As the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's private Registered Traveler program—which promises to speed travelers through airport security checkpoints—goes from concept to reality at several major airports between now and June, business travel buyers and some travel management companies are beginning to devise policies to address whether or how employees can participate.
So far, the biggest policy issues that buyers are coming to terms with are whether to allow all or some travelers to participate in the program and whether to reimburse employees for annual fees.
Some buyers got an indication how the Registered Traveler program will affect policy by participating in TSA's eight-month testing period at Orlando and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airports that ended this past September.
Mike Krebsbach, global travel management director of Minneapolis-based Personnel Decisions International had volunteers participate in Registered Traveler's test run at Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport, and now has a glimpse of what policy might look like once the program is fully implemented. "We haven't addressed the issue of reimbursement yet, but I would say we would probably support that," he said. "For people who travel a lot, it's something that makes their life easier, and for a small fee, we're probably more than happy to do that."
In terms of defining those eligible for reimbursement, Krebsbach said the company would most likely follow its existing policy for airline clubs. "If you fly more than 2,500 miles a year, you can become a member of clubs at the company's expense," he said. "We'd probably use that same type of logic around this."
Following the rollout of the Verified Identity Pass-operated program in Orlando last July, others, such as Mark Boyer, corporate travel manager at Winter Park, Fla.-based World Publications LLC, have a head start in real-world Registered Travel program use. World Publications now has about a 60 percent adoption rate among employees. Boyer said his company currently does not reimburse the $79.95 fee per employee, but said that will become more of a likelihood once additional airports join the program. If the company begins reimbursing the fee, Boyer said he likely would draw up reimbursement eligibility guidelines.
Erin Dunn, director of corporate services at General Mills, also had several travelers undergo a trial run at Minneapolis-St. Paul, and said the experience was a positive one.
As for policy, Dunn is waiting for more official regulations from TSA before deciding on anything. "Many questions remain, so it's hard to say exactly how we might implement something at this point," she said.
Many in the industry echoed that sentiment. Most companies have yet to participate in a Registered Traveler program and declined to speculate on policy changes, but some said the company would likely pick up the cost of something that makes a frequently traveling employee's life easier. Of the buyers with which Business Travel News spoke, no one had plans to mandate participation in the program.
Others won't begin to consider policy changes until the program becomes more widespread. "We haven't paid any attention to it," said Judy Bauer, vice president of global procurement services at JP Morgan Chase Bank in Jersey City, N.J. "It's not something I would add value to. It's out there, but we're waiting to see what happens with it and then we'll discuss it."
This look-before-leaping approach isn't just limited to travel managers. John Smith, president of Tower Travel Management, said he prefers to stay neutral when advising clients about the program. "We have taken the position that we'll provide access to information and resources without endorsing one side or the other," he said. "The reason for that is that it's a highly individual decision filled with politics and privacy concerns, so I don't feel it's necessarily appropriate for my company to take a position on what or what not to do."
Alternatively, Mike Koetting, executive vice president of Carlson Wagonlit North America, said he supports Registered Traveler. "We think the Registered Traveler program is a great idea," he said. "We know that travel is important to our clients and anything that makes traveling more pleasant is a benefit. As a frequent traveler myself, I can't wait to get enrolled."
Koetting said he doesn't see much risk in the program, adding that Carlson has reviewed the data-security parameters and it doesn't "see any major red flags." Koetting is conscious of one potential downfall of participating in Registered Traveler, however. "This program could create some interesting and potentially embarrassing situations for those travelers who are denied clearance," he said. "If you're a frequent traveler and all your peers have the pass, but you were denied for some reason, that's bound to be awkward."
Krebsbach said some employees declined to participate in the program due to security concerns, though he said he sees no cause for anxiety. "Most of the information they request is on public records—it's information you'd routinely disclose on other things," he said. "There's a heightened security level in the U.S. already, and it neither detracts nor adds to the safety concerns that I would have around travel. It only makes life easier for the traveler."
In addition to Orlando, San Jose and Indianapolis international airports are awaiting approval from TSA to implement private Registered Traveler programs, and Sacramento International also is seeking an agreement with Verified Identity Pass, said Cindy Rosenthal, a spokesperson for the company. Travelers who opt to participate in Registered Traveler must pass a TSA background check and provide biometric information in the form of iris scans and fingerprints. Once approved, travelers use specially designated lanes at a participating airport's security checkpoints.
Meanwhile, TSA last month laid out several key elements for the nationwide Registered Traveler program. Among the technological and biometric standards of the program—which ultimately will be run by private companies approved by the agency—TSA confirmed the system would be based on smart cards that hold biometric information of prescreened travelers.
The Transportation Security Administration said program providers must collect 10 fingerprints from all applicants as the basis of traveler verification and that the smart cards in use must conform to Federal Technical Implementation Guidance standards. TSA said, "All Registered Traveler data will be handled in compliance with the Federal Privacy Act." TSA also is in the midst of setting a system of redress for travelers who fail to gain Registered Traveler status, mirroring avenues of redress used to resolve watch-list issues.
The Transportation Security Administration also said the program "will be harmonized with the Department of Homeland Security-State Department Pass System," a passport-credentializing system launched last month.
However, TSA said, "We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the Registered Traveler program, and the program must be designed to thwart those efforts. Therefore, program benefits will change from time to time to make it more difficult for terrorists to anticipate our security activities. Further, TSA will not exempt Registered Traveler participants from random additional screening."
"Security is and will continue to be the Transportation Security Administration's number-one priority. We are receptive to innovative private sector ideas to develop a market-based nationwide program that enhances security and offers a more appealing travel experience to program participants," said TSA director Kip Hawley in a statement.
The disclosure of several Registered Traveler parameters coincides with the TSA deadline for public commentary and requests for information from companies interested in launching a privately run and TSA-approved program. TSA said it would take into account any commentary to help shape the program that is set to launch nationwide on June 20
(BTN, Nov. 14, 2005).The Transportation Security Administration said in a statement last month that these standards give the industry "the opportunity to begin offering Registered Traveler programs later this year," and it expects to fully determine the program's standards by late April.
Meanwhile, American Express announced that it is seeking partners to launch a Registered Traveler program for its customer base. Among the possible companies is Verified Identity Pass, the only company currently running a Registered Traveler program.
~Jay Boehmer contributed to this story.