Guide to the Decision-Making Tool for Evaluating Passenger Self-Tagging (2011)

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TRANSPORTAT ION RESEARCH BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 2011 www.TRB.org A I R P O R T C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M ACRP REPORT 41 Research sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration Subscriber Categories Aviation Guide to the Decision-Making Tool for Evaluating Passenger Self-Tagging Francis Barich Justin Phy Rick Belliotti BARICH, INC. Chandler, AZ Ron Hiscox AIRPORT PROCESS DESIGN, LTD. Montréal, Canada Rose Agnew AVIATION INNOVATION, INC. St. Louis, MO

AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in trans- portation of people and goods and in regional, national, and inter- national commerce. They are where the nation’s aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal respon- sibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce innovations into the airport industry. The Airport Coopera- tive Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the airport industry can develop innovative near-term solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study spon- sored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. It is modeled after the successful National Coopera- tive Highway Research Program and Transit Cooperative Research Pro- gram. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a variety of airport subject areas, including design, construction, mainte- nance, operations, safety, security, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. The ACRP provides a forum where airport opera- tors can cooperatively address common operational problems. The ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary partici- pants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from airport oper- ating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations such as the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), and the Air Transport Association (ATA) as vital links to the airport community; (2) the TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a contract with the National Academies formally initiating the program. The ACRP benefits from the cooperation and participation of airport professionals, air carriers, shippers, state and local government officials, equipment and service suppliers, other airport users, and research orga- nizations. Each of these participants has different interests and respon- sibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort. Research problem statements for the ACRP are solicited periodically but may be submitted to the TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the AOC to formulate the research program by iden- tifying the highest priority projects and defining funding levels and expected products. Once selected, each ACRP project is assigned to an expert panel, appointed by the TRB. Panels include experienced practitioners and research specialists; heavy emphasis is placed on including airport pro- fessionals, the intended users of the research products. The panels pre- pare project statements (requests for proposals), select contractors, and provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. The process for developing research problem statements and selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooper- ative research programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, ACRP project panels serve voluntarily without compensation. Primary emphasis is placed on disseminating ACRP results to the intended end-users of the research: airport operating agencies, service providers, and suppliers. The ACRP produces a series of research reports for use by airport operators, local agencies, the FAA, and other interested parties, and industry associations may arrange for work- shops, training aids, field visits, and other activities to ensure that results are implemented by airport-industry practitioners. ACRP REPORT 41 Project 10-07 ISSN 1935-9802 ISBN 978-0-309-15528-1 Library of Congress Control Number 2010941672 © 2011 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB or FAA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The members of the technical panel selected to monitor this project and to review this report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance. The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the National Research Council, or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the National Research Council, and the sponsors of the Airport Cooperative Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report. Published reports of the AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from: Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet at http://www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore Printed in the United States of America

CRP STAFF FOR ACRP REPORT 41 Christopher W. Jenks, Director, Cooperative Research Programs Crawford F. Jencks, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs Michael R. Salamone, ACRP Manager Marci A. Greenberger, Senior Program Officer Eileen P. Delaney, Director of Publications Scott E. Hitchcock, Editor ACRP PROJECT 10-07 PANEL Field of Operations Andrew Kirchhoff, Corgan Associates, Inc., Dallas, TX (Chair) Jerry L. Allen, Palm Beach County (FL) Department of Airports, West Palm Beach, FL Anthony T. Cerino, BPS, LLC, Bedminster, PA Ron Crain, Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO James J. Gaydos, American Airlines, Inc., Fort Worth, TX Michael La Pier, Sacramento County (CA) Airport System, Sacramento, CA Duane M. I. Siguenza, Continental Airlines, Inc., Houston, TX Rebecca Henry, FAA Liaison Matthew J. Griffin, Airports Council International - North America Liaison Christine Gerencher, TRB Liaison C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S

