ACTE Details Registered Traveler Pilot Program To Industry For Dept of Homeland Security

Alexandria, Va (Aug. 11) - While preparing to roll out the Registered Traveler program in 5 locations across the country, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security used an Association of Corporate Travel Executives' webcast (July 21)as channel to detail its future workings and benefits to the business travel industry. As evidenced by the overwhelming response of questions directed to Assistant Secretary of Policy and Planning C. Stewart Verdery by travel managers across the country, this event could not have been more timely.

Assistant Secretary Verdery presented an audience of travel managers with the essence of a pilot program designed to reduce time lost at airport security checkpoints for business travelers by eliminating this segment of the traveling public as high risk. According to Verdery, the mission of the Registered Traveler pilot program is to introduce biometric technology in conjunction with prescreening security assessments, and to test possibilities for expedited screening procedures for qualified individuals.

The pilot program is designed to eliminate "known" travelers as potential threats by confirming their identity through a number of mechanisms that the department claims will be used for identification confirmation only. Four carriers -- Northwest/KLM, United, Continental, and American -- were asked to generate pilot programs volunteers through their list of frequent travelers. There is no charge for participation in the pilot program. (A recent ACTE survey of 1,000 business travelers indicated more than half of the respondents would pay up to $99 as an annual fee to register in the program once it is rolled out.)

The pilot is currently in progress at Minneapolis - St. Paul (MSP), Los Angeles (LAX), Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Boston Logan (BOS), and Washington Reagan National (DCA). Participation times ar staggered by location: MSP -- June through September; LAZ -- July through October; IAH -- July through October; BOS -- August through November; and DCA -- August through November. The Department of Homeland security will begin a program analysis in September.

The Transportation Security Administration enrolled over 2,300 participants during the initial weeks of the pilot program, with several hundred hopeful applicants showing up at airports. One big issue the pilot program is anticipated to settle is the mechanical means of passenger identification. Biometrics, a token or tokenless verification option, and designated (separate) security checkpoints at airports are all being considered.

The Registered Traveler program has been the focus of an ACTE initiative for nearly two years. The association confers regularly with the TSA and monitors the business travel industry's reaction to proposed security changes through polls and studies.