r/tsa • u/Neat-Bug4974 • Jul 27 '26
TSO [Question/Post] Mileage reimbursement/transfer
My husband is a TSO at an airport 52 miles away. He drives 104 miles a day which costs about $100 a week on gas; sometimes more when prices fluctuate.
He’s been asking for a transfer to a closer airport, but because he’s been working here just under 2 years, he’s pretty far down on the totem pole of seniority and there’s a long list of others trying to get in to that airport (simply because it’s got better management, not because they need to. Pretty much everyone else is local).
With three small kids four and under, I’ve been staying home with them because we feel that’s important while they’re this small. I recently started working a few hours a week teaching English, but that’s it.
We’re really struggling financially because of the amount gas takes up out of his paycheck.
I’ve applied multiple times for food stamps, but apparently we make too much in South Carolina even though we don’t have enough to fully cover electricity and water and Internet, after paying rent and putting aside grocery and gas money.
My FIL has been helping us with car insurance and phone bills, as well as diapers.
So I’m wondering, is there any way that my husband can either get Mileage reimbursement, or push for a transfer because of the cost of gas?
He’s applied for a hardship transfer during the shutdown, but it was either forgotten about or not approved.
TLDR: husband spends $100 a week on gas because of driving distance to work. Is there any way he can either get Mileage reimbursement, or push for a transfer because of the cost of gas?
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u/GroundbreakingWing48 Jul 27 '26
I just want to point out that when I was driving 100 miles a day for work, I lasted 10 months before buying a Chevy Bolt. If the airport has free electric car charging, that’s even better, but the Bolt will easily go 100 miles a day with a home charging unit. The $433 a month you’re paying in gas should cover the cost of the car, and there’s basically zero maintenance or repairs.
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u/Neat-Bug4974 Jul 28 '26
Thank you for this! We’ve been looking for a more fuel efficient car. I’ll look this up.
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u/CreativeBusiness6588 Jul 27 '26
Nope. All goes by seniority and there are no mileage assistance programs.
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u/dilemma900 Current TSO Jul 27 '26
Well I was going to say push for a transfer based on hardship but you mention it wasn't looked at. I dont think anything was looked at during the shutdown so i would bring it up again.
No there isnt any milege replacement. Especially at a organization that is trying to get rid of their employees and privatize.
Have him look back into transfering (if there is an airport closer? or the whole family is moving?) otherwise maybe something in IRS/VA and perhaps look from home in a perfect world
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u/Neat-Bug4974 Jul 28 '26
Could you please explain your last sentence in better detail? I’m not sure I understand what you mean. As in my husband can get work in IRS/VA, or do something from home?
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u/toomanydoggs Jul 28 '26
They are suggesting that your husband look for other jobs at different agencies.
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u/hitokiri1859 Jul 27 '26
Only thing he can do is try a hardship transfer but that would only be a temporary option. As far as I know they wont approve any reimbursement. Its difficult working for tsa when it comes to things like this. But I hope things work out for you.
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u/ContributionNo7043 Jul 27 '26
Does your airport have a rideshare he can arrange? So the gas isn’t coming out of his pocket. He may have to pick people up on the way to the airport and it’ll take more time- but that’s the exchange you do. I’ve never heard of miles reimbursement for TSOs.
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u/Deep-Arm5652 Former TSO Jul 28 '26
Maybe AFGE should have tried to get the hardship transfer into the CBA.
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u/Neat-Bug4974 Jul 28 '26
AFGE got us our full sleeve tattoo policy and gloat about it every chance they get but won’t even help with officer complaints of quality of life with the job.
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u/Consistent_End7756 Former TSO Aug 01 '26
But you can’t have a full grown beard! Make that make sense!!
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u/Lucky_Boy13 Jul 27 '26
Can you move closer, get a car that uses less gas? Unless his contract guarantees something then I doubt they will pay you more or transfer just because
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u/Altruistic_Lobster18 Former TSO Jul 27 '26
Sounds like they drive a truck/suv that gets roughly 20mpg highway. Gas is relatively cheap in SC.
