INSIDER
Labor Day Weekend: Crowds, gas prices, best travel times, St. Johns County shuttles & beach etiquette
Read full article: Labor Day Weekend: Crowds, gas prices, best travel times, St. Johns County shuttles & beach etiquetteTraveling this Labor Day weekend may be the busiest it has ever been, no matter if people are choosing to drive or fly.
Navigating new skies: New rules protect passengers
Read full article: Navigating new skies: New rules protect passengersThe summer travel season is in full swing, and the TSA says all signs point to a record breaker when it comes to flying. Airport fees are increasingly becoming an issue. The US Department of Transportation has recently announced some new rules that will protect airline passengers.
Holiday travel ramps up ahead of 4th of July. Here are the best times to hit the road or arrive at the airport
Read full article: Holiday travel ramps up ahead of 4th of July. Here are the best times to hit the road or arrive at the airportTravelers are getting ready to hit the roadways for the Fourth of July.
TSA anticipates busy 4th of July weekend for travelers
Read full article: TSA anticipates busy 4th of July weekend for travelersThe Transportation Security Administration anticipates a busy Fourth of July weekend for travelers after it reported an all-time high number of travelers screened Sunday across the nation.
TSA provides reminders for travelers ahead of Spring Break
Read full article: TSA provides reminders for travelers ahead of Spring BreakAs travelers gear up for spring break activities, the Transportation Security Administration wants to remind travelers what can and cannot be brought through airport security.
Traveling this holiday season? Here’s how to avoid delays while passing through TSA security
Read full article: Traveling this holiday season? Here’s how to avoid delays while passing through TSA securityWhat you can and cannot take in your carry-on bag and the three things you can do to avoid long lines at TSA security.
‘We need our paychecks’: Local federal workers demand urgent action as countdown for government shutdown begins
Read full article: ‘We need our paychecks’: Local federal workers demand urgent action as countdown for government shutdown beginsLocal members of the American Federation of Government Employees are calling on their elected officials in Washington to pass a budget so they can keep receiving their paychecks as the countdown begins for the government shutdown expected on Sunday.
FTC says travel-related scams are on the rise. Here’s how AI is helping scammers
Read full article: FTC says travel-related scams are on the rise. Here’s how AI is helping scammersYou might be excited to set your out of office email for the holiday weekend, but recent AI advancements are enabling more sophisticated phishing emails and cyber scams.
JAX offers flyers tips ahead of an expected summer travel surge
Read full article: JAX offers flyers tips ahead of an expected summer travel surgeThursday airport officials announced important information for people traveling in and out of JAX in the coming months , to make things as smooth as possible.
TSA officers seize knife at JAX after they say passenger shoved it in deodorant stick
Read full article: TSA officers seize knife at JAX after they say passenger shoved it in deodorant stickOfficers with the Transportation Security Administration at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) made an interesting find recently.
Man accused of carrying explosive in bag at Pennsylvania airport once lived in Florida
Read full article: Man accused of carrying explosive in bag at Pennsylvania airport once lived in FloridaThe man accused of checking in a suitcase with explosives inside at a Pennsylvania airport has local ties to Northeast Florida.
TSA reports a record breaking year for the number of guns found at JAX security checkpoint
Read full article: TSA reports a record breaking year for the number of guns found at JAX security checkpointThe Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted a record number of firearms at airport security checkpoints in 2022, including JAX.
TSA workers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport find gun hidden inside a raw hen
Read full article: TSA workers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport find gun hidden inside a raw henIt's not unusual for a TSA worker at any airport to find a weapon hidden in luggage, but no one expected a gun to be found inside a raw bird.
Knives, swords, guns: Just a few of the many items intercepted by TSA ahead of Labor Day weekend
Read full article: Knives, swords, guns: Just a few of the many items intercepted by TSA ahead of Labor Day weekendThe Jacksonville International Airport is expecting over 10,000 passengers to travel through the airport ahead of Labor Day weekend.
