Registered Traveler Program Is Fake Security
#16
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M




Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
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#17


Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: TK*G, UA*S, PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Life Platinum
Posts: 4,717
* The Registered Traveler kiosks, specially made by GE (now an investor in VIP), also scan shoes so that travellers don't have to take their shoes off when they go through the metal detector (unless they have a significant amount of metal, such as with steel-toed boots or spike heels)
HTB.
#18




Join Date: May 2005
Location: MIA/SJU/MCO
Programs: AA LT PLT; DL GLD, UA nothing, B6 Mosaic; Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 3,333
#19
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: AA PLT; UA Gold
Posts: 5,378
I believe Continental is the first airline to officially go on record as opposed to Registered Traveler. Kudos to them! ^
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/05/ny.../05screen.html
We dont support the registered-traveler program in its current form, said Julie King, a spokeswoman for Continental in Houston. We just dont feel it provides significant benefits to the people who participate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/05/ny.../05screen.html
We dont support the registered-traveler program in its current form, said Julie King, a spokeswoman for Continental in Houston. We just dont feel it provides significant benefits to the people who participate.
#20




Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
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The better quote from the NYT article was this:
So what, pray tell, are people buying?
Mr. DeCota said he became more comfortable with the idea after the federal Transportation Security Administration decided recently that the registered travelers would not require their own lane for screening but could share one with other travelers.
#21
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: AA PLT; UA Gold
Posts: 5,378
Heh, good catch. I assume this means you get to go to the head of the regular line (similar to the way in some airports the "elite line" empties into the same TSA lanes as the regular lines, but just has fewer people in it).
#22
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Somewhere today, somewhere tomorrow!
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 6,767
I don't think it is worth it, no matter how much you travel. To leave your shoes on okay, that would be nice, but still, you still have to take out your computer, you still have to put your quart bag in a bin, you are STILL inconvinenced, you might not have to go thur seconday so what is the use of the fee/program?
#23
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MSP
Programs: SPG Gold;NWA gold;Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,458
I'm in a similar program to enter Canada. CanPass. They do an extensive background check on you, then you can bypass customs. You go up to a kiosk. it does a retna scan, then prints out a card you show customs. The machine will randomly select you for secondary, but it cuts my customs wait to zero. I've had it for afew years and at $50CDN a year, and about 20 trips a year north of the border, its worth it.
I do get dirty looks from people when the customs hall is full and I zip over to the kiosks, but I beat the rush out to the taxi stand and am on my way before they get through inspection.
I do get dirty looks from people when the customs hall is full and I zip over to the kiosks, but I beat the rush out to the taxi stand and am on my way before they get through inspection.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,034
I'm in a similar program to enter Canada. CanPass. They do an extensive background check on you, then you can bypass customs. You go up to a kiosk. it does a retna scan, then prints out a card you show customs. The machine will randomly select you for secondary, but it cuts my customs wait to zero. I've had it for afew years and at $50CDN a year, and about 20 trips a year north of the border, its worth it.
I do get dirty looks from people when the customs hall is full and I zip over to the kiosks, but I beat the rush out to the taxi stand and am on my way before they get through inspection.
I do get dirty looks from people when the customs hall is full and I zip over to the kiosks, but I beat the rush out to the taxi stand and am on my way before they get through inspection.
Technically, you bypass the immigration lines with CanPass.
And yes, a huge time-saver.
And I trust the Canadian government with my information before I ever trust Big Brother here.
#26
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
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