Cost may kill travel program
Sep 14, 2006 | 5:19 am
#1
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Cost may kill travel program
USA Today article
ROTFLOL. As if we expected anything less out of these @$$ clowns ...
Ahoy, USS Clueless!!! 
WASHINGTON — A government proposal that would force air travelers to pay up to $200 a year for a fast pass through airport security could kill the program, advocates and lawmakers said Wednesday.
That price — double what was expected — would "severely threaten" the long-delayed Registered Traveler program, said Steven Brill, a Manhattan entrepreneur planning to launch the idea at four airports this year.
Eagerly awaited by travelers and recently touted by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Registered Traveler offers fee-paying fliers expedited airport screening. Travelers in the program would have to pass a background check to rule out ties to terrorism and would get an ID card to speed them through checkpoints.
The Transportation Security Administration said last year that it expected to charge about $30 for a terrorism check. Now it wants to charge another $70 to pay for TSA screeners at Registered Traveler checkpoints, TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said. It also may charge an additional $20 for a criminal background check. Those costs are in addition to yearly fees of up to $80 that fliers would pay to companies operating the program.
That price — double what was expected — would "severely threaten" the long-delayed Registered Traveler program, said Steven Brill, a Manhattan entrepreneur planning to launch the idea at four airports this year.
Eagerly awaited by travelers and recently touted by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Registered Traveler offers fee-paying fliers expedited airport screening. Travelers in the program would have to pass a background check to rule out ties to terrorism and would get an ID card to speed them through checkpoints.
The Transportation Security Administration said last year that it expected to charge about $30 for a terrorism check. Now it wants to charge another $70 to pay for TSA screeners at Registered Traveler checkpoints, TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said. It also may charge an additional $20 for a criminal background check. Those costs are in addition to yearly fees of up to $80 that fliers would pay to companies operating the program.
[Rep. Bennie] Thompson, the congressman, said a $200 fee might deter travelers who already get shorter security lines through elite flier clubs.
Frequent travelers had mixed views.
Cleveland businessman Mark Taft said $200 is "on the outer edge of what I would pay."
Charlie Massoglia said paying $200 "doesn't make a difference to anyone who travels frequently."
Frequent travelers had mixed views.
Cleveland businessman Mark Taft said $200 is "on the outer edge of what I would pay."
Charlie Massoglia said paying $200 "doesn't make a difference to anyone who travels frequently."
Last edited by essxjay; Sep 14, 2006 at 5:29 am
Sep 14, 2006 | 5:31 am
#3
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"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" -Representative Robert Goodloe Harper, Address, June 18, 1798.
I don't care if it's $2 or $200, I am not participating in the Extorted Traveler Program.
If this is what it takes to kill Extorted Traveler, than so be it.
I don't care if it's $2 or $200, I am not participating in the Extorted Traveler Program.
If this is what it takes to kill Extorted Traveler, than so be it.
Sep 14, 2006 | 5:35 am
#4
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Knock yourself out, TF. It is, as they say, a free country after all.
Frankly, I'd rather drop 400 greenbacks on something else than aide and abet mission creep in the name of "national security."
Frankly, I'd rather drop 400 greenbacks on something else than aide and abet mission creep in the name of "national security."
Sep 14, 2006 | 5:47 am
#6
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Sidebar info graphic:
N.B. this does *not* include the estimated $80 in annual fees to the companies maintaining the program. *feh*
PAYING FOR CONVENIENCE
Potential cost to join Registered Traveler:
Potential cost to join Registered Traveler:
$70 airport screener salaries
$30 terrorism background check
$50-$75 enrollment, ID card
$23 criminal background check
$173-$198: Total
Sources: TSA, Verified Identity Pass, Unisys
$30 terrorism background check
$50-$75 enrollment, ID card
$23 criminal background check
$173-$198: Total
Sep 14, 2006 | 6:18 am
#7
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Originally Posted by Spiff
"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" -Representative Robert Goodloe Harper, Address, June 18, 1798.
I don't care if it's $2 or $200, I am not participating in the Extorted Traveler Program.
If this is what it takes to kill Extorted Traveler, than so be it.
I don't care if it's $2 or $200, I am not participating in the Extorted Traveler Program.
If this is what it takes to kill Extorted Traveler, than so be it.
Sep 14, 2006 | 6:47 am
#9
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Originally Posted by whirledtraveler
I won't participate in it either, but I find it utterly amazing that they can screw up something that is that simple.
Just say NO to the Extorted Traveler program!
