Travelore News: TSA Quietly Scraps 20-Year Rule In Abrupt Change Impacting All Travelers Immediately

The sweeping policy will pertain to all US airports and passengers who possess Real-ID-compliant documents, despite whether or not they are enrolled in TSA PreCheck.

Officials say the policy is now dated (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Travelers will no longer be required to walk barefoot through airport security, according to a significant policy change made by the Transportation Security Administration.

The notorious rule, which required flyers to remove their shoes before undergoing TSA security procedures, was implemented in the US after 9/11 and has been in effect for more than two decades. A TikTok creator named Travelwiththeharmony, a former TSA officer and proprietor of Gate Access, announced the major shift in protocol to their followers over the weekend.

The sweeping policy will pertain to all US airports and passengers who possess Real-ID-compliant documents, despite whether or not they are enrolled in TSA PreCheck. The updated identification requirements officially went into effect in late May.

The rule change may quell passengers' frustrations that have persisted for years, including inconsistent airport experiences, lengthy wait times in security lines and certain screening procedures. The decision was driven in part by technological advancements and a thorough reassessment of threat-level risks.

Today's technology is now capable of detecting possible hazards present on a passenger's person without making flyers take their shoes off, which was previously a luxury for TSA PreCheck lanes. The move will possibly decrease hostility toward the agency, which has been under fire in recent months for what some view as annoying airport security measures.

Some, like Sen. Mike Lee, have called for extreme measures and suggested TSA be dismantled all together. He added that airlines should assume responsibility for passenger screenings. Surprisingly, the idea wasn't immediately disregarded, signaling a real dissatisfaction with the agency's current policies.

The shoe protocol was arguably the most visible and debated portion of the screening procedure, so it's abolishment may put TSA in a better light and expedite security screenings.

The shoe removal rule was brought forth in 2001 after Richard Reid, notoriously nicknamed the "shoe bomber" tried to sneak explosives aboard a transatlantic flight by concealing them in his footwear. The protocol remained a staple of the TSA security procedure for more than 20 years, remaining the same as others evolved.

Officials assert that given no such attempt has been detected since then and the advancement of scanning systems in most major airports, the policy is dated.

This will no doubt cut TSA security check wait times drastically. No more sliding acorss the airport floor in your socks or holding up the line to loosen that double knot. It may benefit flyers traveling with kids the most as rushing to the gate while simultaneously keeping track of little ones can be tough.

https://www.themirror.com/authors/mataeo-smith/

Travelore Tips: Some Airports Will Now Issue A 'Gate Pass' To Non-Flyers, So Here's How To Request One

If you watch old movies or TV shows and sigh nostalgically for the days when you could take loved ones directly to their gate at the airport, or show up to greet them as they're getting off the plane (think Rachel meeting Ross on "Friends"), you're not alone. Getting to spend a bit of extra time with our friends and family can mean a lot, leading people to utilize helpful tricks like dropping people off at arrivals so they can have a few more minutes of hug time. However, in recent years, some U.S. airports have instituted policies that let you drop people off or pick them up right at the gate with something called a "gate pass." Each participating airport has a different name for its specific program, and different rules around when and how to apply, where you can go, how long you can stay, and what sort of pass you have to have on your person.

Participating airports at the time of this writing include Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), San Antonio International Airport (SAT), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Michigan, Tulsa International Airport (TUL), Ontario International Airport (ONT), Tri-Cities Airport (TRI), John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, and Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). Although most of these airports are international, you cannot do this for people coming in from other countries, as customs laws prevent it.

How the gate pass systems work

The gate pass programs allow you to do more than just accompany your loved one right to the gate or pick them up from one. You can spend some time shopping at airport stores together, or sitting down for one more meal before they leave. (Louis Armstrong International Airport is one of the best U.S. airports for food offerings like Leah's Kitchen and Emeril's Table, so it's doubly worth it there.) 

