Travel Survey - Lines At Airports Aren't Getting Any Shorter

Travelers Are Essentially Uninterested In Registered Traveler Program

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. October 14, 2008

APRIL 9, 2007. 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.