Exploring The Registered Traveler Pilot Program

To help combat incidents of unsafe airline travel, various airports introduced The Registered Traveler Pilot Program in 2005. First added as a pilot project, the program now appears in various airport terminals throughout the United States.

The program will present an additional cost to travelers, but airlines claim that extra security is well-worth the investment. As a result, passengers will pay a fee to join the program, which will then require them to have a background check conducted. If the traveler is accepted into the program, they will be given a smartcard to use at the airport. This smartcard will contain all of their relevant information and allow them to get through the process faster and more easily.

To encourage passengers to join the program, a dedicated lane will be available to cardholders. This lane will allow travelers to pass through the checkpoints quicker than regular passengers, in addition to a few other perks. Smartcard users will not have to remove their jackets and footwear to be scanned and changes may be made to laptop regulations as well.

In order to join the program, a passenger must have reached the age of majority in the United States. With parental consent, youth between the ages of 12 and 18 can also apply for a smartcard, to help simplify family travel. As an additional security measure, the Transportation Security Administration department will use regular screening practices for the cardholders and may subject them to a second screening, if necessary. This will help to deter potential criminal activity by subjecting questionable passengers to the same practices as everyone else.

While the smartcard technology will not stop a passenger and their baggage from being scanned, it may just speed up the overall process. With a list of details about a particular passenger stored on the card, airlines will be able to pass travelers through at a faster rate. No one wants to be held up at the airport for an excessive amount of time and, hopefully, the smartcard will help to lessen that possibility. Smoother security measure make for better vacations, which is something we can all appreciate.

Airport Security Screening: What Can They See?

The debate continues as to whether or not advanced airport screening is an invasion of privacy. While airports continue to argue that these measures are necessary in order to protect the safety of passengers, those awaiting a flight worry that the airport staff may be seeing too much. When your luggage passes through an airport scanner, do you know what objects become visible to the screeners?

We’ve come a long way from the 1970s, when sky marshals were hired to travel on-board flights to address potential hijackings. A few years later, the airlines realized that this was not an efficient way to tackle the problem and introduced the first screening system. By the mid-70s, all passengers and carry-on items were screened for safety purposes, with the screening itself performed by various sub-contracted security companies.

Following the 2001 attacks, airlines began limiting the items allowed on an aircraft and implemented stricter identification practices. The following year, airline security became responsible for using its own screening methods, with new explosive detection technology added a few years later. The GE company seized the opportunity to create a new airline system and so started the Secure Registered Traveler System. The system not only scans baggage, but also uses an advanced full body scan to check passengers for concealed weapons.

If you will be taking a carry-on, airport security will get a peek into everything you’ve packed. Of course, this is the only way for them to make sure you are not carrying any weapons, prohibited liquids, food or drink, or any other troublesome items. With weapons being the main concern, airlines suggest that you lay out electronics and other metal objects between two layers of clothing to make the process quicker and easier.

One of the newest technologies to appear is the Backscatter X-Ray machine, which uses radiation waves to search passengers for weapons. The machines cost approximately $100,000 and make use of a technology that reflects off of travelers and permeates right through their clothes. In essence, the passengers making their way through the Backscatter will appear unclothed to specially-trained airport security staff, causing many individuals to lash out at the concept. However, airlines argue that this is the most effective and time-efficient method available, and that the images behind the screen will only be viewed by a select few.

What Not To Pack in Your Suitcase

While everyone is happy to see airport terminals taking extra precautions against security threats, traveling has since become a pain in the neck. With a new list of permitted items, it can be hard to know what to pack and what to leave home. The rules aren’t as complicated as they sound, as long as you perform some research before leaving home.

Not surprisingly, sharp objects of any sort are prohibited, including small items like nail clippers. Should you accidentally arrive at the airport with a makeup bag or shaving kit that includes nail clippers, they will likely be confiscated by airport security. As for the razor or shaver itself, it’s best to leave the cartridges at home. There’s a good chance you will not be allowed to board your flight with a row of razor blades.

Perhaps the most confusing of the rules deals with liquids. While you can carry a drink of water with you, it won’t be much more than a few mouthfuls, thanks to a 3.4 ounce cap currently in place. Other liquids, such as facial wash or shampoo, must be packed in plastic, zip-locked bags. Again, the size is limited, so it may be much easier to buy travel sized beauty and grooming products and use those on your travels. Better yet, in most cases, you can buy new shampoo when you arrive at your destination.

Larger liquids, such as medications, do not have to be carried in a zipped bag. They can also exceed the accepted 3.4 ounces. Remember, each bottle you pack that fails to meet airport standards will slow down the line and potentially cause your vacation to be delayed.

Most importantly, don’t pack a Driver’s License and expect to travel outside of your country without any problems. Once considered the ultimate form of identification, a Driver’s License cannot give any indication as to whether another traveler is a citizen. Passports are now required for almost every type of travel and act as evidence that a person belongs to a certain country. Take the time to research the necessary documents before leaving for your vacation, to avoid any undue delays.