"Survey: Travelers Uninterested in Registered Traveler Program, Despite Frustration With Long Airport Security Lines"

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Deloitte Survey: Travelers Are Essentially Uninterested in Registered
Traveler Program, Despite Frustration With Long Airport Security Lines
Press Release


NEW YORK, /PRNewswire/ -- 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."

Cost appeared to be only a minor issue for most travelers. However, if their
employers paid the fee, 36 percent of travelers said they would enroll, or
would consider enrolling, in the program, and 70 percent of frequent
travelers (those who travel once a month or more) would enroll or consider
enrolling.

Despite being unaware of the Registered Traveler Program, most travelers are
informed of the new passport regulations for travel between U.S. and Canada,
Mexico and the Caribbean, which took effect on January 23, 2007. More than
eight out of 10 people (83 percent) were aware of the new rules, having
learned about them primarily from news reports (80 percent), friends (8
percent) and travel agents (3 percent).

About the Survey

The online survey was commissioned by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP and
conducted by an independent research company between February 15 and
February 22, 2007. The survey polled 1,580 consumers between the ages of 18
and 74. The survey results have a margin of error of plus or minus three
percentage points.

As used in this document, the term "Deloitte" includes Deloitte & Touche
LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP and
Deloitte Tax LLP.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein,
its member firms and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. As a
Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its
member firms has any liability for each other's acts or omissions. Each of
the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under
the names "Deloitte", "Deloitte & Touche", "Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu" or
other related names. Services are provided by the member firms or their
subsidiaries or affiliates and not by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein.

Deloitte & Touche USA LLP is the US member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
In the United States, services are provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte
& Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte
Financial Advisory Services LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP and their subsidiaries),
and not by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. 

Source: Deloitte & Touche

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