Buyers Happy With Amsterdam Schiphol's Registered Traveler Variation

While a private Registered Traveler program is set to begin rolling out in the United States next month, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has been using a biometric identification scheme to expedite frequent travelers.

There is a fundamental difference between the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's Registered Traveler, which allows passengers to avoid personal security checks before departure, and Schiphol's Privium, which is an alternative to passport control on both departure and arrival. However, Privium users flying to the 14 other Schengen Accord countries—the group of European Union states that have abandoned border controls among each other—enjoy an added bonus of being ushered through a dedicated security check queue.

Privium is an automated channel that lets passengers through its barrier after scanning irises for identification. Anyone with a passport from the European Economic Area—the E.U., plus such Western nations as Norway and Switzerland—may apply for membership.

Launched five years ago, Privium has nearly 30,000 members and is used about 12,000 times each week. It accounts for around 20 percent of passengers at peak hours.

Conny Lanza, the program's general manager, said there have been no problems with applicants being rejected. Unlike Registered Traveler or the INS Passenger Accelerated Service System, which relies on biometric hand scanning, Privium does not reject applicants if they have a criminal record. "You will not be prevented from joining because of what you did in the past," said Lanza. "With our scheme, if you can pass the border, you can join the program."

Herman Mensink, representative director of Cortas, a group of the Netherlands' largest travel buyers, said Privium is proving very successful. Mensink is a member himself. "It saves me at least 15 to 20 minutes at busy times," he said. He does not believe the program contributes to longer lines for non-members and has not been aware of any concerns about privacy among Cortas members or in the Netherlands generally, a country known for its sensitivity regarding issues of civil liberty.

"The only concern my members have is whether they or their employees should pay for it," said Mensink. "Generally, the company is buying membership for its truly frequent flyers." Standard Privium membership costs travelers ?99 (US$127) per year. Enhanced membership, which costs an additional $25, grants such extra benefits as business-class checkin with 20 airlines—though not with KLM, Schiphol's dominant carrier—plus parking next to the terminal building and access to a landside lounge. Privium negotiates discounts with Cortas members and other large corporate users.