Satisfaction with Airport Security Increases (Yes, really?)

By Elaine N. Schoch

How happy are you about taking your shoes off when going through airport security? Or being selected for the full-body scan?  Apparently U.S. travelers don’t mind this and many other security precautions. In fact, 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,” according to the Travel Leaders’ 2012 Consumer Survey released earlier this week.

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%

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%

Perhaps it’s not so much that people are less concerned with the security measures now but rather have accepted them. Be it to simply get through the process or because they truly feel compelled and understand that the safety and well-being of all airline passengers comes first. I’m hoping it’s the later but have a feeling it’s more the former. What do you think? Are people just going through the motions to get through it or are we all security nuts?

One more question for you guys, have you signed up for the “TSA PreCheck™”? (It’s 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.) I have not singed up for this and doubt I will. If I traveled on a weekly basis for work perhaps I would but right now, I’ll just navigate the security lines and wait my turn. I did find the survey findings interesting though since it was nearly split…

Happy Travels!