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> There wasn't room in the budget for comfort items like food on the plane, which back then was free. I can't go full grumpy old man mode cause I'm only 27, but damn does it feel like it will only get shittier and shittier to be poor in this country.

As much as I lament the cattle-car nature of modern air travel, it's worth pointing out that the food was never "free", it was just rolled into the price of the ticket. On an inflation adjusted basis, the average flight costs about 30% less now than it did in 1995[0]. Some of that is surely more efficient planes and logistics, but some of that is the airlines charging only the people who want an $8 cheese and cracker pack, rather than giving everyone a salisbury steak. It's a sad fact, but a lot of people buy their tickets based on the list price rather than a holistic assessment of value, which means that the airlines cut corners on service to get the list price as low as possible.

[0] https://www.transtats.bts.gov/AIRFARES/

The problem is that you don't have an equal comparison of what you get for that price and airlines have been doing this for a long time.

They used to refuse to show the price of the flight with tax and fuel until the government forced them to. Now they're trying to play the same game with seat assignments, your carry on, and checked bags.

Why shouldn’t those who travel without checked luggage should get some kind of discount?

They don’t tie up the check-in line, requiring the presence of the agents and bag handlers, they do not require the labor of the baggage handler on the other end of the trip and anywhere in the interim. Fuel cost savings are likely minimal, but labor costs at the airports can add up fast.

> We've got TSA holding the nation's airports hostage back in 2015 by slowing EVERYTHING down in order to get more funding. Many airports/airlines now offering "expedited security" as part of their "pay for the oxygen on the plane" price plans, this on top of CLEAR/PreCheck. So now TSA knows they can do that, if they don't get the funding from the gov they'll just leverage schemes to get it from airlines/airports, as the article indicates.

Let's just be entirely clear: TSA is completely separate from passport control, in terms of how it's structured and funded. Both are not-fun experiences[0], but the article is about passport and border control, not airport security.

> Many governments would gladly shift the cost of passport checks. Too gladly, reckon some airports, who fear the entire bill for passport control may eventually be dumped on them.

I actually would probably be in support of having these costs passed on to airports. Airports (and airlines) are in a much better position to lobby for overall improvements in the passport control experience than passengers are. As noted in this article, their incentives align very well with passengers' incentives: the more painful passport control is, the fewer international flights, which means less business for them.

[0] and trust me, I know this better than most....

> I actually would probably be in support of having these costs passed on to airports

What I am confused by is that my international tickets already have several fees and taxes that go to the US government (not the airline or airport), amount to a fair bit per person, and in theory are to cover all this security and processing. Isn't this ~$20 per person enough?

I really wish they had big signs at "security" checks saying "You paid $8 for this".

I feel the same way about senators wearing Nascar style jackets, showing everyone that sponsors them ;)

A lot of the old perks on airplanes were due to price controls imposed on them pre-privatization. They weren't allowed to compete for customers by lowering prices, so they spent money on unnecessary quality improvements in an attempt to compete for customers.

It's the exact inverse of one of the problems with rent control. Under rent control, landlords aren't allowed to raise prices to pay for capital improvements that renters are willing to pay a premium for; with airline ticket price floors, airlines weren't allowed to slash prices, so they added perks that flyers would prefer not to pay for.

Why was there a floor on the price?

Prior to 1978, airline fares that crossed state lines were regulated as a public utility might be.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_Deregulation_Act

To prevent the unstable race to the bottom business cycle that is inevitable.

> but damn does it feel like it will only get shittier and shittier to be poor in this country.

I'm not sure how much of the outside world you have experience, but I can tell you categorically it's already much, much worse to be poor in the USA than any other developed country.

Poorer people in the USA are desperate, it's no wonder there's so much crime and so many people in prison compared to other developed countries.

> There wasn't room in the budget for comfort items like food on the plane, which back then was free

Are you allowed to take your own food on the plane in the USA?

