U.S. Department of Transportation

Research and Innovative Technology

Administration

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

For information on the 

Omnibus Household 

Survey, go to: 

http://www.bts.gov/

omnibus/household/

index.html. 

Or contact:

lori.putman@dot.gov 

202-366-5336

For information on 

this report, contact 

jonaki.bose@dot.gov 

202-366-9979

Air Passenger Opinions on 

Security Screening Procedures

June 2005

One in three adults in the 

United States took an airline fl ight departing from a 

domestic airport between December 

2003 and November 2004 (table 1), 

and 90 percent of these passengers 

expressed satisfaction with airport 

security screening procedures. These 

fi ndings are from the December 2004 

Omnibus Household Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of 

Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). 

The survey revealed a number of 

positive experiences for recent airline 

passengers:

• Ninety percent of travelers were 

satisfi ed or very satisfi ed with the 

time it took to screen passengers 

and carry-on items.

• Persons with disabilities reported 

spending less time waiting in line 

than persons without disabilities.

• There were no differences in 

satisfaction levels with screener 

courtesy based on passenger sex, 

education, disability status, income, 

age, or race. 

But, despite these positive outcomes, 

little more than one-third of the adult 

U.S. population had total or a great 

deal of confi dence that screening efforts made air travel secure. Another 

46 percent of adults felt moderately 

confi dent that these procedures made 

air travel safer.

Screening Times 

On average, passengers reported that 

they spent 20 minutes1

waiting in line 

to get to the security screening checkpoint (table 2). There were no differences in wait time detected based on 

traveler age, race, sex, income, or 

educational levels. However, persons 

with disabilities reported spending 

less time waiting than persons without 

disabilities (11 minutes compared to 

20 minutes). 

Although about 29 percent of travelers reported that they were selected 

for extended screening (table 3), 

there were no statistically signifi cant 

differences in waiting times reported 

by passengers who underwent basic 

screening and those who underwent 

extended screening (table 4). The latter includes additional activities such 

as a body pat down or use of a body 

wand.

Meeting Passenger Expectations

About half (47 percent) of the travelers surveyed found their wait shorter 

than expected, while 38 percent 

thought their wait time was about 

what they expected (table 5). Only 

nine percent of travelers reported 

longer than expected waits. Less than 

1

 This estimate is based on survey participant’s recollections of wait times and varies 

from actual wait times measured from samples 

at each checkpoint, for all hours of operation, 

by the Transportation Security Administration.
Page 2 Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures

seven percent of travelers reported that they had no expectations regarding how long they would have to wait. 

Travelers who reported their wait was shorter than expected reported that 

they waited, on average, about 14 minutes; those reporting their wait was 

longer than expected waited, on average, about 63 minutes (see table 4). 

Passengers whose wait was about what they expected passed through 

the screening process in about 18 minutes. 

Passenger Satisfaction

Travelers indicated high levels of satisfaction with their overall experience 

at the passenger security checkpoint, including time spent going through 

the screening process, the thoroughness of the process, and the courtesy of the screeners. Ninety percent of travelers expressed satisfaction 

(were either satisfi ed or very satisfi ed) with the overall screening process 

(table 6). 

Men were less likely than women to be satisfi ed or very satisfi ed with their 

overall experience (85 percent compared to 95 percent—see fi gure 1). 

The same was true of persons under 55, who were less likely than those 

55 or older to report being satisfi ed or very satisfi ed (87 percent compared 

to 97 percent). Persons who were satisfi ed with the overall screening process reported that they waited an average of 17 minutes compared to 47 

minutes for those who were dissatisfi ed (fi gure 2 and table 4). 

Ninety percent of travelers were satisfi ed or very satisfi ed with the time it 

took to screen passengers and carry-on items (table 7). Persons who expressed satisfaction reported that they waited an average of 19 minutes 

compared to 33 minutes for those who expressed dissatisfaction (fi gure 2 

and table 4). Eighty-six percent of travelers found the thoroughness of the 

passenger screening process to be appropriate (table 8). Only six percent 

of travelers found the screening process excessive, and another eight 

percent found it inadequate. Ninety-four percent of travelers were satisfi ed or very satisfi ed with the courtesy of the screeners (table 9). 

There were no differences in satisfaction levels with screener courtesy 

based on passenger sex, education, disability status, income, age, or 

race. Persons who were satisfi ed with screener courtesy reported that 

they waited 19 minutes to clear security compared to 37 minutes for 

those who were dissatisfi ed with screener courtesy (fi gure 2 and table 4). 

