Even so, the regional sales manager isn't wild about the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's proposal this week to offer expedited security checkpoints to travelers who agree to federal background checks.

"It's an invasion of privacy," said Mr. Stroud, who favors profiling as a way to spot potential terrorists.

TSA officials hope to launch a 90-day pilot of the "registered traveler" program at a limited number of airports as early as June. Dallas Love Field is one of five airports under consideration for the pilot, along with Logan International Airport in Boston; Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.; McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tenn.; and West Palm Beach Airport in Florida.

Participants would still go through an initial screening process, but could avoid random secondary screenings in exchange for offering more personal information.

Currently, between 12 percent and 15 percent of passengers undergo a second screening, not including those who set off an alarm when walking through the metal detectors.

The "registered traveler" program is part of the TSA's effort to reduce hassles for frequent travelers. Although details haven't been worked out, authorities are considering whether to open special checkpoint lines for participants, similar to those offered to first-class passengers at some airports.

Such special lines may catch the attention of many business travelers.

"That would add a lot of value to my day," said Thomas Ellis, a regional business manager for Ocean Spray who travels every week.

The Plano resident has adapted to security routines, packing his cellphone in his briefcase and only wearing items that he knows won't set off an alarm.

"When I'm buying something, I always ask if I can wear it through security," Mr. Ellis said. "When you travel as much as I do, you end up wearing the same thing over and over."

Showing support

A survey by the National Business Travel Association showed 70 percent of the organization's members support the registered traveler program.

"We only see positives," said Eugene Laney, an NBTA spokesman. "It's a way for our travelers to avoid the hassle factor and get on planes more quickly."

The program would operate separately from the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, or CAPPS II, which has been under development for two years.

Under CAPPS II, a major source of concern for civil libertarians and privacy advocates, passenger information would go through a network of interconnected computers and databases to determine the probability that any individual traveler is a terrorist. Based on the screening, passengers would receive a color code denoting their potential risk to the flight.

CAPPS II would replace the current CAPPS system, which uses certain criteria to single out passengers for additional scrutiny. Currently, CAPPS checks involve about 15 percent of all air travelers. The new system, backers say, should reduce that to about 5 percent.

"We want to balance customer satisfaction with security," Ms. McCauley said.

The registered traveler program would be free to participants during the pilot, but program fees and benefits are still up in the air.

"We haven't gotten that far yet," said Andrea McCauley, a TSA spokeswoman.

Driven away

Like many frequent business travelers, Mr. Stroud has shifted to driving when the distances are only a few hours, such as from Dallas to Houston or Austin.

After three years as a platinum flier on American Airlines, he doesn't expect to fly enough to maintain basic gold status this year, which requires either 25,000 miles or 30 flight segments.

"They've got the security gates so sensitive, I can't even wear my rings without setting off an alarm," Mr. Stroud said. "It's a pain in the butt."

Even as a voluntary program, privacy concerns outweigh the benefits for Kathy Benich, who works as a software consultant for Carrollton-based CDG & Associates.

"The lines just aren't that bad," said Ms. Benich, who travels at least twice a week. "I'd prefer going through the random screening process and be slowed down for three or four minutes than having my personal information in a database somewhere."

That sentiment reflects one challenge the TSA may face in selling the program's value, said Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, which represents corporate travel managers and their companies.

"The vast majority of security lines are under 10 minutes," Mr. Mitchell said. "The registered traveler program might just be a solution in search of a problem."

E-mail smarta@dallasnews.com

and dbedell@dallasnews.com

Caption:
PHOTO(S): (FILE 2003/Staff photo) Regular fliers who undergo security checks at Love Field may get a break if the airport is chosen for a test of the "registered traveler" program.