Will Registered Traveler fly with most fliers? Maybe not
Despite the complaints people have concerning airport security, and the wait times entailed, they don’t seem especially eager to embrace the Registered Traveler Program – a fewer-hassle, fast-track through security. That’s the conclusion of a recent Tourism, Hospitality & Leisure survey commissioned by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.
The survey says that while 61 percent of travelers were aware of the program, 83 percent were not interested in enrolling. The process requires an initial $99.95 payment, a background check, and registering an iris print and fingerprints.
It’s not that fliers are not upset about wait times at airports. Their biggest security-related gripe is precisely that – long waits.
What seems to rankle travelers is privacy. Adam Weissenberg, Deloitte & Touche Partner, says 75 percent of the survey’s respondents “expressed concern about privacy issues related to the program”. The firm’s Tourism, Hospitality & Leisure Leader adds: “For this program to be successful, the Transportation Security Administration, airports and program operators must reassure travelers that their privacy and identities are safeguarded.”
Cost appears to be of minor concern to fliers.
The leading Registered Traveler provider in the country is Verified Identity Pass, which operates the Clear program. Clear lanes are up and running at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG), Indianapolis International (IND), New York Kennedy’s (JFK) Terminal 7, Orlando International (MCO), and Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International (SJC). More lanes are due to debut in Albany (ALB), Newark Liberty International’s (EWR) Terminal B, Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) and both Terminals 1 and 4 at JFK.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler