Why you should never use airport charging stations
Read today's edition of Gate Access • June 2nd, 2025
Happy Monday. As airlines begin to offer more incentives for baggage options, I would like to conduct an updated poll to understand which team you’re on, so I can focus on providing resources, tips, and updates in that area.
🚨 On The Radar
🟢 An exclusive report shared by Thrifty Traveler has found that American, Delta, and United are quietly charging solo travelers more for certain domestic one-way fares than if booking for two or more passengers. This pricing difference, seen in limited but notable cases, appears to be driven by fare class segmentation and may disproportionately affect business travelers and individuals booking solo. Allegedly, Delta is the first to update its systems to fix this issue after being caught… hmmm
🟢 JetBlue and United have launched “Blue Sky,” a new partnership that links their loyalty programs, allowing members to earn and redeem points across both airlines and enjoy reciprocal perks like priority boarding and extra legroom seats. The collaboration will also enable cross-booking through each airline’s app and website, and includes operational agreements such as slot sharing at JFK and Newark.
🟢 As of May 28, 2025, Southwest Airlines has ended its long-standing “Bags Fly Free” policy, now charging $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second. Elite status members, Business Select passengers, and co-branded credit card holders still receive free baggage allowances. If you booked travel before May 28th with Southwest, you’ll still be able to enjoy the two free checked bags for those scheduled bookings.
🟢 Starting June 3, United Airlines will require all domestic passengers to check in at least 45 minutes before departure, extending the cutoff from the previous 30 minutes for those without checked bags. The change aligns check-in deadlines across all passengers and matches industry norms. Travelers are still advised to arrive at the airport with ample time to avoid missing their flight.
🟢 American Airlines AAdvantage members can now use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID at four airports—DCA, LGA, ATL, and SLC—as of May 29th. The system verifies identity using a photo match with government records, allowing faster, contactless security screening. Members can opt in through their AAdvantage profile, with plans to expand the program to more airports soon.
Have you ever seen “SSSS” on your boarding pass? It means you’ve been selected for secondary screening. You can find more info surrounding SSSS in this former Gate Access release.
Still, today in the extended edition, I’ll be sharing some critical information regarding your electronics when you have an SSSS status.
😳 Wild TSA Bag Checks
I heard things about Chicago, so I’m not that surprised to hear people are walking around with stuff like this. Recently, at O’Hare, TSA officers found a knife hidden inside an umbrella. Take a look.
✈️ ATC Watch: Latest Update
Newark Liberty is reopening its shuttered runway (4L-22R) a full 13 days early, just in time for peak summer travel.
The $121 million rehab project, which kicked off in March, was aimed at fixing wear and tear on the 11,000-foot runway. Crews resurfaced it, upgraded lighting to LEDs, improved signage, laid new electrical infrastructure, and handled drainage updates.
It was initially scheduled to wrap mid-June, but it’s back in business this Monday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is expected to hold a press conference. The runway’s closure had been a major factor behind weeks of delays and operational chaos at Newark.
While weekday operations are resuming, expect continued night and weekend closures later this year as the final touches get handled.
But let’s not forget, runway rehab wasn’t the only headache.
FAA equipment failures also caused communication blackouts for air traffic controllers this spring, forcing a cap on flights in and out of Newark. The FAA says the runway reopening will help ease that pressure, but staffing and tech issues are still lingering in the background.
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👀 Why You Should Never Use Airport Charging Stations
If you've recently seen headlines warning travelers not to use airport charging stations, congrats, you're seeing recycled news. This isn’t new information, but it remains relevant. And yes, it's still risky.
Those public USB ports may seem like a lifesaver, but here's the truth: Plugging into one of those can expose your device to hackers who install malware through compromised ports, a trick now called “juice jacking.”
While the TSA and FBI have issued warnings about the potential risks of "juice jacking", these advisories focus on traveler awareness rather than active monitoring or maintenance of charging stations by authorities.
Here’s the TSA-backed advice:
🚨 Don’t plug your phone into public USB ports. Bring your own TSA-compliant battery pack or wall charger.
🚨 Avoid public WiFi if you're planning to shop, bank, or do anything involving sensitive info. This includes lounge and in-flight WiFi connections.
🔓 In Today’s Extended Version
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What to do with your electronics if you're hit with the dreaded SSSS on your boarding pass. This is one of those things you don’t care about until you’re in the situation.
I forgot to share this tip last week regarding temporary paper IDs. Knowing this simple step will make things much easier for you when you find yourself in a renewal period.
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