If you want to get a gate pass for yourself to use for a loved one's upcoming flight, check the airport's website or call them to find out the specific requirements. For instance, while Philadelphia International Airport's Wingmate Pass lets you apply ahead of time online (as most do), Detroit Metropolitan Airport only allows you to apply in person at kiosks on the departures level at specific terminals, and it must be used that day. If you're applying for one at Ontario International Airport, you must know the terminal and flight time, and you have to show up with a fully-charged phone and a digital pass only. However, you will always need a government-issued ID, and you can't skip long security lines with TSA PreCheck. Airports cap the pass number differently as well, with some allowing 100 per day, and some only 25. You will also have to go through the TSA security checkpoint. 

Note that this is different from the airline passes to accompany minors flying alone and disabled persons to their gates. In that case, you'll also need a government-issued ID and go through security, but you'll get your pass at the ticket counter when you bring them. In this case, call your airline beforehand to double check the necessary steps. 

https://www.islands.com/author/jennabusch/

These Airports Offer Free City Tours During Long Layovers

Free layover tours at popular Asian and Middle Eastern hubs now allow connecting passengers to explore the city beyond the airport in between flights.

The futuristic Supertrees at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay are one of the stops you can visit on a free city tour during a layover at Changi Airport.Photo by beersonic/Shutterstock

When weighing the merits of a long layover at a seemingly out-of-the-way airport (say, 18 hours at Istanbul’s Atatürk when you’re flying from Washington, D.C. to Bordeaux), consider whether it offers a free layover tour for in-transit passengers. Major hubs in Asia and the Middle East now provide connecting travelers with a glimpse of the city beyond the airport, on free tours that are easily booked on arrival or reserved in advance. The well-run programs are so robust, it’s like getting a mini-vacation tacked onto your real vacation.

Changi Airport (SIN): Singapore

Singapore’s Changi Airport is often ranked the best in the world. While there’s plenty to see right within its walls, it’s also conveniently located for exploration. If you have a 5.5-hour layover (or longer) at Changi, you have a choice of three city bus tours, each of them lasting 2.5 hours. The Heritage Tour runs twice a day (1 p.m. and 6 p.m.) and includes ultra-modern Marina Bay, the Central Business District, and the Singapore River, with 30-minute stopovers in Chinatown and the Malay Arab–influenced Kampong Gelam district, dense with fabric shops, old-world perfumeries, and restaurants specializing in murtabak (a folded, stuffed flatbread). The City Sights Tour, meanwhile, is offered three times a day (12 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m.) and includes 30-minute stopovers at Merlion Park (home of the Lion City’s famed fish-lion fountain) and Gardens by the Bay, with its Avatar-esque Supertrees. And, finally, the once-daily Changi Precinct Tour (10 a.m.) focuses on the hidden gems of the residential town just outside the airport, with 30-minute stopovers in Tampines Central Park and Changi Beach Park, a sandy spot for picnics and plane-spotting. To participate, visitors must drop their bulky bags at a storage location and be prepared to show their passport, boarding passes, entry visa (if required), and booking confirmation.

How to sign up

You can book a tour up to 50 days in advance on the Changi Airport website. But if you’re more of a last-minute planner, you can still make a tour happen. Upon arrival, stay in the transit area, don’t go through Arrival immigration, and stop by one of the Free Singapore Tour booths in Terminal 2, Level 2 (near Gate F50) or Terminal 3, Level 2 (near Gates A1-A8).

Among the free itineraries offered by Touristanbul is a seasonal Bosphorus cruise. Photo by Kateryna Kovtun/Unsplash

Istanbul Airport (IST): Istanbul, Türkiye

Turkish Airlines passengers with international transfer flights and at least six hours to kill have access to a series of seven different complimentary Touristanbul tours. The shortest lasts for 3.5 hours and is densely packed with sights of historical and cultural significance, including Taksim Square and the Aqueduct of Valens, with a stop for photos on the Galata Bridge. The 9.5-hour full-day tour, on the other hand, includes breakfast and lunch and visits to the Ottoman-era Blue Mosque, the bustling Grand Bazaar, the Topkapı Palace (the former main residence of sultans), and more. Between May 1 and October 31, you can even opt for a seasonal Bosphorus cruise and dinner in the courtyard of the Baroque Revival Dolmabahçe Palace, which was built in the 1850s and served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Each of the seven tours is offered once per day, with the earliest (Sightseeing Tour) setting off at 8 a.m. and the latest (Old City Tour) running from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.—check the website for the complete schedule.

