Discarded loose change nets TSA USD675,000
All that loose change discarded by travelers passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at airports added up to a substantial windfall for the TSA coffers last year.
In the TSA’s 2014 fiscal year report released yesterday it said quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies left behind amounted to nearly $675,000.
This is a small increase on the $638,143 recovered the previous year but a hefty 76% jump on the $383,414 collected in 2008.
TSA "makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left at the checkpoint, however there are instances where loose change or other items are left behind and unclaimed," it said in a statement.
"Unclaimed money, typically consisting of loose coins passengers remove from their pockets, is documented and turned over to the TSA financial office," the agency said.
Congress gives TSA discretion to use the unclaimed money toward beefing up security operations at airports and TSA plans to use the money it collected in 2014 toward expanding the TSA Pre-Check program.
Passengers at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport were the nation’s most forgetful, leaving behind $42,550 on screening tables, followed by Los Angeles with $41,506.64 left in spare change.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps