WalkinPneumonia

Just saw it on CNN's website. Looks like those of us in Global Entry will qualify for the pilot program. Not a lot of information yet.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/14...html?hpt=hp_t2

FriendlySkies

http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2011/0714.shtm


This will be interesting. I also wonder how much more information a GE, etc user would have to provide.

WalkinPneumonia

That's what I'm wondering too.

jkhuggins

What I'm more interested in finding out is what "expedited screening" means. In short ... what actual benefits are given to those who participate, in return for providing additional personal information? The press release (and CNN article) is terribly silent about it.

If "expedited screening" means merely that I get to cut to the front of the line (like CLEAR), but I still have to dance around without my belt and shoes on while collecting my Kippie bag, I'm not sure it's worth it. But if there are some real passenger benefits ... well, I could at least weigh the benefits versus the drawbacks.

ESpen36

Actually, what it sounds like to me is that current GE, NEXUS, and SENTRI members in good standing will be eligible to use the expedited screening program without further turning over of personal info. That is GOOD news for us because it means that TSA will be using the data contained in the DHS/CBP databases that we already have provided, and we will not have to turn over more data.

I really like the fact that the government is expanding the concept of "trusted traveler" to work for domestic security screening, not just for entering the country via kiosk/expedited processing. DHS is DHS, and CBP and TSA are both under DHS.

In my opinion, if our GE/NEXUS/SENTRI membership is sufficient to satisfy Customs and Border Protection that we are "trusted travelers," it should satisfy TSA as well, since both are agencies of DHS.

chollie

This could be a good start. At the very least, I hope that it signals that DHS might build on existing programs (GE, NEXUS, Sentri), instead of trying to build a completely new parallel system (at additional cost to everybody).

As a current GE holder, I obviously thought long and hard about the tradeoffs between convenience, cost and the information I had to provide. I obviously thought it was worth it. If it also speeds my domestic travels, that would be great.

At this point, I'm pretty skeptical. I'm afraid it's still going to end up as nothing more than a bypass line, and generally I use elite lines anyway, so that won't buy me anything.

OldGoat

Whatever happens, the press release makes clear that "Respect my authority" will still rule at the checkpoint, likely complete with TSA lying to LEOs about TSA Policies:

"Administrator Pistole reiterated that TSA will continue to incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport and no individual will be guaranteed expedited screening. "

In other words, the TSO can grope you simply because he feels like it.

JumboD

How long does it take to become a member of one of the CBP programs? I don't travel internationally often enough to have warranted it in the past, but if it gets me in the door early here, might be worth it. Also, what sort of information must one submit (such as will they start digging into aspects of your life not pertaining to likelihood of being a terrorist)?

chollie

It's all going to be about details, but I just don't see how this will work (beyond a bump to the front of the line).

It's a madhouse at some airports (and getting worse) post-TDC/pre-scan/xray/grope. It's relatively easy to spot flight crews in uniform, so drinks/shoes/belts/everything off/no NoS gets waived for those folks on sight. I don't see how the same exemptions will be made for a 'trusted traveller'. I definitely can't see TSA providing a dedicated crew/trusted traveller lane.

Sure would be great if 'trusted traveller' included a bypass (unless 'randomly selected) of the NoS.

Dubai Stu

It is my understanding that Canada also allows Nexus Pass holders expedited treatment.

jfunk138

The real irony about programs like this is: sure it might help a few guys that travel alot and don't like removing their shoes. How many children and 95 year old ladies who travel 3 or 4 times per DECADE will be bothered to enroll in the program? Likely it will only encourage EVEN MORE stories of aggressive patdowns of children and old ladies, since they will comprise to majority of the "non-trusted" travelers.

The other problem... what if the program is actually successful? What most of us understand on this forum is that the risk of terrorism is infinitely small. Contrary to what the "anything for security" crowd would have you believe, there IS NOT a terrorist around every corner. If the program is so successful that ALL non-terrorists participate, it's going to seem awfully silly to even have a checkpoint at all. When the TRUSTED line is out the door of the airport and the NON-TRUSTED line has tumbleweeds blowing around what kind of impression does that give of the necessity of said checkpoint? Going one step further, what kind of monkey wrench will this throw into the profiling argument, when even the people who appear to be terrorists end up in the TRUSTED line because as I've said earlier, there really just aren't as many terrorists as the sheeple believe.

What if the only people in the NON-TRUSTED line are people who believe in liberty and freedom and refuse to divulge personal information to government bureaucrats? Suddenly "champions of personal privacy" become "enemies of the state" What kind of message does this send about the sanctity of the US Constitution?

janetdoe

Score! EXP with NEXUS and Global Entry who lives in DFW - I should definitely be in on the pilot. As an EXP, I already get to the front of the line. I hope that isn't the extent of the program.

I'm not too concerned about the "no individual is guaranteed expedited screening." They have to say that as a CYA to avoid the "As soon as you exempt some group, the terrorists will exploit it" criticism. And it may be impractical to implement at smaller airports, where there is never really enough traffic to justify a separate line/traffic flow.

I wonder how strongly I'll feel about TSA's violations if I'm not subject to them? It seems like a divide-and-conquer strategy, and I don't particularly like that, because violating anyone's Constitutional rights is a threat to everyone. But it's hard to object to "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" when you are in the "more equal" group.

mahohmei

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/14...html?hpt=hp_t2

"During the first phase of testing, certain frequent fliers and all members of Custom and Border Protection's Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS who are U.S. citizens, will be eligible to participate."

My flying frequency is about once every 15 months. My leaving-the-country frequency is about once every 5 years. However, my wife and I keep our passports current to allow us to travel internationally on a moment's notice. (I'm "only" 30, so I'm only on my second adult passport.)

As I look at this article, I think to myself: if my wife and I get NEXUS cards and apply for TSA "trusted traveler" if/when it rolls out, could this exempt us from the shoe carnival, pornoscans, and pat-downs?

The only "frequent flier" status we have is my wife's Delta SkyMiles account that she's had since before I even knew her. It ain't exactly full, since not only do we not fly very much, but we have no Delta loyalty: we typically pick the best cost/time combo that orbitz.com spits at us.

ESpen36

I believe that NEXUS membership gives you front-of-the-line access at security checkpoints at some Canadian airports (EXCEPT those checkpoints associated with US Preclearance areas), but not differentiated, relaxed screening procedures.

janetdoe

Maybe a month or so? I think the paperwork took a few weeks. The hard part for me was that I did NEXUS, so I had to schedule my interview at a Canadian checkpoint. Some of them were making appointments a month or so in advance, but smaller, less busy checkpoints were making appointments a week in advance.

IMO, if I travel internationally once per year, but I avoid an hour-long customs line each time, that is worth the pro-rated $20 per year. For example, my parents paid $79 to upgrade IAH-CZM (~two-hour flight) but when they got into customs at IAH, the wait was more than 2 hours, standing in a hot crowded room. They enrolled for GE the next week. Put in the context of what they were willing to pay for two hours of comfort... definitely worthwhile.

As I recall, it was a standard background check info: Name, previous names used, SSN, employer, previous addresses for X years, a list of the countries you have traveled to within the past X years, list any convictions or arrests, etc. Nothing too offensive, but I'm sure they can pull a credit check and look for irregularities if they really want to. But frankly, I assume they can do that anyways. Thanks, Patriot Act!