These results on satisfaction levels are consistent with passenger intercept studies conducted at airports by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Information Levels

A majority (86 percent) of passengers reported that they were well or 

somewhat well informed about the passenger screening process and 

gleaned information from a variety of sources (table 10). On average, 
Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures Page 3

travelers reported using two to three sources of information. The top three 

sources of information for travelers were signs at the airport, the media 

(radio, newspaper, and television), and word of mouth through friends and 

relatives (table 11). More than half of travelers used one or more of these 

three sources. The least frequently used source of information was the 

TSA website, which was used by about 1 in 10 fl iers. Five percent of travelers didn’t use any of the seven sources covered by the survey; instead, 

they relied on their own experiences or simply did not seek information. 

Demographic characteristic

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Overall

Male

Female

Under 55 

years

55 years & 

older

90

85

95

87

97

Percent satisfied/very satisfied

Figure 1—Percent of Fliers Satisfi ed or Very Satisfi ed with 

their Overall Experience at Passenger Screening 

Checkpoints, by Sex and Age

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 

Omnibus Household Survey, December 2004.
Page 4 Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures

Confi dence Levels

Overall, just over one-third (36 percent) of the entire U.S. population, 

including those who did not fl y, had a great deal of or total confi dence 

in passenger screeners to keep air travel secure (table 12). A little less 

than half (46 percent) of the population of U.S. adults reported moderate 

confi dence in the ability of passenger screeners to keep air travel secure. 

Less than one in fi ve adults (the remaining 18 percent) had no or a small 

amount of confi dence in passenger screeners. It is diffi cult to interpret the 

differences in opinions between fl iers and nonfl iers. However, a slightly 

higher proportion of fl iers had moderate confi dence (52 percent) compared to nonfl iers (43 percent).

Overall

experience

Screening

time

Courtesy

level

Satisfied/

very satisfied

Dissatisfied/

very dissatisfied

55 5

10

15

20

25 30 35

40

45

50

55 5

10

15

20

25 30 35

40

45

50

55 5

10

15

20

25 30 35

40

45

50

55 5

10

15

20

25 30 35

40

45

50

5

10

15

20

25 30 35

40

45

55

40

45

50

55

50

5

10

15

20

25 30 35

5

10

15

20

25 30

60 60

60

60 60

60

35

Figure 2—Reported Wait Times and Satisfaction 

with Overall Experience, Screening Time, 

and Courtesy Level (minutes)

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household Survey, December 2004.
Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures Page 5

Technical Notes

Data presented in this report are taken from the December 2004 BTS 

Omnibus Household Survey. This survey was conducted by BTS on behalf of the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security. The target population is the U.S. noninstitutionalized 

adult population (18 years or older). Results are based on 1,032 cases 

and a subset of 303 cases where the respondent reported fl ying between 

December 2003 and November 2004. These persons were randomly selected from households using a list-assisted random digit dialing (RDD) 

methodology. The fi ndings summarized in this report are estimates derived from a sample survey. Sample surveys contain two major components of error—sampling and nonsampling error.

Survey data provide estimates of population parameters and are subject 

to error because fi ndings are based on a sample rather than on the entire 

population. All estimates in this report and tables are weighted and have 

a coeffi cient of variation that is 30 percent or less. Standard errors for 

each estimate are included in the tables. All differences discussed in this 

report are statistically signifi cant at the 0.05 level. In the tables there may 

be differences that may appear large, but they may not be statsticially 

signifi cant due to the relatively large standard errors surrounding the estimates. Some survey respondents who reported fl ying between December 

2003 and November 2004 did not respond to all survey questions; consequently some estimates are based on less than 303 cases. Estimates 

are also subject to nonsampling error, for example, errors in respondent 

interpretation, interviewer recording, and data editing. 

Sources of Data on Wait Times

In addition to the perceived wait times collected from passengers by the 

Omnibus Household Survey (OHS), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also directly measures wait times at security lines as part of 

its Performance Measurement Information System. TSA’s estimate for the 

average peak2

 wait time for December 2003 to November 2004 was 13.0 

minutes. The mean wait time reported by passengers in the OHS was 

20.4 (±3.5) minutes for the same period. Several factors may contribute to 

the difference between the two wait-times estimates. 

While both surveys measure comparable wait times, the survey methodologies vary considerably. 

