FC: Survey: Frequent fliers would trade privacy for shorter lines

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/CorpPR/Releases/cg/release549.asp

News Release

CONTACT:

Rebecca Alberte
414-524-4017
Rebecca.K.Alberte () jci com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FREQUENT FLIERS WILLING TO TRADE PRIVACY FOR TIME SAVINGS

Johnson Controls Poll Shows Travelers Open to New Personal Identification
Technology

MILWAUKEE ­ (Sept. 19, 2002) In a poll of frequent business fliers, the
overwhelming majority said they would welcome more intrusive personal
identification technology if it streamlined airport security
check-in. The poll was commissioned by Johnson Controls.

About three-fourths of the frequent air travelers polled said they would
be “extremely” or “very” willing to undergo a fingerprint scan at the
airport if it helped streamline and shorten flight check-in time. Nearly
two-thirds were just as willing to undergo an iris or facial recognition
scan. And 61 percent said they were extremely or very willing to use a
national ID card with thumbprint.

The poll’s release follows recent relevant testimony from James Loy,
acting head of the Transportation Security Administration. Before a Senate
committee last week, Loy voiced support for the creation of a “trusted
traveler” program to reduce airport security waits for frequent business
fliers. The proposed program would involve voluntary, in-depth background
checks for frequent travelers who would then receive a badge embedded with
some type of personal identification technology and become part of a
registered traveler database.

The Johnson Controls survey indicates support among business travelers for
such a program.

“Privacy and security concerns still exist, but many frequent business
travelers are more concerned about the amount of time they are spending at
the airport,” said Tom Allen, vice president of the government market unit
of Johnson Controls Security Solutions. Johnson Controls is the provider
of security systems and services to 30 domestic airports.

The poll found that the typical business traveler has doubled the amount
of time he or she arrives at the airport in advance of scheduled flights
since the attacks last September. The share of respondents who arrive at
the airport two or more hours before a domestic flight has jumped from one
percent before Sept. 11, 2001 to 30 percent today. The percent of frequent
travelers who arrive one-and-one half to two hours in advance of flights
has increased from five percent to 39 percent.

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, the majority of these travelers ­ 64 percent ­
only allowed from 30 minutes to one hour lead time before domestic
flights.

In the poll, frequent fliers indicated some skepticism about the current
passenger screening measures that are the reason they are spending more
time in airports before flights. Some 67 percent said they thought X-ray
screening of carry-on luggage was extremely or very effective and 57
percent rated presenting a photo ID at the gate and before boarding as
extremely or very effective.

Other measures were perceived less positively: Separate inspection of
laptop computers was rated extremely or very effective by only 37 percent
of those polled; random searches of their bodies and baggage was rated
extremely or very effective by 32 percent; and shoe removal and screening
received that rating from only 27 percent.

About two-thirds of respondents said they had experienced at least one
security-related delay over the past year. “Business travelers must
anticipate significant delays, whether or not they actually encounter long
lines at the airport,” said Allen. And those hours add up.

Based on the Travel Industry Association’s projection of person-air travel
trips in 2002, travelers will spend an estimated 50 million to 70 million
extra hours in airports this year compared to last due to arriving earlier
for their flights.

In addition to security projects at domestic public airports, Johnson
Controls provides integrated security systems to 22 commercial and
government airport or aerospace facilities in the U.S., 10 airports
overseas, and last year won a nationwide contract to provide security
system integration for air traffic control facilities at 925 Federal
Aviation Administration sites. The company also provides security
solutions to a wide range of commercial, industrial, government, and
educational institution clients worldwide.

While the majority of frequent fliers were willing to embrace new personal
ID technologies at airports, some did express concerns either that the
measures would not in fact streamline check-in, that they wouldn’t be
effective, or that they would be too intrusive.

Said one traveler: “In spite of what happened on September 11, I do not
wish to jeopardize my freedom or privacy. I believe cataloging everyone in
this manner would do that.”

The survey was conducted by Decision Analyst, Inc. of 203 adults who had
taken four or more airline trips in the past year, were in executive-level
jobs and had a minimum household income of $50,000. The survey results are
statistically significant with 95 percent confidence.

Johnson Controls Inc. is a global market leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major
supplier of seating, interior systems and batteries. For nonresidential
facilities, Johnson Controls provides building control systems and
services, energy management and integrated facility management. Johnson
Controls (NYSE: JCI), founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. Its sales for 2001 totaled $18.4 billion.
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