More Than Points

If you weren’t in the know, you’d have missed the pilot of the Registered Traveler program which began in July 2005 at Orlando International Airport.

The essence of the program is once you pass the background check, you’re given a biometric id card which allows you expedited access through airport security lines – ideally, without even having to remove shoes, laptops, or outerwear. One catch is a $99.95 annual price tag tied to the program.

It looks like the registration and biometric id can be provided by multiple vendors and will eventually be interchangeable at various airports. That’s a good thing. I would hate to have to purchase different biometric ids based on the airport. Selection of vendors appear to be up to the airports.

Apparently the first pilot has been successful and four additional airports will be selected for additional testing.

Verified Identity Pass Inc., which began the first Registered Traveler program at Orlando International Airport in July 2005, is planning to open its second site, in Terminal 7 at Kennedy International Airport, with a target date of Dec. 19, said Steven Brill, the chief executive of the company, which markets its version of the expedited security program under the name Clear.

While probably not attractive to your average recreational traveler, the $100 registration fee would be well worth it to the weekly road warrior. Seems like a pretty captive audience, so hopefully they don’t end up raising the fee. A possible indirect benefit to those travelers who choose NOT to use the program may be reduced regular security lines since the registered travelers would be moving through a separate security line.

Read all about it here.