• TSA’s survey measures actual wait times at random time points during 

peak periods by handing cards with the initial start time to randomly 

2 Average Peak Wait Time represents the average wait time at the busiest period(s) of the 

day. This time may vary from airport to airport across the nation.
Page 6 Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures

selected passengers as they enter the queue3. The card is collected 

and time stamped before the passenger walks through the metal detector. Thus the wait time includes the time spent from the beginning of the 

queue until the passenger reaches the metal detector and does not include time spent during the actual passenger screening. The TSA survey measures wait times at selected times, regardless of the number of 

passengers waiting in line, if any.

• OHS uses a national random sample of persons, screened to exclude 

those who did not use an airport in the previous 12 months. Although 

the OHS covers the same waiting period as the TSA survey, OHS asks 

the passenger to self-report the time spent standing in line. Because 

most passengers do not time their waits, the OHS obtains perceived 

wait times. Besides recall and rounding errors, OHS respondents may 

be including the entire security screening process, not just the time in 

line, in their estimates. 

Table 1

Percent of Adults in the U.S. Departing from a Domestic Airport Between 

November 2003 and December 2004

Departure status

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample

size

Flew during reference period 33.3 1.8 303

Did not fl y during reference period 66.7 1.8 585

 Total 100.0 NA 888

KEY: NA = Not applicable

NOTE: All estimates are weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.

3

 The total number of airports reporting between December 2003 and November 2004 

ranged from 125 airports to 337 airports. Not all airports were required to report until June 

2004.
Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures Page 7

Table 2

Minutes Reported Spent in Line Waiting to Go Through Security Screening

by Selected Demographics

Characteristic

Average 

minutes

Standard 

error

(percent)

Sample 

size

Overall 20.4 1.8 295

Male 20.9 3.0 134

Female 19.9 2.0 161

Less than 4-year degree 20.1 3.4 137

4-year degree or higher 18.9 1.5 153

Disabled 11.4 2.2 22

Nondisabled 20.4 1.9 269

Household income less than $75K 18.0 1.8 143

Household income $75K or more 22.1 4.1 98

18 to 54 years old 21.2 2.3 183

55 or older 16.5 2.0 109

White (Non-Hispanic) 17.3 1.2 243

Other race 27.3 6.1 48

NOTE: All estimates are weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.

Table 3

Percent of Passengers Reporting Being Selected for Extended Security Screening

Characteristic

Estimates 

(percent)

Standard error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Overall 28.6 3.2 79

Male 28.5 4.5 37

Female 28.6 4.4 42

Less than 4-year degree 30.0 5.0 36

4-year degree or higher 28.0 4.1 42

Household income less than $75K 31.3 4.6 41

Household income $75K or more 23.6 5.3 21

18 to 54 years old 28.3 4.1 44

55 or older 29.2 4.6 34

White (Non-Hispanic) 26.9 3.2 64

Other race 34.0 8.8 14

NOTE: All estimates are weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.
Page 8 Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures

Table 4

Time Spent (reported by passenger) In Line Waiting to Go Through 

Security Screening by Nondemographic Characteristics

Characteristic

Average 

minutes

Standard error

(percent)

Sample 

size

Overall 20.4 1.8 295

Selected for extended screening 24.2 5.0 77

Basic screening procedure 18.0 1.4 216

Wait time shorter than expected 14.3 1.4 136

Wait time about expectation 17.6 1.7 112

Wait time longer than expected 62.5 11.3 25

Very satisfi ed/satisfi ed with screening time 18.7 1.9 270

Dissatisfi ed/very dissatisfi ed with screening time 32.8 6.8 24

Very satisfi ed/satisfi ed with courtesy 19.0 1.8 275

Dissatisfi ed/very dissatisfi ed with courtesy 37.0 8.9 19

Very satisfi ed/satisfi ed with overall experience 17.4 1.2 268

Dissatisfi ed/very dissatisfi ed with experience 47.0 11.2 26

No/small amount of confi dence in screeners 32.0 7.4 50

Moderate confi dence 17.8 1.6 145

Great deal/total confi dence in screeners 15.3 1.9 95

Thoroughness (of screening) was excessive 36.3 8.4 18

Thoroughness was appropriate 18.8 2.0 248

Thoroughness was inadequate 27.5 7.4 23

NOTE: All estimates are weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.

