BRIAN ROSS REPORTS
- Like Jay-Z + the Beatles, But Worse
- Update: Help for Homeless Children
- Bush Era, Revised -- and with More Barbeque
- The Tax Woman Cometh
- Paging Mr. Stanford: Antigua Called
- Who Are You Calling Partisan?
- Update: IRS Won't Use Private Debt Collectors
- But Is It Art?
- PMA Scandal a Sore Point for Dems in 2010?
- Down in Flames
- A New Mystery for RNC Chief
- PMA Clients Were Big Givers
- Raided Lobby Firm Still a Force on Capitol Hill
- Stanford Update: Another $143 Mil Found
- Cheney, Hooked on Controversy
TOP BLOTTER CATEGORIES
- Abramoff Lobbying Scandal
- American Al Qaeda
- Avian Flu
- Beirut Hospital Out of Gas
- Cheney
- CIA
- CIA Secret Prisons
- D.C. Madam Affair
- FBI
- Federal Air Marshal Service
- Homeland Security
- Hurricane Katrina
- IRS
- Mark Foley Internet Scandal
- Millionaire Sex Scandal
- Nigerian E-mail Scams
- Norman Hsu, Clinton Fundraiser
- NSA: Wiretapping
- Osama bin Laden
- Payola
- Pharmacy Investigation
- PMA
- Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert
- Stanford
- Steele
- Terror
- Troopergate
- U.K. Airline Terror Plot
- U.K. Bombing Attempts
- Wen Ho Lee
- William Jefferson
- Zarqawi
« Previous | Main | Next »
An Answer for Long Airport Lines for the Elite
Email
Print
ShareNovember 22, 2006 11:54 AM
Futuristic fast-lane security screening will expand to four more U.S. airports in the next six weeks, for those willing to pay the program's yearly fee of $100.
Under the "Registered Traveler" program, passengers will be cleared through a special fast-lane with a quick scan of their iris or fingerprint. There will still be metal detectors, but passengers will be less likely to be singled out for pat-downs or be required to remove clothing.
In Orlando, where the program kicked off last year, travelers are raving about the sci-fi-like technology that speeds them through the screening process.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
"In five minutes or less, you're completely through," said Henry Morgan, a frequent corporate traveler who gives his fingerprint each time he flies. "I cannot wait until this rolls over to other airports."
The program is run by private companies in partnership with TSA, which checks applicants against terrorist lists.
Critics say the program is a costly waste of TSA resources. "This program doesn't necessarily bring heightened security, and first-class passengers already get quick service," said David Castlebetter of the Air Transport Association, a commercial airline trade association.
The program begins at New York's JFK airport on Dec. 12. Cincinnati, Indianapolis and San Jose airports are already enrolling members and plan to launch the program in January.
November 22, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (11)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Does this mean if I'm a terrorist and I have $100 that I can sign up too?
Posted by: craig | Nov 22, 2006 8:16:44 PM
if you can afford 1st class
Posted by: mike | Nov 22, 2006 10:45:31 PM
What a joke. I suggest changing the name from RTP (Registered Traveler Program) to Rip-off Trick Program.
Posted by: mike s. | Nov 23, 2006 2:25:40 AM
actually for frequent travelers this sounds great. for $100 sign me up!
Posted by: craig | Nov 23, 2006 11:49:22 AM
Are you kidding me? Big Brother is watching. There's no way I'm letting anyone have a scan of my iris, let alone a government agency. Is this private company an indirect agent of the patriot act?
Posted by: wayne | Nov 23, 2006 10:48:49 PM
Before anyone is approived as a FF, (frequent flyer) I gather that the (FF) fingerprint/iris database will be compared with the felony fugitive file at NCIC, the state sexual offender and predator databases and the felony database at ICE, (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)? Will it also be updated rapidly to id FF's who are newly convicted felons?
Posted by: GregDC | Nov 27, 2006 3:29:48 PM
"...first-class passengers already get quick service,"? I think Mr. Castlebetter should visit some of the various airports, like Logan or LAX, before making such a stupid and uninformed statement like that.
Security at some airports can be downright dreadful and abusive.
If $100/yr gets me away from long lines and some of those people working security at these unfortunate airports, I'm all forit.
Posted by: Lowly Gold Traveller | Nov 27, 2006 5:36:54 PM
ST Louis needs this desperateley. Then TSA workers there are upfront rude and abusive.
Posted by: Bill | Nov 27, 2006 7:33:53 PM
The Nazi's have shown this present government the Orwellian way to mass control of the people for their own protection/good.
Posted by: Mcrayray | Nov 29, 2006 12:03:43 PM
A 'newly convicted felon' would be in prison, not boarding planes, don't ya think?
Posted by: Tim | Nov 29, 2006 4:15:52 PM
Yeah, great. Voluntary for now, forced on everyone later. This is just a carrot to make the in-depth monitoring of travelers' every move acceptable to enough people to then justify requiring it of all. And when tons of people either sign up for it or are eventually forced to do it, then guess what? Long lines again anyway.
Posted by: essus | Nov 30, 2006 9:56:54 AM
Post a comment