How to sign up

Ticketed passengers can check their eligibility by entering their ticket number or reservation code on the Touristanbul website and then make advanced reservations. If you didn’t plan ahead of time, you can still check availability at the Touristanbul desk, after you pass through passport and customs controls.

During a layover at Incheon International Airport, you can plan a free visit to Hongdae Street to commune with Seoul’s cool kids. Photo by Patrick/Unsplash

Incheon International Airport (ICN): Seoul, South Korea

ICN offers 13 tours and in-airport experiences, eight of which are free. Among the complimentary options for exploring this part of South Korea: take a ferry ride from the nearby Gu-eup Ferry Terminal to Wolmi Park in the heart of Incheon’s old town, stop into the futuristic INSPIRE Entertainment Resort (which has a casino, mall, and immersive media art exhibition), dive into Korean youth culture on Hongdae Street, or sample street food at Sinpo International Market, which is especially known for its Sinpo Dakgangjeong (crispy fried chicken in spicy sauce). History buffs can instead opt to visit such sites as Cheong Wa Dae, which served as the presidential residence from 1948 to 2022, or the Jeondeungsa Temple, whose current incarnation celebrates its 600th anniversary in 2025.

How to sign up

You can reserve a spot for a tour online, but even if your selection is listed as sold out, more than half of the slots are reserved for walk-ups. Arriving passengers must take the shuttle train to Terminals 1 or 2, where registration desks can be found on the first floor.

Immerse yourself in Taiwanese history and architecture on a half-day Taipei tour during your layover. Photo by Markus Winkler/Unsplash

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE): Taipei, Taiwan

Transit passengers must have at least seven hours (and no more than 24) before their connecting flight to take advantage of one of Taipei’s three free half-day tours. The morning outing (which leaves Terminal 2 at 8:15 a.m. and Terminal 1 at 8:30 a.m.) covers the 286-year-old Bangka Lungshan Temple, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and hip Yongkang Street. Afternoon tours (which leave Terminal 2 at 1:45 p.m. and Terminal 1 at 2 p.m.) stop at Daxi Old Street, known for its Baroque architecture and historic shophouses; the 1902 Daxi Puji Temple; and the Musical Note Wall of Fong Fei-fei, dedicated to the late pop singer. Finally, evening tours depart between 5:50 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. and begin at the 33-story observation deck at the New Taipei City Hall, before continuing with stops at the Jieyun Temple and Nanya Night Market, which is known for such specialties as herbal catfish soup, oyster omelets, and the better-than-it-sounds stinky tofu.

How to sign up

There are only 18 spots per tour, so if you want to guarantee a spot, you can book online 5 to 90 days prior to arrival. If there are still slots available day of, travelers can register at the Tourist Service Centers in the arrival lobbies of Terminals 1 and 2.

https://www.afar.com/authors/ashlea-halpern

Travelore Tips: TSA Expects This Holiday Travel Season To Be The Busiest Ever

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has screened a record number of passengers this year and anticipates airport security checkpoints nationwide will be busier than ever this holiday travel season.

The season kicks off with Thanksgiving travel, which begins Friday, Nov. 17 and concludes Tuesday, Nov. 28. During the 12-day period, TSA expects to screen 30 million passengers. Historically, the three busiest travel days are the Tuesday and Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward. TSA is projecting to screen 2.6 million passengers on Tuesday, Nov. 21; 2.7 million passengers on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and 2.9 million passengers on Sunday, Nov. 26, which will likely be the busiest travel day.

"We expect this holiday season to be our busiest ever. In 2023, we have already seen seven of the top 10 busiest travel days in TSA's history," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. "We are ready for the anticipated volumes and are working closely with our airline and airport partners to make sure we are prepared for this busy holiday travel season. We will also do our best to maintain wait time standards of under 10 minutes for TSA PreCheck® lanes and under 30 minutes for standard screening lanes. I am grateful for our dedicated employees who continue to remain vigilant and focused on the mission during this holiday travel season and beyond."