Table 5

Distribution of Travelers Based on Differences Between Expected and 

Reported Wait Time at Security Screening

Reported versus expected wait

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Shorter or much shorter 46.8 3.4 138

About what was expected 37.8 3.2 115

Longer or much longer 8.8 2.0 25

Had no expectations 6.5 1.5 21

 Total 100.0 NA 299

KEY: NA = Not applicable

NOTES: Percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to independent rounding. All estimates are 

weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.
Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures Page 9

Table 6

Percent Very Satisfi ed or Satisfi ed with Overall Experience at the 

Passenger Security Check Point by Selected Demographics

Characteristic

Estimates 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Overall 90.1 2.2 273

Male 85.3 3.8 118

Female 95.0 1.8 155

Less than 4-year degree 91.9 3.3 130

4-year degree or higher 88.6 3.0 138

Disabled 90.4 6.5 21

Nondisabled 90.3 2.3 249

Household income less than $75K 91.3 2.9 134

Household income $75K or more 88.8 4.3 88

18 to 54 years old 87.4 3.0 162

55 or older 97.2 1.5 108

White (Non-Hispanic) 90.9 2.1 228

Other race 88.1 6.3 42

NOTE: All estimates are weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.

Table 7

Passenger Satisfaction with Time Required to Screen Passenger and 

Carry-On Items

Passenger status

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Very satisfi ed/satisfi ed 90.5 2.1 275

Dissatisfi ed/very dissatisfi ed 9.5 2.1 24

 Total 100.0 NA 299

KEY: NA = Not applicable

NOTE: All estimates are weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.
Page 10 Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures

Table 8

Rating the Thoroughness of the Screening Process

All passengers Satisfi ed passengers

Rating

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Excessive screening 6.2 1.5 20 — — —

Appropriate screening 86.1 2.2 249 92.1 1.7 242

Inadequate screening 7.7 1.7 24 4.6 1.3 15

 Total 100.0 NA 301 100.0 NA 267

KEY: — = Unreliable estimate; NA = Not applicable

NOTE: All estimates are weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.

Table 9

Satisfaction with Screener Courtesy by Selected Demographics

Characteristic

Estimates 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Overall 94.0 1.5 280

Male 92.1 2.7 125

Female 95.8 1.5 155

Less than 4-year degree 95.4 1.9 132

4-year degree or higher 93.0 2.4 143

Disabled 95.2 4.7 22

Nondisabled 94.1 1.6 255

Household income less than $75K 95.3 2.2 137

Household income $75K or more 95.0 2.2 92

18 to 54 years old 93.1 2.1 170

55 or older 96.9 1.5 107

White (Non-Hispanic) 93.6 1.9 234

Other race 96.1 2.3 43

NOTE: All estimates are weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.
Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures Page 11

Table 10

Level of Knowledge Regarding Passenger Screening Procedures

How informed

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Well or somewhat well informed 85.8 2.5 263

Not very well or not informed 14.3 2.5 38

 Total 100.0 NA 301

KEY: NA = Not applicable

NOTES: Percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to independent rounding. All estimates are 

weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.

Table 11

Sources for Information About the Airport Passenger Screening Process

Source

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Radio, TV, newspaper 57.6 3.4 171

Signs at airport 55.0 3.4 162

Word of mouth 52.9 3.4 156

Printed materials 28.3 3.1 79

Airline/agent website 24.6 2.9 75

Called airline/agent 19.5 2.8 52

TSA website 9.1 1.9 25

Did not use any of the above 5.4 1.4 16

Mean number of sources *2.5 0.1 295

*This number is an average, not an estimated percent.

NOTES: Percents will not add to 100 percent since more than one source may have been used. All estimates are weighted to represent U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household 

Survey, December 2004.
Page 12 Air Passenger Opinions on Security Screening Procedures

Table 12

Overall Confi dence Levels in the Ability of Security Screeners to Keep Air Travel Secure

All adults Fliers Nonfl iers

Amount 

of confi dence

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

Estimate 

(percent)

Standard 

error 

(percent)

Sample 

size

No/small 

amount

 18.3 1.5 155 17.2 2.5 52 19 1.9 103

Moderate 

amount

 46.1 2.0 387 51.5 3.3 149 43 2.5 238

A great deal 

of/total

 35.7 1.9 301 31.3 3.0 97 38 2.4 204

 Total 100.0 NA 843 100.0 NA 298 100 NA 545

KEY: NA = Not applicable

NOTES: Percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to independent rounding. All estimates are weighted to represent 

U.S. noninstitutionalized adult population (18 and older).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household Survey, 

December 2004.