may still offer an abbreviated screening.