TSA has recorded multiple days with more than 2.8 million passengers screened so far in 2023. The current record for the heaviest passenger screening volume in TSA history was on Friday, June 30. On that day, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) screened nearly 2.9 million passengers at checkpoints nationwide. TSA will likely exceed this record this Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

To view the highest passenger screening volumes recorded by TSA since its establishment in 2001, please click here.

Additionally, there are now more than 17.6 million passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck, which is the highest amount ever recorded and represents 3.9 million more TSA PreCheck members than there were this time last year.

Travelers should keep these top tips in mind before arriving at the airport:

Pack smart; start with empty bags. Passengers who start with an empty bag while packing are less likely to bring prohibited items through the checkpoint. Certain foods, such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves must be packed in a checked bag because they are considered to be liquids or gels. If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, then it is a liquid and must be packed in your checked bag. As always, passengers may bring solid foods such as cakes and other baked goods through the TSA checkpoint. Check for prohibited items by using the "What Can I Bring?" page on TSA.gov. or just ask @AskTSA.

Bring an acceptable ID and have it out in the screening lane. Before heading to the airport, travelers must make sure they have acceptable identification. Identity verification is an important step in the security screening process. At many checkpoints, the TSO may ask you to insert your physical ID into one of our Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units, where a boarding pass is not needed.

The second generation of CAT, called CAT-2, is currently deployed to 25 airports and adds a camera and smartphone reader to the other CAT features. The camera captures a real-time photo of the traveler at the podium and compares the traveler's photo on the identification credential against the in-person, real-time photo. Once the CAT-2 confirms the match, the TSO verifies and directs the traveler for appropriate security screening without ever exchanging a boarding pass. Photos are never stored or used for any other purpose than immediate identity verification. Passenger participation is voluntary and if a passenger chooses not to have their photo taken, they may have their identity verified manually instead without losing their place in line. For more information on how TSA is using facial recognition technology to enhance security effectiveness, improve operational efficiency and yield a more streamlined passenger experience, go to https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/factsheets/facial-recognition-technology.

Arrive early. The airport will be busy this week, so arrive two hours prior to your scheduled flight to allow for adequate time to park your car or arrive via public transit or rideshare, check bags and go through security screening before arriving at the gate.

If you plan to travel with a firearm, you must properly pack the firearm in a hard-sided, locked case in your checked bag and declare it with the airline at the ticket counter when checking in. Passengers are prohibited from packing firearms in carry-on luggage and bringing them to the airport security checkpoint and onboard aircraft. Bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint is expensive and time-consuming and can cause delays. The maximum civil penalty for bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint is nearly $15,000. Additionally, it will result in the loss of TSA PreCheck eligibility for up to five years. For more information on transporting firearms, visit: www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition.

Be aware of new checkpoint screening technology. TSA uses a variety of security methods and technologies to secure our transportation systems. Screening protocols vary from airport to airport, depending on available technology and the current threat environment. Some airports have installed new state-of-the-art Computed Tomography (CT) scanners which significantly improve threat detection capabilities for carry-on bags and reduce physical searches of bag contents for prohibited items. CT units give TSOs the ability to review 3-D images of passengers' bags, so passengers screened in security lanes with CT units do not need to remove their 3-1-1 liquids or laptops. With CT units, all travelers must place every carry-on item, including bags, into a bin for screening.

Travel with ease with TSA PreCheck and ensure you have the TSA PreCheck mark on your boarding pass. TSA's trusted traveler program now has more than 90 participating airlines, is available at more than 200 airports and has two authorized enrollment providers. Those enrolled enjoy the benefits of faster checkpoint screening. The five-year membership costs just $78. After submitting an online application, which takes just five minutes, applicants must schedule an appointment at any of the 500 plus enrollment centers. After a successful enrollment center visit, most new enrollees will receive their Known Traveler Number (KTN) within three to five days. Members may renew their membership online up to six months prior to expiration for another five-year term for $70.

