Noticed this on Continental’s website. I’m not sure how long this has been on their site, but I assume not long and not everyone has seen this.
Continental is in the process of gathering a listing of One Pass Members who already have “Trusted Traveler” Status and who would be interested in participating in the TSA’s expedited security screening program that is currently being rolled out in limited scope in airports across the country. As far I as know, no Star Alliance member is currently piloting this program with the TSA.
I have included a link below that allows you to enroll for the waitlist. Continental indicates that they will begin contacting selected members with further information for participating in the program. It looks like a Trusted Traveler Program PASS ID number is not mandatory to sign up for the list. However, if you have Global Entry, you already have this number. You can find it on line, or on your Global Entry Card.
Click here to be taken to Continental’s website for enrollment information
P.S., I will happily go through a background check, etc., to speed through security faster.
Thanks for posting this. I was offered the pre-screen thing with American, but rarely fly them and it was out of DFW among other airports I usually don’t fly out of. Hoping LAX will be one in the future… UA will begin participation soon, too.
Thanks, Kris. I also registered at the CO site.
Fisher1949: The purpose of the program is to pre-screen passengers who are at lowest risk. This costs money because of the background checks, fingerprints, and administration of the program.
Those who don’t want to pay for a background check and pre-screening can undergo a full screening at the airport.
This is freedom of choice.
Just because you can’t live with TSA procedures doesn’t mean that the rest of us should follow your rules.
Don’t fly if you don’t want to go through screening. Flying is not a right; it is a privilege.
Fisher1949: I’m not sure if you are aware, but the only people who com pain about getting groped are the ones who go out of their way to get groped. In my 25 flights this year (only through security 19 times), I haven’t seen anyone opt out. As far as I can tell, the only people who opt for the pat down are the people who want to complain about being patted down. There is nothing I find more humorous than the people who call it sexual assault when they went out of their way to get that treatment.
I’m not sure about the link to the UA site, I just saw it in an article. I merged my MP/OP accounts, so they have me as gold, so I just signed up for it on the CO side.
While this may seem to make sense, it also tacitly admits that some “preferred” travelers, who pay a fee, will be less likely to get groped than another innocent traveler who only flies once a year. This favors those who spend more money on air fares and is a form of legalized extortion. Or perhaps TSA thinks some people are “more equal” than others. No civil rights implications there.
This is foolish since it doesn’t address what is supposed to be their fundamental mission, looking for passengers who pose a risk. Instead it demonstrates that their actual function is to harass and humiliate passengers in the name of security without regard to the underlying risk a passenger presents. This is validated by their selection of 1% of passengers at random for intrusive pat downs despite any indication that they are carrying contraband.
This is a slippery slope that ultimately jeopardizes everyone and increases the probability that infrequent travelers will be victims of TSA abuse. It also paves the way for a Congressional exemption, leaving the rest of us with no one to defend our rights from TSA’s unwarranted intrusions. TSA has also floated the notion of exempting military, those with security clearances and others from these procedures, effectively isolating only the civilian population, who pay their salaries, for exposure to these intrusive procedures. The only ones who could escape would be those who fly every week and spend a lot of money with airlines.
The idea that the size of someone’s wallet or career choice that requires travel makes them less of a security risk is illogical and dangerous. This is not risk based at all, but instead just TSA’s response to pressure from the airlines.
This program is an admission that the TSA security theater is an unnecessary and unwarranted harassment of passengers and Congress must demand that TSA adopt sensible and respectful procedures for everyone, not just select groups of passengers. There should be no further funding of TSA until they adopt procedures we all can live with.
Thanks for posting this about CO.
Kris – what is the link to the UA site?
United got on board with this a few days ago, so I’m guessing it hasn’t been around for long.