"'Registered' air traveler test at MSP may be extended"

Monday, July 26, 2004

'Registered' air traveler test at MSP may be extended 
The Associated Press


Traveling through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has become
less stressful and less time consuming for businessman Pat Bassett.

Bassett is a member of the new ``registered traveler'' program for
frequent flyers, which allows them to bypass regular security
checkpoints by agreeing to background checks and identity verification
through fingerprint and iris scans.

He's found that there's rarely a wait at the new ``registered
traveler-only'' checkpoint at the airport. On the busiest days, more
than 200 people sail through the checkpoint, according to Northwest
Airlines.

``You almost have your own private line and you can go right through the
line very quickly and efficiently.'' Bassett said. ``I think it's really
actually pretty neat.''

In fact, the trial run is going so well that the Transportation Security
Administration is considering extending the life of the project.

Bassett is one of roughly 2,400 people who volunteered to become a
registered traveler at the Twin Cities airport, after Northwest Airlines
invited him to take part. In exchange, Bassett allowed the TSA to run a
background check and take electronic scans of his fingerprints and
irises.

He doesn't even have to pull out his driver's license at the special
checkpoint. A computer verifies he's the person who's name appears on
the ticket by scanning Bassett's fingerprints and his eyes.

Bassett must still pass through a metal detector and his carry-on
luggage has to be electronically scanned just like everyone else's. But
he won't ever be pulled aside for a random search that other travelers
are subject to.

Over the next six months the TSA will test the registered-traveler
program at five airports using about 10,000 volunteer travelers.

Congress appropriated $5 million to fund the trial program. It hasn't
been decided who would pay if it becomes permanent: the federal
government, the airlines or travelers.

The TSA's director of credentialing, Justin Oberman, said the program
will be deemed a success if it improves customer service without
jeopardizing security and demonstrates that biometrics - the electronic
fingerprint and iris scans - can be used on a large-scale to verify
identity.

``The technology appears to be working extremely well,'' Oberman said.
``I think our intention is if this continues to be as successful as it
has been to date we would want to absolutely extend it and keep it
going.''

But other travelers question the special treatment afforded to
registered travelers.

Barbara Dvorak, who waited recently in a relatively short regular
security line en route to Florida, said she doesn't buy the TSA's
argument that checking travelers' backgrounds improves security.

``I just think everybody should be treated the same.'' Dvorak said. ``I
don't think anybody's time is more important than anybody else's.''

But Bassett said he hopes the registered-traveler program will become a
permanent fixture in his travels and believes it will encourage growth
in business travel.

``Time is money. The less time you have to wait, the more time you're
productive, whether it's on the phone or whether it's through other
means to get business done,'' Bassett said. ``So yes, I would think that
will help businessmen come back if they know that there's less time
waiting in line.''


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