Charity work never pays.

Last month, reporter Jane Engle tested out the new system for pre-screened travelers (who’ve also forked over $100) to clear security faster and found many things lacking. Her chief complaint was that, quite simply, it wasn’t any faster.

As of today, US citizens arriving by air from outside the 50 States, no matter what their point of origin, must have a passport to re-enter the country. (Unless you’re coming from Puerto Rico or the USVI, that is. Loophole!)

The airport security follies don’t appear to be ending anytime soon. According to this week’s “On the Road” column in the New York Times, snow globes, are now contraband at the airport due to restrictions on liquids and gels in carry-ons.

If you’re flying for Christmas and expect to arrive toting a Santa-like sack of wrapped gifties, think again. The TSA wants you to know that they retain the right to open all presents to get at any suspicious looking articles inside.

How good are TSA agents? This good: On Saturday, a non-english speaking grandmother was confused at an LAX checkpoint and managed to put her 1-month-old grandson through the X-ray machine.

They might not be cold-blooded, venomous snakes, but mice are still scary to a lot of people, especially when a herd of 80 of them escapes into the cabin of a plane at 28,000 feet.

his just in: According to USA Today, the TSA has announced that they are running a pilot program at Dallas/Ft. Worth and Detroit airports to test the feasibility of allowing non-passengers through security.

Whatever your story of Thanksgiving travel woe this holiday weekend, the LA Times wants to remind you that it could always have been worse.

37.2 million people traveled over the Thanksgiving weekend last year, and experts predict more next week. If you plan to be among them, look at this week’s NY Times “Practical Traveler,” which has a survival guide on how to survive the worst of it.