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Feds are tired of making you wait in security line
The government doesn't want to make you miserable! Seriously. The Department of Homeland Security wants faster airport screening just as much as you do. That's why it supports a program for screening approved, low-risk travelers coming to the United States to most international airports. The new approach has been tested for more than a year at seven airports, and screening time dropped from 10 minutes to only three.
To participate in this program, you need to be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident -- and more than 14 years old. There's a $100 fee (which is probably worth it), and you have to submit to a background check. If you're accepted, the customs process when you get back to the United States won't be so bad. If all goes well, the program will eventually be open to foreigners who come from countries that have a sufficiently solid screening process.
Now, DHS, is there anything you can do to speed up all those logjams at domestic security checkpoints!
Filed under: North America, United States, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard Nov 21st 2009 12:38PM
What?? Why should I, a 70 year old, retired military officer, have to pay $100 to skip the line? As for a background check, check the government records. I'm already there. This sounds like a way to get more money from travelers.
Glenn Nov 21st 2009 2:17PM
I agree with Richard's comment.
Anyone else notice how they've manipulated our expectations for reasonable service? Charging me $100 for the privilege of being slightly-less inconvenienced sounds to me like a load of you-know-what.
Tom Johansmeyer Nov 21st 2009 4:16PM
In fairness, I mentioned in the article that it "has been tested for more than a year at seven airports."
TroyG Nov 21st 2009 11:36PM
@Richard - appreciate your thoughts. My understanding is the $100 is essentially the fee to cover the costs of the background check and the in-person interview. When I applied, the approval process took about 18 hours (over a weekend) - and the interview was about 15 minutes, as well as a demonstration how the machine works - not bad considering...
I will say that the automated system (Global Entry) has been great the last few times I've crossed the border into the US. Skipping a massive line as 2 747's and an A380 dropped passengers off in LAX was fantastic last time I arrived.
My only complaint is it's not as convenient as the system in many other countries (that allow all citizens to use it), nor as "flash" as those systems (facial recognition, automatic gates, etc). Also, the fact the current airports have 1-2 systems (compare to Melbourne which split the system into 2 parts, and has at least 10 ATM-like terminals & 5 biometric recognition gates for a fraction of the population), but I suspect that'll change soon enough.