Most TSA PreCheck members wait less than five minutes at the checkpoint. Children 12 and younger may join TSA PreCheck family members in the TSA PreCheck screening lanes. Children 13-17 may join enrolled adults in the dedicated lanes when traveling on the same reservation and if the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the child's boarding pass. TSA PreCheck passengers must ensure that their KTN, along with correct date of birth, is in their airline reservation. For more information about becoming a member of the TSA PreCheck program, visit: www.TSA.gov/precheck.

Call ahead to request passenger support. Travelers or families of passengers who need assistance may call the TSA Cares helpline toll-free at 855-787-2227 at least 72 hours prior to travel with any questions about screening procedures and to find out what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares also arranges assistance at the checkpoint for travelers with specific needs.

Text or direct message us @ AskTSA. Get your questions answered before you head to the airport. Travelers can get assistance in real time by texting their question to #275-872 ("AskTSA") or through @AskTSA on X (formerly known as Twitter) or Facebook Messenger. An automated virtual assistant is available 24/7, while staff is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET daily, including holidays and weekends. Travelers may also reach the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673. Staff is available from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends/holidays; and an automated service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Remain aware. Travelers should report suspicious activities, and remember: If You See Something, Say Something™.

Show gratitude to frontline workers. Thank a TSO, a gate agent, a flight attendant or someone who serves on the transportation frontlines. TSOs complete about 200 hours of training to become certified and are committed to transportation security while ensuring all travelers are treated with respect and courtesy. Pack an extra dose of patience, especially during higher passenger volume travel days, and show gratitude to those who are working diligently over the holidays and every day to get everyone to their destinations safely.

SOURCE: Transportation Security Administration

CLEAR: The Private-Public Partnership That Breezes You Through Security

If you’re going to go to an airport, you already know what’s in store for you…lines, especially at security. And those lines can range from 20-40 minutes at some places during peak times. I know, because I’ve been in them. Most of you know about TSA PreCheck, but if necessity is truly the mother of invention, there’s another way to do it. Welcome to CLEAR, a private-public partnership that can get you through security in two minutes or less, and it’s working. For more details visit: https://www.clearme.com/

https://youtu.be/Ad2e9aoITSA 

Source: https://petergreenberg.com/

Racing For Your Flight But Need A Winter Coat? Try The Airport Vending Machine

Benefits Cosmetics has vending machines at 35 U.S. airports. PHOTO: BENEFIT COSMETICS

Efforts to lure passengers to shop before boarding get a new twist with machines that go beyond soft drinks to offer gloves, makeup and fresh salads

By 

Alison Sider. www.wsj.com

Zara Harding had a nagging concern as she walked to her gate after an airport layover in June. She had run out of time to buy a coat for the glacier hike in Washington’s Cascade Mountains she was heading to and was “worrying about being cold in the snow.”

There, at Hollywood Burbank Airport, she found her solution. “Lo and behold,” she says, “a Uniqlo brand vending machine appeared in my path.”

Ms. Harding, 39, a group fitness instructor from Northern California, paid $69.90 for an ultralight down jacket made by the Japanese retailer owned by Fast Retailing Co. She recalls swiping her card and exclaiming, “Take my money!”

Uniqlo last year started placing vending machines selling jackets, vests and other clothes in airports around the U.S. Uniqlo declines to discuss its sales. San Francisco International Airport officials say the machine there brings in around $10,000 a month. Later this year, the airport plans to add a Yo-Kai Express Inc. machine that sells ramen noodles.

Vending machines selling clothing, makeup, electronics and high-end foods are cropping up at U.S. airports where officials are competing for passengers with improved amenities.

Airports have long tried with shops to get passengers to open their wallets before boarding, but they have to keep things fresh: specialty retail sales, which exclude duty free as well as convenience and newsstand items like gum and magazines, have fallen 10% since 2012 to $1.66 per departing passenger at North America’s top 50 airports last year, according to trade publication Airport Experience News.

Now, airports are using vending machines to test the appeal of more unusual products, airport operators and vendors say. The machines can be stationed in unused corners of an airport and make sales around the clock. Some new machines have touch screens and robotic suction arms to deliver expensive products.

“There’s only so many stores you can fit in an airport,” says Elias Bizannes, chief executive of ZoomSystems, which operates machines for brands including Best Buy Co., Benefit Cosmetics LLC and Uniqlo.