When the airline doesn't give me free food, I'll often just pack my own. It's usually nicer than what they'd give me anyway. I'd rather a nice homemade bacon and egg sandwich than the shit they serve you on a plane.

Departing from New Zealand I've never had an issue bringing my own meal. Obviously I can't bring something to drink, but I can buy something after security.

The one that annoys me more than food is charging for luggage. Especially since some airlines will add a luggage fee for every leg of the trip, which can add up to be very expensive.

Obviously I can't bring something to drink, but I can buy something after security.

You can bring empty (plastic) bottles through security and fill them up at the next bathroom.

May not be a good idea at airports in countries where tap water quality is not up to scratch (or in Flint, MI).

You definitely can bring your own food — except I guess maybe not something yogurt that's a "gel"? That's what I do and it's always better than what they're serving, as long as you don't mind it not being hot.

Not sure how much food you can bring through security control. I've never tried more than a pack of gum.

You can buy food once you're in the secure area, of couse, but it's generally quite expensive.

I just made a special meal request, at the bottom of the page:

> If you can't find a suitable meal from the options we offer, you're welcome to bring your own food. Please ensure it doesn't require heating or refrigeration. Also remember to plan your meal around the security screening restrictions on liquids, pastes and gels.

So go wild!

You're allowed to bring an amount for "consumption during your trip". I've brought fast food from outside and eaten it on the plane. TSA had no issues. I regularly pack a few bags of chips/fruit when flying on short trips.

I also bring a refillable water bottle.

I have frequently brought a full meal through. For my last trip I had a to-go box in my hand as I walked through security (so it wasn't hidden in my bag).

The only time I ever had a problem was when my meal was a burrito wrapped in aluminum foil, and there I just got a secondary search.

last few flights i've taken:

- leftover pizza - a sushi box from the grocery store - sandwich i made at home - chicken fingers

> We've got TSA holding the nation's airports hostage back in 2015 by slowing EVERYTHING down in order to get more funding.

But this is about the CBP, not the TSA.

Right, my general point though being government agencies are going to shift more and more cost onto consumers/private organizations. CLEAR is a cbp thing, as I remember.

CLEAR = biometric thing that checks your identity, letting you skip waiting in the line to show your ID to TSA. You still take off your shoes and empty your carryon bag for the x-ray, you still go through the body scanner, but it gets you up to that point faster.

TSA Pre = separate security line at airports which support it. Leave your shoes on, leave stuff in your bag, go through metal detector instead of body scanner. Basically the pre-9/11 airport security experience. Some airports which don't fully support Pre do various forms of relaxed rules for you when passing through an otherwise standard post-9/11 process.

Global Entry = expedited passage through customs on entering the US.

NEXUS = expedited passage through customs in both directions at the US/Canada border.

Global Entry is likely the best value for money/effort, since it also gets you Pre, and also provides you with an ID card that you can use when crossing into the US by land, and use of an expedited lane at land crossings if you register your vehicle. NEXUS has similar benefits for US/Canada border and includes Pre, but is more difficult to obtain because you have to pass background checks from and interview with officers of both countries (CBSA and USCBP; Global Entry only requires check/interview with USCBP).

SENTRI = expedited land crossing at US/Mexico border.

NEXUS is the best value IMO. It’s half the price of Global Entry, and _includes_ Global Entry (effectively), PreCheck and SENTRI. The interviews are straight forward and conducted back to back at the same physical location. Scheduling might be the only challenge — there are fewer locations than Global Entry.

How does Nexus include global entry? Isn't it only for Canada/USA?

From CBP website (FAQ):

All current NEXUS members, and U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents who are SENTRI members, are eligible to use Global Entry kiosks once they provide fingerprints and document information to CBP. If CBP already has your fingerprints and document information on file, you can use Global Entry kiosks without further action and at no additional cost. If you are a Mexican national in SENTRI, you must apply for Global Entry through your TTP account. For additional Global Entry benefit information, log on to your TTP account.

And global entry is only for USA..

GlobalEntry is a CBP thing

Clear is not - it is private.

https://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://...