The Logbook: Since 2008, the TSA has claimed $7M in lost money

As we continue the holiday season, I happened upon some interesting data points on air travel and money: specifically, how much U.S. travelers lose in unclaimed money when they go through the security checkpoints at various airlines — which ultimately ends up in the pockets of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

As far back as 2008, the TSA has been releasing annual reports on unclaimed money left at airports. The TSA defines unclaimed money as “money that passengers inadvertently leave behind at airport screening checkpoints,” which, in most scenarios, constitutes loose change that passengers leave in those bins people put their belongings in when they pass through security checkpoints.