Sarah Skwire, a senior fellow at a think tank in Indiana was on her way to Washington, D.C., when she got a text message that she needed her own makeup for a filming. At Indianapolis International Airport, she found one of the pink, 59 bus-shaped Benefit machines that are parked at 37 U.S. and Canadian airports.

Uniqlo last year started placing vending machines selling jackets, vests and other clothes in airports around the U.S. PHOTO: UNIQLO

Before, she says, “I would make sarcastic remarks—who’s going to blow $40 on Benefit while waiting for a plane, from a vending machine?”

This time, Ms. Skwire, 47, bought a travel makeup kit to get herself camera-ready. A few months later, she was back at a Benefit machine after a compact of pressed powder came apart in her bag during a security screening. “I went from a skeptic to a minor enthusiast.”

At some airports, vending machines offer local flavor. Ted Drewes, a St. Louis frozen-custard institution, has been selling $6 “concretes”—custard so thick you can turn it upside down without spilling—from machines at St. Louis Lambert International Airport since mid-2015. Travelers bought 15,000 concretes in the machines’ first year and sales climbed 25% the next year, according to AVendCo, which operates the four frozen-custard machines.

At Pittsburgh International Airport, a vending machine operated by Arcadia Publishing sells books on the history of local neighborhoods for about $20.

Gloves, hats and socks are among the offerings in the Buffalo Wool Co.’s machines. PHOTO: THE BUFFALO WOOL CO.

Other machines offer products that are hard to find elsewhere, including Buffalo Wool Co., which sells gloves, beanies, socks and other goods made from bison wool online and at trade shows. Co-owners Ron and Theresa Miskin spend a month in Alaska each year selling at the state fair, so they knew they could find customers willing to pay $95 for bison-wool gloves at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

But the company is based in Texas, and Mr. Miskin said it didn’t want to hire employees or rent a storefront. So it got two vending machines. The Buffalo Wool machines in Anchorage can make sales of as much as $500 a day each, he says. “A lot of people fly up there and then fly out to much colder places.”

Airport vending has had its challenges. ZoomSystems filed for bankruptcy in 2015 after several customer projects hit delays and the company breached debt covenants. The company emerged later that year with a plan to repay debt and reduce costs. ZoomSystems was acquired last year, and Mr. Bizannes says it is investing in new robotic and sensor technology for retail.

In 2013 Flat Out of Heels LLC introduced a vending machine to sell flat shoes to women walking—uncomfortably—through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. But the machine was often offline because it couldn’t get a strong enough cell signal to process credit-card payments and was removed two years later, says Dawn Dickson, the Miami company’s founder.

Ms. Dickson’s other company, Columbus, Ohio.-based PopCom Inc., has spent two years developing an improved vending machine—the PopShop—and plans to use it to relaunch Flat Out of Heels and for other retailers at airports. “It’s a captive audience,” she says of the airport.

Some companies are also revisiting the vending machine’s original product line: food. Briggo Inc., a Texas company that operates automated coffee kiosks, largely in offices, recently installed a machine at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. It brews customized drinks that passengers can order on a touch screen or through an app while they’re waiting to get through security. Being at the airport, says CEO Kevin Nater, is “like being on the world stage.”

A salad in a jar from Farmer’s Fridge, which has seven vending machines in Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. PHOTO: FARMER'S FRIDGE

Farmer’s Fridge, a Chicago company that dispenses fresh salads, soups and sandwiches from vending machines around that city and Milwaukee, is considering additional airport locations in its plans to expand to new cities. The company’s seven machines at O’Hare International Airport have generated $600,000 in sales this year through August, according to Chicago’s Department of Aviation.

Daniel Burka, a 39-year-old designer who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., was passing through Chicago on his way from New York to Palm Springs, Calif., for his father’s 70th birthday when he spotted the refrigerator with a touch screen.

“I immediately thought of wilted brown salad in a sad refrigerator,” he says, but took a chance anyway. He was pleasantly surprised by the jar of fresh cauliflower salad and side of white cheddar cheese that popped out for about $9.