Head of TSA at JAX weighs in on influx of guns found in carry-on luggage
Read full article: Head of TSA at JAX weighs in on influx of guns found in carry-on luggageThe head of the Transportation Security Administration at Jacksonville International Airport weighed in Thursday on an influx of guns being found in carry-on luggage.
TSA: Agency stopping an average of 17 guns at checkpoints daily
Read full article: TSA: Agency stopping an average of 17 guns at checkpoints dailyThe Transportation Security Administration announced Wednesday that in the first six months of the year, it has detected more than 3,000 guns at checkpoints nationwide.
A passenger at Jacksonville International Airport found with a loaded gun in carry-on luggage
Read full article: A passenger at Jacksonville International Airport found with a loaded gun in carry-on luggageThe Jacksonville Airport Authority confirmed Friday that a passenger was found with a loaded gun in his carry-on luggage.
42 guns confiscated at Jacksonville International Airport in 2021
Read full article: 42 guns confiscated at Jacksonville International Airport in 2021A total of 42 guns were confiscated at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at Jacksonville International Airport last year, according to TSA.
Long waits expected at nation’s airports Sunday as travelers head home
Read full article: Long waits expected at nation’s airports Sunday as travelers head homeLong lines and crowds were expected at Jacksonville International Airport on Sunday, but early in the day there wasn’t much of a rush as expected.
How air travel changed after 9/11
Read full article: How air travel changed after 9/11Packing only small containers of liquids into one quart-sized bag. Arriving hours before a flight. Removing shoes to go through checkpoints. These security measures have been accustomed in airports since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, changed air travel.
CLEAR or TSA PreCheck? How each works, and which might be a better fit for you
Read full article: CLEAR or TSA PreCheck? How each works, and which might be a better fit for youWe all know how the process works when you’re going to the airport: Check in, get your boarding passes, check luggage (if that’s what you’ve decided on) and then head to security to make your way to your gate.
Pilot, other man detained after TSA finds gun at JAX
Read full article: Pilot, other man detained after TSA finds gun at JAXWhen a viewer alerted News4Jax that two men in pilot uniforms were detained by authorities near the TSA checkpoint at JIA at around 7 a.m. Thursday, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority confirmed that a loaded gun was found in one of the men’s carry-on bags.
Top airlines banning passengers from bringing guns on flights to D.C.
Read full article: Top airlines banning passengers from bringing guns on flights to D.C.So we’ll have to watch it virtually,” Pride-Gooch said. The mayor of Washington has encouraged people to be like Pride-Gooch and not come to D.C. the week of the inauguration. Major airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest and United, are also taking the potential for violence seriously and have increased security, banning passengers from checking guns. This includes flights to and from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. Pride-Gooch said watching the inauguration with her daughter virtually will still be special, knowing history will be made.
Most major US airlines ban guns in luggage for DC flights
Read full article: Most major US airlines ban guns in luggage for DC flightsDelta, United and Alaska airlines said Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 they will bar passengers flying to Washington from putting guns in checked bags. The moves follow the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and politically tinged confrontations on some flights. American Airlines is bringing back a ban on serving alcohol on flights to and from the Washington area — flights go dry starting Saturday through next Thursday. Price also said that it is “a good idea” to prohibit passengers from putting guns in checked bags if they are flying to Washington. Federal law allows passengers to put guns in checked baggage if they are unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided case, although airlines have the discretion to ban guns.
Majority of Americans expected to stay home for Christmas
Read full article: Majority of Americans expected to stay home for ChristmasJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – During what is normally a hallmark travel time, Jacksonville International Airport was noticeably quiet and emptier than is typical for the day before Christmas Eve. @wjxt4 pic.twitter.com/MDxwycAacd — WJXT Ashley Harding (@WJXTAshleyH) December 23, 2020Wednesday was expected to be the busiest day for travel to holiday destinations, but analysts are expecting the vast majority of travelers will stay home for the holidays. RELATED: US holiday travel surges despite outbreakIt’s due mostly to the COVID-19 pandemic and CDC warnings to avoid flying. However, some passengers at JAX said today that life has to continue, even during a pandemic. If you are flying the CDC recommends booking your ticket for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or News Years Day to avoid high-volume times.
