Trump would need to pay TSA fees through the standard channels available to any traveler

Donald Trump, like any other passenger, would pay TSA fees — more precisely, Transportation Security Administration fees — at the point of ticket purchase or through his airline. The TSA itself does not collect fees directly from passengers. Instead, the September 11 Security Fee, which is what most people mean by "TSA fees," is a per-segment charge added by airlines to every domestic flight ticket. A segment is one takeoff and landing, so a round trip counts as two segments.

The fee is currently $5.60 per segment for most passengers, though it can be higher for certain ticket types. Trump would see this charge appear on his airline ticket when he books through any carrier — American, United, Delta, Southwest, or any other — or through a travel website. He would pay it the same way he pays for the ticket itself: by credit card, debit card, or other payment method accepted by the airline.

There is no separate TSA payment portal, no special process for public figures, and no way to opt out. The fee goes to the federal government's general treasury, not directly to TSA operations, though it is legally designated for aviation security purposes.

Key Takeaways

  • The September 11 Security Fee is added automatically by airlines at checkout and costs $5.60 per flight segment for standard passengers.
  • Trump would pay this fee the same way any traveler does — as part of his ticket purchase with whatever payment method he chooses.
  • The fee is collected by the airline, not by TSA, and appears as a line item on the ticket receipt.
  • Former presidents and their security details may have different travel arrangements, but commercial air travel still requires the fee unless they use government or private aircraft.

Where the fee appears on your ticket

When you book a flight online or through a travel agent, the September 11 Security Fee shows up as a separate charge during checkout, after you have selected your flight but before you pay. It is labeled clearly as "9/11 Security Fee" or "TSA Fee" on most airline websites and confirmation emails.

The breakdown looks like this: base fare, taxes, the security fee, and any other charges (baggage, seat selection, etc.). You cannot remove it or negotiate it. Every domestic airline ticket includes it, and international flights departing the United States include it as well.

On a receipt or confirmation, the fee appears as a separate line item so you can see exactly what portion of your ticket price goes to security versus the actual flight cost. This is true whether you book directly with an airline or through a third-party site like Kayak, Expedia, or Google Flights.

What happens if someone refuses to pay

If a passenger refuses to pay the security fee, the airline will not issue the ticket. The fee is non-negotiable and built into the ticketing system — you cannot complete a purchase without it. There is no appeal process, no exemption request, and no alternative payment arrangement.

If someone has already purchased a ticket and then refuses to pay the fee at check-in (which would be unusual, since payment happens at booking), the airline would deny boarding. The fee is part of the contract between the passenger and the airline.

In practice, this situation almost never occurs because passengers see the fee during checkout and either accept it or do not buy the ticket. There is no enforcement action or penalty beyond being unable to fly — the fee itself is the only consequence of non-payment.

Whether former presidents pay differently

Former presidents and their security details typically do not fly commercial airlines in the way ordinary passengers do. They usually travel on government aircraft, private jets, or charter flights arranged by their security teams. These alternative travel methods do not involve TSA fees because they bypass commercial airline ticketing entirely.

If a former president or any other person were to book a commercial flight, however, they would pay the same fee as everyone else. The airline system does not have a carve-out for public figures, and the fee is federal law, not an airline policy that can be waived.

Secret Service protection and presidential security arrangements may mean that commercial air travel is impractical or not permitted, but that is a security decision, not a financial one. The fee itself would explore if commercial travel occurred.

How the fee is used

The September 11 Security Fee is deposited into the U.S. Treasury's general fund, not into a dedicated TSA account. Congress designates the revenue for aviation security purposes, but the money flows through the same appropriations process as other federal revenue. This means the fee does not directly fund TSA salaries or equipment — instead, it contributes to the overall federal budget that Congress then allocates to TSA and other agencies.

The fee was created after the September 11 attacks as a way to fund enhanced security measures at airports. It has remained in place since 2002 and is adjusted periodically by Congress, though increases are rare. The current $5.60 per segment rate has been in effect since 2014.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get a refund on the TSA fee if you don't fly?

The security fee is typically refundable as part of your ticket if you cancel your flight before departure, depending on your ticket type and the airline's policy. However, the fee itself is not separately refundable — it is refunded only if the entire ticket is refunded. Non-refundable tickets mean the security fee is also non-refundable.

Is the TSA fee the same on every airline?

Yes. The September 11 Security Fee is set by federal law at $5.60 per segment for most passengers. Every domestic airline charges the same amount because it is a government-mandated fee, not something airlines set independently. The only variation is for certain ticket types, such as connecting passengers on international flights.

Do you pay the TSA fee twice on a round trip?

Yes. Each flight segment — takeoff and landing — incurs the fee. A round trip is two segments, so you pay $5.60 twice, for a total of $11.20 in security fees. A trip with a connection counts as three segments if you have two flights outbound and one return, for example.

What if you book through a travel website instead of the airline directly?

The fee is the same regardless of where you book. Whether you purchase through the airline's website, Expedia, Kayak, or a travel agent, the September 11 Security Fee is added by the airline's system and appears on your receipt. Third-party booking sites do not change the fee amount.