Sep 14, 2006 | 6:58 am
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Since they're charging for it I would call this program a consumer product. As a consumer product, it doesn't get me anything. A maybe shorter line? The airlines and airports are slowly but surely taking care of that by introduction of elite lines, which I feel work very well at the locations where they are available.
Shorter lines mean nothing at most small and medium airports where there is routinely only one security line open. Are they going to guarantee that even at the smallest airport there will always be a seperate line, even if only a few people per day use it? If there isn't a seperate line, can a Trusted Traveler cut in to the one line like airline and airport employees do? If so, then maybe it's worth something.
It would be worth something, regardless of lines, if you received a credintial that you could hand to the first screener and would allow you to keep your shoes on, take all the water and toothpaste you can fit into your carryon bag through, no need to take your computer out of the bag, and never a secondary search. If you're trusted you're trusted, so no need for any of the theatre.
As is, of the little I personally have experienced with this program (early beta test via American Airlines at National a couple of years ago) it really gets you nothing of value on a daily basis.
Shorter lines mean nothing at most small and medium airports where there is routinely only one security line open. Are they going to guarantee that even at the smallest airport there will always be a seperate line, even if only a few people per day use it? If there isn't a seperate line, can a Trusted Traveler cut in to the one line like airline and airport employees do? If so, then maybe it's worth something.
It would be worth something, regardless of lines, if you received a credintial that you could hand to the first screener and would allow you to keep your shoes on, take all the water and toothpaste you can fit into your carryon bag through, no need to take your computer out of the bag, and never a secondary search. If you're trusted you're trusted, so no need for any of the theatre.
As is, of the little I personally have experienced with this program (early beta test via American Airlines at National a couple of years ago) it really gets you nothing of value on a daily basis.
Sep 14, 2006 | 7:15 am
#11
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Originally Posted by catocony
[...] it really gets you nothing of value on a daily basis.
Does anyone honestly believe that in the case where you've plunked down your $200 and one or another of the background checks either doesn't come up clean, or isn't even your record to begin with, that you'll get all (or even some) of your money back? Hah!
I'm sorry, but this is the U.S. Federal Gov't we're talking about it. If they can **** up the No-Fly List w/nil-to-zilch accountability or mechanism for redress why on earth would anyone pay for the privilege to chance it? The chasm in logic here is stunning.
Sep 14, 2006 | 8:21 am
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absolutely!
Originally Posted by essxjay
Assuming you get the card in the first place. @:-)
Does anyone honestly believe that in the case where you've plunked down your $200 and one or another of the background checks either doesn't come up clean, or isn't even your record to begin with, that you'll get all (or even some) of your money back? Hah!
I'm sorry, but this is the U.S. Federal Gov't we're talking about it. If they can **** up the No-Fly List w/nil-to-zilch accountability or mechanism for redress why on earth would anyone pay for the privilege to chance it? The chasm in logic here is stunning.
Does anyone honestly believe that in the case where you've plunked down your $200 and one or another of the background checks either doesn't come up clean, or isn't even your record to begin with, that you'll get all (or even some) of your money back? Hah!
I'm sorry, but this is the U.S. Federal Gov't we're talking about it. If they can **** up the No-Fly List w/nil-to-zilch accountability or mechanism for redress why on earth would anyone pay for the privilege to chance it? The chasm in logic here is stunning.
I'm not paying!
Sep 14, 2006 | 8:40 am
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Originally Posted by essxjay
I'm sorry, but this is the U.S. Federal Gov't we're talking about it. If they can **** up the No-Fly List w/nil-to-zilch accountability or mechanism for redress why on earth would anyone pay for the privilege to chance it? The chasm in logic here is stunning.
Sep 14, 2006 | 8:55 am
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Originally Posted by TierFlyer
If it saved me five minutes per airport trip they could charge me double that every year.
The cost for all this might be $200 on paper but having all your personal information in one database managed by these monkeys will probably not be worth it.
Sep 14, 2006 | 8:55 am
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Originally Posted by Spiff
"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" -Representative Robert Goodloe Harper, Address, June 18, 1798.
I don't care if it's $2 or $200, I am not participating in the Extorted Traveler Program.
If this is what it takes to kill Extorted Traveler, than so be it.
I don't care if it's $2 or $200, I am not participating in the Extorted Traveler Program.
If this is what it takes to kill Extorted Traveler, than so be it.
I'm not voluntarily paying money for these kind of things, and I've turned away opportunities to enroll in some of these "protection" rackets without charge.