TSA officers finding more guns at airports in spite of fewer passengers
Read full article: TSA officers finding more guns at airports in spite of fewer passengersJACKSONVILLE, Fla. Transportation Security Administration officers found three times as many guns at airports this July than the same month last year. TSA says the rate is particularly surprising since there were about 75% fewer passengers in July 2020 over the previous years volume. In July 2019, TSA reported finding 5.1 guns per million people screened. This July, TSA officers detected 15.3 guns per million people screened. So far this year, 20 guns have been intercepted at Jacksonville International Airport including one on Wednesday and one on Thursday.
3 TSA officers at JAX test positive for COVID-19
Read full article: 3 TSA officers at JAX test positive for COVID-19JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three Transportation Safety Authority officers at Jacksonville International Airport are among 763 across the country who have tested positive for COVID-19, the agency announced Thursday. According to TSA, the three employees at JAX tested positive during staff screening and their last day actively working at the checkpoints was June 16. TSA reported 90 confirmed cases in TSA screening officers at 10 airports across Florida. The TSA told News4Jax it had been taking steps to prevent any further spread, including social distancing from passengers, giving verbal advisements and making sure passengers are social distancing. For the past several months, TSA officers have been wearing masks and gloves.
3 TSA officers at JAX test positive for COIVD-19
Read full article: 3 TSA officers at JAX test positive for COIVD-19JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Three Transportation Safety Authority officers at Jacksonville International Airport are among 763 across the country who have tested positive for COVID-19, the agency announced Thursday. According to TSA, the three employees at JAX tested positive during staff screening and their last day actively working at the checkpoints was June 16. TSA reported 90 confirmed cases in TSA screening officers at 10 airports across Florida. The TSA told News4Jax it had been taking steps to prevent any further spread, including social distancing from passengers, giving verbal advisements and making sure passengers are social distancing. For the past several months, TSA officers have been wearing masks and gloves.
TSA intercepts gun at Jacksonville International Airport
Read full article: TSA intercepts gun at Jacksonville International AirportJACKSONVILLE, Fla. A gun was intercepted by security at Jacksonville International Airport over the weekend. The gun found Saturday was one of six firearms confiscated in six days at airports throughout Florida, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Thats why the agency is reminding travelers to pay attention to whats inside their luggage and pockets, so they can move safely through security checkpoints without stopping for extra searches. If a gun is brought to the TSA screening checkpoint, the passenger will be interviewed by police and may be going to jail instead of to their desired destination, a TSA spokesperson said. TSA officers have intercepted 141 guns throughout Florida this year, including 12 in Jacksonville.
Severe weather puts a damper on holiday plans nationwide
Read full article: Severe weather puts a damper on holiday plans nationwideJACKSONVILLE, Fla – Severe weather Monday is putting a damper on holiday travel nationwide. Millions are effected by nasty weather just as we enter into one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Closer to home, flights are on schedule at Jacksonville International Airport at last check Monday morning. TSA reccommends arriving 2 hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. Find more TSA travel guideline here.
TSA stopped a traveler after finding a toilet-paper 'gun' in his bag
Read full article: TSA stopped a traveler after finding a toilet-paper 'gun' in his bagJohn Moore/Getty Images(CNN) - TSA agents at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport were prepared to give a traveler crap when they spotted a revolver in his carry-on bag. But upon closer inspection, what they thought was a gun was really a gun-shaped toilet paper holder. "Yes, this most unusual revolver was not designed to spin bullets," TSA joked in a press release on Thursday. "It was designed to spin toilet paper." The "realistic replica gun" triggered an alarm when the bag it was in went through an X-ray machine.
TSA trauma for transgender travelers
Read full article: TSA trauma for transgender travelersStill, he recalls one instance a few years ago in which TSA agents waved the phallus in the air in plain view of other travelers. When asked whether TSA agents asking passengers to show their genitals was against protocol, Burke relayed, "TSA does not conduct strip searches." According to Burke, TSA agents also undergo official sensitivity training as part of their annual requirement. The TSA said in April it is exploring updating the body scanners to help streamline security for all travelers. The TSA offers some information for transgender travelers on its website, including a note saying the agency is committed to ensuring transgender travelers are met with courtesy and respect.
