Making the TSA PreCheck program free will save millions in the long term, University of Illinois researchers say.
A study headed by computer science professor Sheldon H. Jacobson says waiving the $85 fee to attract more frequent fliers to enrol in the program costs less money than the associated costs of screening non-expedited passengers.
Researchers looked at the costs of workforce labor hours and equipment and found cost savings from frequent travelers using PreCheck security screening adds to to more than the waiving of enrollment fees.
However it would take some time for the cost benefits to be realized.
"This is an easy case where spending some money will save the federal government more money. There is a transition period – the savings are realized over the first five years, and then in perpetuity. So if the federal government is looking for a way to save money, giving TSA PreCheck at no cost to high-volume, high-value fliers makes sense," Jacobson said.
"We only look at the direct cost savings in labor and equipment. We don’t even talk about the savings in time of the passengers who would no longer have to wait hours in line," Jacobson added.
"That could add tens or hundreds of millions of dollars a year, which would be a bonus to the economy. More people could decide to fly, because of the time and cost savings."
It’s a ‘win-win situation; Jacobson says.
"We are saying to TSA and to the decision-makers in Washington, ‘It’s worth it to invest that money because you’re going to get it back. It will facilitate more people going through checkpoints more quickly, make the system more secure and produce a cost savings for the TSA
