Americans Remain Very Satisfied with Airport Security

Survey by Travel Leaders Group also asks U.S. travelers about airport security wait times, expedited screenings and what impact, if any, terrorist attacks have on travel decisions.

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Travel Leaders Group

Jun 11, 2015, 11:39 ET

PLYMOUTH, Minn., June 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the acting head of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) being reassigned due to unfavorable results from recent tests of airport security, recently polled Americans are quite content with today's airport security. In fact, 88.4% indicated they are satisfied with or neutral about today's security measures – up from 87.5% last year. Additionally, according to survey participants, a growing number of travelers are using TSA PreCheck™ and more are indicating that the program has reduced wait times at airport screening. The survey was conducted by Travel Leaders Group – a $20 billion powerhouse in the travel industry – from April 3 to April 30, 2015, and includes responses from 3,371 consumers throughout the United States.

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"We are entering the peak summer travel season and many people will be flying to their summer vacation destinations. Americans have grown accustomed to enhanced airport security procedures that allow for a more stress-free experience for many travelers," stated Barry Liben, CEO of Travel Leaders Group. "While a recent watchdog report highlights lapses in airport security screening tests, it's important to note that mistakes are being addressed at the highest levels and steps are being taken to continue to ensure the safety of all travelers passing through our nation's airports."

"In our survey, we also asked Americans whether terrorist attacks in popular international destinations would deter them from traveling. Resoundingly, 78.3% of those polled indicated they won't let extremists keep them from experiencing what the world has to offer, while just 19.3% prefer to travel domestically," Liben continued. "On a daily basis, as advocates for our clients, Travel Leaders Group's travel agents constantly provide the latest information and facts – including from the State Department – so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans."

The latest findings released from Travel Leaders Group's "2015 Consumer Travel Survey" include:

Airport Security Satisfaction: When asked, "What is your level of satisfaction with airport security today?" 88.4% indicated they are satisfied with or neutral about today's security measures – up from 87.5% last year. The percentage of travelers expressing dissatisfaction with TSA continues to decline and is at its lowest level since Travel Leaders Group first began asking this question in 2010.

	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010
Satisfied	65.8%	64.2%	62.2%	66.2%	60.2%	72.9%
Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied	22.6%	23.3%	19.8%	16.8%	18.0%	13.6%
Unsatisfied	11.6%	12.5%	18.0%	17.0%	21.8%	13.5%

TSA PreCheck™ : When asked, "Has the TSA PreCheck™ program at U.S. airports made a significant difference in wait times for security screening?" the percentage of those polled answering favorably increased overall by 15.3%, even though a plurality were unsure.

	2015	2014
Yes, I use it all the time	14.4%	7.6%
Yes, it's reduced wait times for regular screening	26.1%	17.6%
No	14.5%	13.1%
I don't know	45.1%	61.7%

Terrorism and Travel Decision: When asked, "Because of recent terrorist acts taking place in popular international destinations, are you less likely to plan an overseas trip? A significant percentage of Americans polled (78.3%) indicated they would continue to travel internationally.

No way; I won't let that keep me from seeing the world.	29.9%
No, not at this time, but it might in the future.	48.4%
Yes, I'm choosing to travel within the U.S. rather than abroad.	19.3%
Yes, I'm just going to stay home.	2.4%

Additional Statistics and Findings:

State Department Travel Advisories: Travel Leaders Group also wanted to gauge how much impact U.S. State Department travel advisories have on Americans' leisure travel decisions. Of those polled, 29.9% indicated "very little to no impact," while 45.9% stated "some impact."
Overall Airport Security Wait Times: When asked, "With regard to how long it takes to get through airport security, are you…" 44.5% of consumers polled "Wish it was somewhat quicker," 44.4% are "OK with the amount of time it takes," and only 11.1% state they are "Frustrated by the amount of time it takes" to get through airport security, which is down from 14.1% in 2014.
Expedited Screening: It should also be noted that when asked, "Have you experienced 'expedited' screening at an airport in the last 12 months?" 53.1% stated "Yes" and 46.9% said "No." In 2014, 60% of those polled said "No."
Eliminate One TSA Security Measure: …

To see the full results, please go here.

Through the years, Travel Leaders Group has built a reputation for gathering extensive travel trends data from its vast network of travel agents and more recently from American consumers and travelers. Travel Leaders Group also recently released information related to Cuba Travel and Dream Destinations. This is the 7th consecutive year for the consumer travel survey. American consumers were engaged predominantly through social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as through direct contact with travel clients for the following Travel Leaders Group companies: Protravel International, Results! Travel, Travel Leaders, Tzell Travel Group and Vacation.com.