Privacy Digest

HOTELS magazine: "Deloitte Survey: Travelers Are Essentially Uninterested in Registered Traveler Program, Despite Frustration With Long Airport Security Lines;Privacy Concerns Cited; Cost Only a Minor Issue
NEW YORK April 4

NEW YORK, April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The vast majority of travelers don't plan to enroll in the Registered Traveler Program, despite the fact that their biggest security-related complaint is long lines at airports, according to a recent Tourism, Hospitality & Leisure survey commissioned by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. The Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Registered Traveler Program is designed to enable travelers to quickly move through security checkpoints at participating U.S. airports. When registering for the program, travelers will get an in-depth security background check and provide biometric information such as fingerprints and iris scans. An identification card will be issued for use at participating airports.

According to the survey, almost two-thirds (61 percent) of travelers were unaware of the program. However, even after reading a description of the program, 83 percent were not interested in enrolling, despite the program's goal of enabling travelers to quickly move through security checkpoints. At the same time, survey respondents said their biggest airport security-related complaint -- by a wide margin -- is long lines at airports, with over half (54 percent) citing it as their top concern, compared to less than one quarter (23 percent) who cited taking off shoes and one-fifth (20 percent) who citied the three-ounce carry-on limit for liquids.

'Privacy concerns may be to blame for the lack of interest, since 75 percent of survey respondents expressed concern about privacy issues related to the program,' said Adam Weissenberg, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Tourism, Hospitality & Leisure Sector Leader. 'For this program to be successful, the Transportation Security Administration, airports and program operators must reassure travelers that their privacy and identities are safeguarded, and that enrolling in the program could be a solution to the long lines.'"