“The bar is low in an airport,” he says, and “the green fridge was an oasis by comparison to the usual junk.”

Write to Alison Sider at alison.sider@wsj.com

17 Ways To Save On Travel In 2017 From Cheapflights.Com

Travel Experts Share 17 Ways to Save This Year

 The New Year brings new travel aspirations and money saving motivation. To help you manage both at the same time, the experts at Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, have compiled a list of 17 Ways to Save on Travel in 2017 filled with can’t-fail tips and tricks to stretch your travel dollar farther in 2017.

Starting with a currency check-up and moving through perfect planning, swap and save ideas and a round-up of other tips and tricks, Cheapflights’ list is a cheat sheet you will want to clip and save for travel planning all year round. Below is a sampling of the insider tips that will help you go farther for less in 2017:

·         Fly by night (or in the early morning) – The time a flight departs can also impact the price you pay for it. Traveling at night (between 6 p.m. and midnight) or in the early morning (think first flight out) will save. A general tip to remember: fly when people would rather be sleeping. After all, families with small children aren't usually lining up to take a 4 a.m. or 11 p.m. flight. And, an added bonus for the early bird: the first flight out is the least likely to be impacted by delays.

·         Clear your cache to save some cash – Internet users should delete their browser history every time they search for flights. Prices can increase based on the number of times searchers revisit a particular website.

·         Compare all of your options: Don't assume going directly to the airline is the cheapest way to travel. Sometimes small travel agents use flight search sites to sell off packages and flights that people have canceled. Travel providers have more flexibility to offer discounts on flights + hotels or flights + rental cars or other packages since they’re not sharing (and thus undercutting) the specific price of a room or a seat on the plane.

·         BYO - With shops and restaurants in airport departure terminals charging a premium, why not save some money by bringing your own food to eat onboard? Not only is it a sure-fire way to save money, it’s likely to be healthier too. Try our in-flight food hacks for in-flight dining at its best.

·         Stay ahead of the sales – Sign up to airline and travel providers’ travel deals newsletters and be sure to follow them on social media so you’re ahead of the game when it comes to flight sales, discounts and special offers. Oftentimes, flash sales and travel deals will be announced there first.

Here are 12 more tips you can use to play and win the holiday booking game: embrace the strong dollar by choosing destinations accordingly; use ATMs overseas for the best exchange rates; double your vacation time by combining holidays and weekends; combine business trips and pleasure into bleisure trips; pick a type of trip rather than a destination; compare prices at nearby airports; travel mid week for cheaper fares; look for the best fares 50 days out from your travel; consider traveling on holidays for big savings; use travel apps to make planning and traveling go smoother; be smart about data usage on the road; and use a la carte pricing to pay for only the travel perks you want. For the entire lowdown on how to save significantly on travel throughout 2017, consult Cheapflights.com’s 17 ways to save on travel in 2017at www.cheapflights.com/news/17-travel-save-ways-2017.

About Cheapflights.com, part of the Momondo Group

Founded in 1996, Cheapflights is a leading global flight comparison and deals publishing platform. It is now a market leader in the UK, U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand generating over $3 billion in global downstream revenue for its partners as it expands into numerous other territories. More than 120 million users visit its websites and apps each year, receiving more than two billion search results a month from across 900,000 routes. The 10 million strong opt-in subscribers to the Cheapflights newsletter receive the best deals from over 120 travel businesses – for whom it has driven more than $65 million in revenue this year. Together, the Cheapflights platforms generate enough bookings for its partners to fill a Boeing 747 every five minutes. 

In 2011, Cheapflights became part of the privately owned online travel search and inspiration network, Momondo Group.

Tired Of Travel Fees? Here's A Charge You May Be Unaware Of

By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ

 

 

• 

In this Wednesday, May 4, 2016, photo, a taxi dispatcher hands a piece of paper to a driver as... Read more

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK — Ever feel like the taxi ride from the airport costs more than the trip there?

It's not your imagination.

Airports across the country add surcharges of up to $5 a ride — typically passed directly on to travelers — for trips originating at their curbs. There are similar charges for limousine, Uber and Lyft drivers as well as shuttle buses for hotels, car rental companies and off-airport parking lots.

