Satisfaction with Airport Security Increases

Travel Leaders' 2012 Consumer Survey

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Jun 11, 2012, 12:11 ET

PLYMOUTH, Minn., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may be much maligned, it appears as if American travelers are growing accustomed to the variety of security measures they are likely to encounter at airports. Two-thirds (66.2%) of U.S. travelers indicate they are "satisfied" with the level of security at airports – that's up 6% from last year – and only 17% indicate they are "unsatisfied." In addition, nearly three-quarters (74.4%) of those surveyed say they do not have concerns about full-body airport scanners. This survey was conducted by Travel Leaders Group from April 4 to May 16, 2012, and includes responses from 855 consumers throughout the U.S.

"The vast majority of American air traveler have adapted to today's airport security measures and, despite any perceived inconveniences, understand that the safety and well-being of all airline passengers is paramount," stated Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben. "We work hard to counsel our clients, so they understand what to expect and offer tips on making their airport experience as stress-free as possible. For those who travel frequently, there is an option for an expedited screening process. While only half the consumers in our survey say they would be 'very likely' or 'somewhat likely' to take part in the program, we discuss this option with our frequent travelers – knowing what a benefit it may be to them."

Key Statistics and Findings
Airport Security: Consumers were asked "What's your level of satisfaction with airport security today?"

	2012	2011	2010
Satisfied	66.2%	60.2%	72.9%
Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied	16.8%	18.0%	13.6%
Unsatisfied	17.0%	21.8%	13.5%

Full-body Scanners: When asked, "Do you have concerns about the use of full-body scanners at airport security check-points?" the percentages compared to the last two years are:

	2012	2011	2010
No	74.4%	72.2%	81.7%
Yes	25.6%	27.8%	18.3%

For the 25.6% of those who indicated they do have concerns, their top reasons are: "Potential known or unknown health risks" 44.0%, "Privacy issues" 27.9% and "Question effectiveness of scanners" 9.1%.

In 2011, the top three reasons were: "Health risk – radiation" 40.4%, "Privacy issues" 40.0%, and "Security delays" 10.4%.
In 2010 the top three reasons cited were: "Privacy issues" 47.6%, followed by "Potential known or unknown health risks" 27.2%, and "Delays getting through security" 19.7%.

The TSA launched "TSA PreCheck™" – an expedited screening initiative which requires some travelers to pay $100 and provided personal information (including submitting to a live interview and being fingerprinted) to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We asked consumer how likely they would be to participate in this program?

Very likely, anything to speed up the process.	21.2%
Somewhat likely.	28.0%
Not very likely.	39.6%
Not sure.	11.2%

This is the fourth consecutive year this consumer travel survey has been conducted. 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: Nexion, Results! Travel, Travel Leaders, Tzell Travel Group and Vacation.com. Last week, Travel Leaders Group released its findings on American travelers' "tipping point" on the cost of airfare. To access that data, please go here.

Travel Leaders Group is one of North America's largest travel companies – encompassing nearly one-third of all travel agents – and generates gross travel sales of nearly $17 billion. Travel Leaders Group is a leader in both the retail travel agency space and corporate travel, and it consistently ranks as one of the top travel companies nationwide. Most recently, Travel Leaders Group was again named among the Top 10 on the Travel Weekly Power List, #1 on the Business Travel News Business 2011 Travel Survey and the Travel Leaders flagship brand was named #1 on Entrepreneur's latest Franchise 500 list of full-service travel agency franchise businesses.

Travel Leaders Group (www.travelleadersgroup.com) is transforming travel with a commitment to our vacation and business travel clients via our progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Having already assisted millions of travelers – through our beginnings as Carlson Leisure Group, a division of Carlson Companies, TraveLeaders and Tzell Travel Group and through the additions of Nexion and Vacation.com – Travel Leaders Group manages leisure, business and franchise travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands. With sales of nearly $17 billion in 2011, Travel Leaders Group not only ranks as the #1 corporate travel management company by Business Travel News, but it is also among the top ten travel companies on the 2011 Travel Weekly Power List. In 2011, Entrepreneur ranked Travel Leaders #1 in the category of "Travel Agencies-Miscellaneous."