Guide to the Decision-Making Tool for Evaluating Passenger Self-Tagging

This report provides the information and tools, included on accompanying CD-ROM, CRP-CD-83, necessary for an airport or airline to determine the appropriateness of pursuing passenger self-tagging should it be allowed in the United States in the future. The tools, in an Excel Spreadsheet format, allow for the input of airport-specific information, such as facility size and passenger flows, while also providing industry averages to assist those airports and airlines that haven't yet collected their individual information. The decision-making tools provide both qualitative and quantitative information that can then be used to assess if passenger self-tagging meets organizational needs or fits into their strategic plan. While passenger self-tagging in not yet in place in the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has indicated openness to the concept and has allowed it for selected flights from Montreal into the United States. In fact, the TSA recently approved the start of pilot programs for passenger self-tagging in the United States. The selected airports and airlines have begun the planning phases, and are expected to begin the actual pilots this year or next. These decision-making tools will assist airports and airlines in considering participation in the self-tagging.