ACRP Report 41: Guide to the Decision-Making Tool for Evaluating Passenger Self-Tagging provides the information and tools, included on accompanying CD-ROM, 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 passen- ger 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 is 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 Montréal 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 par- ticipation in the self-tagging. Passenger self-tagging is the next step in the evolution of self-service passenger process- ing that has included self-service kiosks, web-based check-in, and “mobile” boarding passes. Both airports and airlines seek ways in which to use their resources in the most efficient manner possible, including terminal capacity. Passenger self-tagging is an evolution of self- service processing, which can allow for better utilization of terminal space and resources for airlines. There are several perceived and real benefits that can be derived from passenger self- tagging. An increase in customer satisfaction can be one area as self-tagging can decrease the processing time. Under ACRP Project 10-07, Barich, Inc. was retained to develop a deci- sion-making tool that can be used by both airports and airlines. The research team reviewed the current state of knowledge and practice of passenger self-tagging in both foreign and domestic airports. They conducted interviews with both airlines and airports and identified the variables that should be considered in a benefit-cost analysis. The outcomes of the research are the two decision-making tools that can be used by airports and airlines to assess self-tagging and a checklist of next steps to move toward implementation. F O R E W O R D By Marci A. Greenberger Staff Officer Transportation Research Board

AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The research discussed in this report was performed under ACRP Project 10-07, “Decision-Making Tool for Evaluating Passenger Self-Tagging,” by a research team of recognized experts in airport passen- ger processing and technology solutions. Barich, Inc., was the primary research consultant. Francis Barich, president of Barich, Inc., was the principal investigator and Justin Phy, vice president at Barich, Inc., was the project administrator. The other authors were Rick Belliotti, vice president at Barich, Inc.; Ron Hiscox, principal at Airport Process Design, Ltd.; Rose Agnew, principal at Aviation Innovation, Inc.; and Pam Bell, project researcher at Barich, Inc. Providing technical writing and final graphics of the final report were Marc Gartenfeld and David Van Akkeren. Finally, special acknowledgment is given to Larry Kertz of SITA Application Services and Herve Muller, vice president and general manager of IER, Inc., who pro- vided their time and services during the research phases of the project. The research team would like to express its gratitude to the members of the project panel for their insightful comments and input throughout this research project. The research team would also like to thank the staff at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the Des Moines International Airport for their participation in the verification of the tools presented in this report. In addition, the following air- lines, airports, associations, and agencies provided key contributions through case studies and interviews, for which the research team is very grateful: • Airports: London Heathrow Airport; Montréal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport; Toronto Pearson International Airport; Vancouver International Airport; Dublin Airport; Stockholm-Arlanda Airport; Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; Geneva International Airport; Auckland Airport; Wellington International Airport; and Christchurch Airport. • Airlines: Air Canada; WestJet; American Airlines; Lufthansa; Air France; KLM; Aer Lingus; SAS; and Air New Zealand. • Regulatory Agencies: Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Civil Aviation Authority (CAA); Department for Transport (DfT); and Transport Canada (TC). • Industry Associations: American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE); Airport Consultants Council (ACC); Airports Council International (ACI); Air Transport Association (ATA); and Inter- national Air Transport Association (IATA).

1 Summary 4 Chapter 1 Background 4 Historical Overview 6 Current State of the Industry 7 Passenger Self-Tagging Implementations—Common Use or Exclusive Use 10 Chapter 2 Research Approach 10 Introduction 11 Approach for Assessing and Verifying the Passenger Self-Tagging Process 13 Chapter 3 Findings 13 Summary of Case Study Findings 16 On-Site Verification Findings 18 Chapter 4 Recommended Next Steps for Implementation 23 Chapter 5 The Self-Tagging Decision-Making Tool User Guide 23 Overview 24 Assessment Tool—User Guide 31 Simulation Tool—User Guide 41 References 43 Acronyms and Initialisms 45 Appendix A Research Documentation 46 Appendix B Simulation Tool—Industry-Based Data Values 48 Appendix C Assessment Tool Content Information C O N T E N T S Note: Many of the photographs, figures, and tables in this report have been converted from color to grayscale for printing. The electronic version of the report (posted on the Web at www.trb.org) retains the color versions.