Twitter Reacts to Aviation Passenger Security Fee Hike

Image: PHOTO: Twitter keyboard. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)
Image: PHOTO: Twitter keyboard. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)
Ryan Rudnansky
by Ryan Rudnansky
Last updated: 4:35 PM ET, Wed December 11, 2013

<p> Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and Republican Rep. Paul Ryan <a href="http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20131209/RYANWI_011.XML">reached an agreement</a> on a new budget deal on Wednesday that will increase the aviation security fee by 124 percent if passed,via <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2013/12/11/ryan-murray-budget-deal-hikes-air-travel-security-tax-by-124/">Vince Coglianese of the <em>Daily Caller</em></a>.</p> <p> A fee of $11.20 would be charged for a round trip if the agreement goes through.</p> <p> As largely expected, the deal came to fruition because government wants to roll back the sequester and deaden the automatic spending cuts scheduled for the beginning of 2014.</p> <p> Naturally, many in the travel industry are unhappy. Here's a look at Twitter reaction from around the globe.</p> <p> Delta CEO Richard Anderson said the new security tax would be absorbed by customers, not the airlines, according to the <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/410796129086103552">Associated Press</a>:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"> <p> As Congress debates doubling TSA fee to $10 per ticket, Delta CEO says fliers will pay that tax, not the airline: <a href="http://t.co/iqqvdqXQQB">http://t.co/iqqvdqXQQB</a></p> - The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/statuses/410796129086103552">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote> <p> A security fee of $5.60 will be tacked on to one-way trips, up from $2.50, per <a href="https://twitter.com/jamiedupree/status/410734952700182528">Jamie Dupree of COX Radio</a>:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"> <p> New airline ticket tax for aviation security would be "$5.60 per one-way trip" - current fee is $2.50 one-way</p> - Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamiedupree/statuses/410734952700182528">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote> <p> <a href="https://twitter.com/TimWoodPulse/status/410847083420065792">Tim Wood, executive editor at travAlliancemedia</a>, wrote:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"> <p> Travel industry leaders none too happy that Congress left in "security" tax hike in the passed budget. <a href="http://t.co/hj4NpdXXxw">http://t.co/hj4NpdXXxw</a></p> - Tim Wood (@TimWoodPulse) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimWoodPulse/statuses/410847083420065792">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote> <p> The airlines have received some relief, at least. According to <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-11/security-fee-paid-by-airlines-repealed-under-u-s-budget-deal.html">Bloomberg News</a>, airlines will receive a $380 million break under the budget deal, per <a href="https://twitter.com/AllAboardOhio/status/410855070859673600">All Aboard Ohio</a>:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"> <p> Airline subsidies grow but Congress wants less 4 <a href="https://twitter.com/Amtrak">@Amtrak</a>. Airlines get $380 million break under budget deal <a href="http://t.co/lozIt3PjWE">http://t.co/lozIt3PjWE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jplungis">@jplungis</a></p> - All Aboard Ohio (@AllAboardOhio) <a href="https://twitter.com/AllAboardOhio/statuses/410855070859673600">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote> <p> <a href="https://twitter.com/tjslater/status/410859724913922049">One traveler</a> simply tweeted:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"> <p> So long, family on the east coast. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/DRUDGE_REPORT">@DRUDGE_REPORT</a> Airline fees to increase 124%... <a href="http://t.co/RIe3XoRuDm">http://t.co/RIe3XoRuDm</a></p> - Thomas James Slater (@tjslater) <a href="https://twitter.com/tjslater/statuses/410859724913922049">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote> <p> <p> <a href="https://twitter.com/FlashReport/status/410860720444567552">Jon Fleischman of FlashReport.org</a> mourned:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"> <p> Read it and weep. 124% increase in air travel "fee' (read: tax) will move $14B from private to public sector --> <a href="http://t.co/C8wYO3VNPM">http://t.co/C8wYO3VNPM</a></p> - Jon Fleischman (@FlashReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlashReport/statuses/410860720444567552">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote> <p> <p> <a href="https://twitter.com/rickseaney/status/410865217258541057">Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com</a> noted:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"> <p> DOJ sues to block AA/US merger (likely higher tix) then raises tix prices (via higher TSA fee) <a href="http://t.co/pbBefOO7rJ">http://t.co/pbBefOO7rJ</a></p> - Rick Seaney (@rickseaney) <a href="https://twitter.com/rickseaney/statuses/410865217258541057">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote> <p> <p> <a href="https://twitter.com/RallyingAmerica/status/410877507248738304">Rallying America</a> added:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"> <p> So the new budget deal includes a higher air travel fee for security, but the money doesn't go towards security measures. What?</p> - Rallying America (@RallyingAmerica) <a href="https://twitter.com/RallyingAmerica/statuses/410877507248738304">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote> <p> <p> And <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewLitavis/status/410872927467216896">Drew Litavis of JetBlue</a> summed up what most travelers are probably thinking:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"> <p> Truly infuriating; enough taxes on air travel! RT <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNMoney">@CNNMoney</a>: Budget deal would hike airline passenger security fee. <a href="http://t.co/oYZTQAheq4">http://t.co/oYZTQAheq4</a></p> - Drew Litavis (@DrewLitavis) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewLitavis/statuses/410872927467216896">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote>


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Ryan Rudnansky

Ryan Rudnansky

Born and raised in Santa Rosa, California. Graduated from San Diego State with a B.A. in journalism. Worked for Bleacher Report, covering all things sports in over 1,800 articles en route to 26 million reads. Also worked for the Healdsburg Tribune and Windsor Times in California, freelanced for the San Francisco Chronicle and wrote music reviews for OregonMusicNews.com in Portland, Oregon.

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