For several years now, private companies and the federal government have been working on a system to allow frequent flyers to avoid long lines and extra security checks at airports by paying a fee and providing additional information about themselves. You've heard so much about it, you may think it's an existing program. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, says, "Not unless you're in Orlando."

The incredible fact is, only Orlando's aiport has any kind of extra-speedy security check for frequent flyers.It's a program called "CLEAR," and it's operated by a private company. You pay an annual fee of $79.95, provide your fingerprints, an scan of your iris, and other personal information. Then you receive a pass allowing you to walk through a specially marked line manned by that company's employees.

CLEAR customers can make it through Orlando security in between four seconds and three minutes. I flew out of Orlando airport just two weeks ago and waited 12 minutes to go through the regular security line, though waits there can reach up to half an hour.

Two years ago, the Transportation Security Administration--the TSA--set up five pilot programs in airports around the country to try to devise something similar. Those pilots ended last fall. Then, the TSA promised that by June 20th, more airports would be permitted to offer registered traveler programs. That deadline passed without a public peep.

So what's taking so long? I mean, airports can't wait to make money. They stand to share in the revenue when companies like CLEAR open in places like San Jose, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, CLEAR's next target markets. We'll be paying $80 per person, per year for the privilege of bypassing long lines.

Both a CLEAR spokeswoman and a TSA spokeswoman told me yesterday that a consortium of government and private industry groups is working hard to reach standards--from both a technical as well as a security point of view--that will allow for a smoothly operating registered travelers' program.

But technology can't always instantly match business desires. Setting uniform standards--such as getting competing systems to recognize you wherever you fly out of--is taking longer than expected. TSA predicts new airports will be up and running "in the second half of 2006."

My guess: The summer flowers will be lo-o-o-o-ng gone before that happy day.

From Saint Paul, I'm Rudy Maxa, the Savvy Traveler, for Marketplace.

July 11, 2006