The Biometric Elite: Travel group pushes 'trusted traveler' screening program

04-21-2011 • LAtimes.com

The nation's largest travel trade group launched an ad campaign last week to pressure Congress to adopt an alternative passenger screening program so that business travelers and other frequent fliers can zip through airports faster. The U.S. Travel Assn. is promoting the idea of letting frequent travelers submit to background checks so they can speed through specially designated airport lines operated by the Transportation Security Administration. That is intended to shorten the lines for everyone else who has to go through the extensive pat-down searches and full-body scans. Association President Roger Dow said the current screening system doesn't work because it assumes all travelers pose the same threat. "A one-size-fits-all approach to security is inefficient," he said. The "trusted traveler" idea is not new and has critics.