"Registered Traveler" Program Could Ease Frequent Travel to Luxury Vacation Homes
December 7, 2006. What if you could join a special club that lets you bypass the long security lines at airports? That's the idea behind the Registered Traveler program, which will see major expansion in the coming year. The New York Times recently examined the pros and cons of the idea, which became a reality in Orlando in July 2005. That airport now has nearly 30,000 registered travelers. Kennedy International Airport's Registered Traveler program will come online Dec. 19, and several other airports have announced interest: Reno, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and San Jose, Calif.
Here's how the program works: travelers pay about $100 to register with an independent company that operates separate security checkpoints in airport terminals. They agree to submit fingerprints and retina scans, and receive a "biometric" identity card with that information (and more). They go through the same screening in their line – bomb checks, metal detectors, etc. – but the lines theoretically move quickly because registered members are experienced travelers who know the rules.
Critics say the program will open loopholes for terrorists, but airports and the private companies that screen passengers disagree. At this point, the program really only has value for frequent travelers, especially business travelers and travelers who have more than one home. If you want airport security lines to move more quickly but don't want to become a registered traveler, do your part to make security scans easier. For more information about the rules of travel, visit the Transportation Security Administration's web site.