Those fees quickly add up, costing travelers more than $183 million last year at the 50 largest airports in the U.S., according to Associated Press calculations based on data obtained through dozens of public records requests.

"What are we doing that causes the airport to spend more money?" said Kimberly Grubb of Fort Worth, Texas, who was recently awaiting a Lyft pickup at San Francisco International Airport.

"It wouldn't be any different than if we knew people here who could come pick us up," Grubb adds. "It leaves a bad taste in your mouth."

San Francisco has one of the highest pickup fees in the nation: $5 for taxi rides that originate there and $3.85 for rides provided by transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft. Asked why the airport needs to charge such fees, spokesman Doug Yakel replied that state and federal regulations allow them.

Airports across the country say the ground transportation fees are necessary so they can pay to maintain the many miles of roads on their properties. The fees also go, in some cases, to hire staff to direct traffic and to dispatch taxis. With the growth of app-based ride services like Uber and Lyft, airports have also constructed new waiting areas and parking lots.

Officials at most airports were reluctant to further explain why they charged the fees except that doing so helps keep airport costs down, which in turn makes it cheaper for airlines to serve the community.

At Washington's Reagan National Airport, taxis have to pay $3 to access the pickup line, while other services like Uber have to pay $4. Spokesman Rob Yingling says the airport has very limited space and needs to create waiting areas for the cars as well as pay dispatchers and do road maintenance.

However, San Francisco, Washington and most other airports don't charge private cars to use their roads to pick up family and friends. (There are exceptions — Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport charges at least $2 just to enter the airport grounds.)

And it's not just taxi rides that cost money.

You may decide to park your own car at a private parking lot a few blocks away from Los Angeles International Airport. There is a still a charge — passed on through the lot operator — for the shuttle ride to the airport. In L.A., that ranges from $2.57 to $3.85 for each loop around the airport, depending on the size of the shuttle bus. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport charges off-airport parking lots $10 per parking space, per year, to operate their shuttles.

Those renting cars aren't immune from the fees either.

For instance, Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport charges rental car companies a shuttle fee of $1 for every car rented.

Overall, the highest combined fees per originating passenger were in Las Vegas, the two Washington D.C. airports and Dallas-Fort Worth. (The AP analysis excludes connecting passengers because they don't have a need for ground transportation.)

Las Vegas's airport collected $17.4 million last year in such fees, which came out to 84 cents per originating passenger, the highest of the 50 largest U.S. airports. That pales compared with the $11.60 per enplaned passenger the airport collected in landing fees. But the $2 per taxi pickup fee does add up when the ride from the airport to most hotels is just 10 to 15 minutes.

Washington Dulles International was the next most expensive at 80 cents followed by National at 79 cents and Dallas at 67 cents.

The operator of the three main New York City-area airports is the only large airport system not to charge a pickup fee for taxis, Ubers or limos. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey does charge a fee for off-airport parking lot shuttles and an advertising charge for hotel shuttles, making its average ground transportation fee 9 cents a passenger, one of the lowest in the nation.

Chicago's two airports are the lowest of the 50 largest in the U.S., both averaging about 2 cents per originating passenger.

Karen Pride, director of media relations for the Chicago Department of Aviation, refuses to answer questions about the city's fees. But one possible reason for the lower fees is that many fliers avoid taxis. Both of Chicago's airports are directly connected to the city's subway system. According to data from the Chicago Transit Authority, more than 18,000 people a day use the train to catch their flight. That's nearly one out of every five passengers, according to AP calculations, although the data also captures any airport employees who use the train.

In the age of $25 bag fees and additional charges to sit together with your loved ones, these extra few dollars might not seem like much. But many fliers are just sick of being charged for every little service, including getting a taxi home.

"For them to just tack on a charge like that is kind of adding insult to injury," says Lee Joseph, a flier from Portland, Oregon. "It's like kicking people while they're down."

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Brandon Bailey in San Francisco contributed to this report.

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Follow Scott Mayerowitz at twitter.com/GlobeTrotScott. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/scott-mayerowitz.