By David Field in Washington
An ambitious programme to set aside airport security express lanes for preregistered frequent flyers faces increasing objections.
An ambitious programme to set aside airport security express lanes for preregistered frequent flyers faces increasing objections.
The Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Registered Traveller plan would set aside checkpoint lanes for frequent flyers who have given the agency their biometric data, paid a fee, and who presumably would be able to pass through screening more quickly than inexperienced travellers.
But the major airlines have mounted a campaign to persuade airports not to co-operate with the programme, and relatively few airports have in any case been keen to enrol in it.
Air Transport Association chief executive Jim May says carriers "object to their best customers being asked to spend money on something that gives no value in return and has real potential to delay the screening process further". He added the programme would "drain limited resources and may disadvantage passengers".
But May may not have to persuade airports, which have doubts of their own. The Airports Council International-North America says many airport checkpoint areas just do not have the space for dedicated Registered Traveller lanes. Just 13 airports have told the TSA they want to enrol in Registered Traveller and a dozen or so have declined. However, a firm timetable to introduce more schemes has yet to established.
Most US airports have adopted a wait-and-see attitude, although some fear the TSA plans to charge as much as $300 an hour for each Registered Traveller checkpoint. Some have worries about potential liability from lawsuits arising from traveller complaints at the lanes, which would be operated by private companies under TSA approval.
Only one private firm, Verified Identity Pass, is actually in operation with its "Clear" registered traveller programme at Orlando International Airport.
Source: Airline Business
