Tue, Jun 28, 2011
Nearly Half Of Air Travelers Willing Say They Would Pay Up To
$150 Per Year For Less Hassle
A new survey released Monday shows significant majorities of
frequent business and leisure travelers would pay up to $150 to
enroll in a trusted traveler program. The U.S. Travel Association
recently recommended that a trusted traveler program be put in
place for domestic air travelers, and the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) is currently considering options for such a
program.
The survey, commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association, asked
more than 1,000 adults how likely they were to enroll in a trusted
traveler program that offered expedited, risk-based screening at
major U.S. airports for U.S. citizens who pay an annual enrollment
fee of between $100-150 and undergo a background check. Forty-five
percent of all travelers were very/somewhat likely to enroll, 61
percent of frequent leisure travelers were very/somewhat likely to
enroll, and 75 percent of frequent business travelers were
very/somewhat likely to enroll.
"Travelers deserve a trusted traveler program that provides
predictable wait times at airports and a screening process that
recognizes their low-risk nature," said Roger Dow, president and
CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "We now know that
frequent travelers are willing to pay for a better security
experience. TSA Administrator Pistole is right to pursue a new
approach and we look forward to working with him to develop the
details."
A December 2010 study showed respondents would take two to three
more trips per year if the hassle involved in flying could be
reduced without compromising security. Those additional trips
would add $84.6 billion in travel spending and support 888,000
additional jobs, according to research from U.S. Travel.
U.S. Travel recommends a risk-based trusted traveler program
where travelers can opt-in and voluntarily provide background
information to qualify for expedited screening, similar to trusted
traveler programs operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The idea of a trusted traveler program is gaining momentum in
Congress, and TSA has publicly stated it is considering concepts
for such a program.
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