Traveler Program Overrated

Posted by Bridget Lux Sep 14, 2006

The Registered Traveler program is one of those things that seems like a good idea in theory. Basically, frequent travelers who want to shell out around $200 per year (that's the most recent figure I've found, but it's bound to go up), get special treatment. Yeah, different special treatment than those who are in other travel programs. They get a special, theoretically speedier line to go through at security (isn't that already available through some other program?), in theory, cutting down their wait time.

Now, after spending what seemed like an eternity in line at Heathrow recently, this sounds like a good idea. It would be a lot for leisure travelers to plunk down $200 per year, but I could see it being very attractive to frequent business travelers.

But there's a catch -- several, actually. The airport has to sign up for the program, which according to the Transportation Security Administration, requires more TSA screeners. About 20 airports have signed up for the program, which hasn't started yet.

And then, what happens when so many people sign up for the program that those lines become lengthy? There's no guarantee on the time Registered Travelers will cut by being part of the program. What will they do then? A Gold Registered Traveler program? No, platinum ... or titanium. Gold is so passe.

At any rate, I think for the regular joe schmoe travelers like me, the Registered Traveler program is overrated. But I'm all for putting a little energy into finding ways to speed up those lines.