Why Are There So Many Bags of Cheetos in This Woman's Carry-On?
Read full article: Why Are There So Many Bags of Cheetos in This Woman's Carry-On?Why are there so many Cheetos in this woman's carry-on bag? TSA agents assigned to the Los Angeles International Airport unpacked bag after bag of Cheetos from social media influencer Emily Mei. Perplexed by the sheer volume of snacks, they even swabbed the packages, apparently convinced something was afoot. But Mei says she's just a huge fan of Cheetos and they are hard to get in South Korea. Even though she's an influencer, Mei says that she's not being paid for any kind of Cheetos endorsement.
How Jacksonville International Airport ranks in the country
Read full article: How Jacksonville International Airport ranks in the countryAnd fewer people are happy with the whole airport experience these days. But when you compare the experience in Jacksonville with the experience flying out of airports the same size and even larger in other parts of the country, apparently it's not too bad. There's construction on the road leading to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX). Nationwide a rushed traveler experience, longer TSA lines and delays mean that overall passenger satisfaction isn't progressing as much as it has in the past. Jacksonville International ranked second with a score of 831.
TSA bans Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge 'thermal detonator' Coke bottles
Read full article: TSA bans Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge 'thermal detonator' Coke bottlesDisney and Coca Cola partnered to make these specialty soda cans for the new Star Wars land. (CNN) - To commemorate your visit to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, you can bring home a $200 lightsaber, a Chewbacca backpack, or a puppet Porg. The bottles, which are for sale exclusively inside Star Wars lands in Anaheim and Orlando, are shaped like small orbs that resemble either a droid or a thermal detonator, depending on your point of view. Scott Trowbridge, the lead Imagineer on the Galaxy's Edge project, said the design of the bottle looked "cool, kind of thermal detonator-ish" on a panel earlier this year. At $5.49, the bottles are one of the cheapest souvenirs available at Galaxy's Edge -- and popular: Disney has limited guests to three bottles per transaction to prevent hoarding.
Strange TSA finds
Read full article: Strange TSA findsMovie prop at HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport: TSA agents said this is definitely one of the more unusual things they've handled. It's a prop from the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" series and was allowed through after a successful trip through the X-ray. He even had his own ticket for a seat! Hide Caption
Traveler in wheelchair says she was 'humiliated' at TSA checkpoint
Read full article: Traveler in wheelchair says she was 'humiliated' at TSA checkpointNASHVILLE, Tenn. - She came to Nashville just for a doctor's visit, but when she left she said she was humiliated by TSA agents at Nashville International Airport. She says she was leaving Nashville after a doctor visit when she was at the TSA checkpoint at BNA on July 3. It was there that Coulston says an agent explained they needed to inspect her wheelchair seat cushion before letting her through, in addition to her typical pat-down. The incident was caught on camera, and she said that kind of experience has never happened to her before at a TSA checkpoint. Two years ago, police in Knoxville arrested a man after TSA agents found a handgun hidden inside his wheelchair seat cushion at a TSA Checkpoint.
Toddler injured after ride on airport baggage conveyor belt
Read full article: Toddler injured after ride on airport baggage conveyor belt(CNN) - A toddler was injured after he climbed onto a baggage conveyor belt behind a ticket counter at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport and rode it all the way to the TSA bag room, authorities said. The boy had climbed onto the conveyor belt and was taken back to the TSA bag room, where agents saw him and stopped the belt. Vega said she was told her son was on the belt for about five minutes. "He just went a long ride away, I couldn't even catch up," Vega told CNN affiliate WSB. "The child was able to access a back baggage area via a bag belt and sustained some injuries.
Boy takes ride on Atlanta airport baggage conveyor belt
Read full article: Boy takes ride on Atlanta airport baggage conveyor beltA toddler was injured after he climbed onto a baggage conveyor belt behind a ticket counter at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport and rode it all the way to the TSA bag room, authorities said.