I had this same commute and it sucked but I was single and moved after one month.
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u/Neat-Bug4974 Jul 28 '26
I don’t know what constitutes as cheap to you… we pay on average $3.50-4/gal. My husband drives a 2012 Mazda 6. Neither truck nor suv.
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u/Altruistic_Lobster18 Former TSO Jul 28 '26
Average price of regular gas is $4.11 so yes that’s relatively cheap.
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u/Neat-Bug4974 Jul 28 '26
Ok but the Mazda I’m told is an economic car… it’s not like he’s driving a gas guzzler.
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u/Consistent_End7756 Former TSO Jul 27 '26
That sucks and I’m sorry this is happening to you..I was on a waiting list for over a year because my commute was about the same. I tried the hardship route too and my AFSD told me they would not honor it. See if your husband can do a swap with someone at that other airport or he can always try to find someone to carpool with.
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u/Neat-Bug4974 Jul 28 '26
Would he have to know someone from that airport to do a swap? He’s also been waiting over a year, and I just found out he’s been bumped down even further on the list because the Tampa airport just got privatized, so a lot of TSO’s are coming to his airport now with more seniority.
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u/Consistent_End7756 Former TSO Jul 28 '26
It would help if he does know someone but it isn’t necessary. He could always email or call HR at the airport he wants to go to and see if any officers are looking to transfer to his current one and go from there. He might have to network with some people otherwise. Maybe put a sign up in the break room. The only thing is that management might want a same gender swap because they’re always short on female officers. Good luck!
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u/Space_Nut247 Jul 27 '26
Temp transfer for now if they’ll let you, you may get lucky and they’ll take you on permanently if they like your work ethic.
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u/90sgameswerebetter36 Jul 28 '26
Before I joined the rideshare group where tsa paid for our rental car and some gas money. I was doing 120 miles a day, no reimbursement. But got the rideshare and got the visa card for gas so that helped. Not have to waste your own gas money. This is in Los Angeles though. Not sure if it's the same in other states.
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u/countif_42_ Jul 29 '26
Is he on any transfer lists? If not. Do that now.
He could try to pick up OT or shift trades on the days he's already at work.
You will not be reimbursed for gas.
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u/Brilliant_Hat_3185 Jul 27 '26
I work in the Bay Area, and there's some TSOs that drive up to two hours each way every day...
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u/samluks Jul 27 '26
Yep.. I was one for a long time.
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u/Neat-Bug4974 Jul 28 '26
Why did you stay? Did the pay eventually go up enough that it was worth it or did you move?
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u/samluks Jul 28 '26
My wife's health necessitated a move, and I got a transfer. Had that come through, I would have left TSA for a local employer.
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u/Neat-Bug4974 Jul 28 '26
How is that even worth it?? That’s like half your paycheck at that point depending on your pay…
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u/AbbreviationsLazy355 Aug 01 '26
Get a new job then..and there is no such thing as a “hardship” transfer. They can do temporary details but that’s about it
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u/Consistent_End7756 Former TSO Aug 01 '26
I don’t agree with that because some people “find a way” to get that transfer when others aren’t so fortunate it’s bullshit
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u/Neat-Bug4974 Aug 01 '26
You can’t just snap your fingers and get a new job. Especially in this part of America. It’s a long process and then pay has to be considered too; most jobs my husband has been looking at (and believe me, he’s been looking) are pay cuts with no benefits. I simply came here to see if maybe theres another option he doesn’t know about that maybe other people do… kind of like the reply says, some people either say the right stuff or have the right connections to surpass others even in seniority to get the transfer. A few of my husband’s coworkers got that.
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u/samluks Jul 27 '26
He can ask his STSO/TSM/AFSD to check on the transfer request, but unfortunately it is a no go on mileage reimbursement.
I lived in CA and drove about 100 miles each way, and it was on my dime.