The US government wants to begin testing a program this summer that
would allow low-risk frequent fliers to avoid extra security
inspections at airports.  Passengers could volunteer to pay a
fee and submit to government background checks.  If they are
not found to be potential threats, they would avoid being randomly
selected for the follow-up screening at checkpoints where carry-on
bags pass through metal detectors.  The aim is to move
law-abiding and non-threatening travellers more quickly to their
planes and permit screeners to focus more on people about whom the
government has less information, said David Stone, acting chief of
the Transportation Security Administration.  The program,
which will last 90 days could begin in June, is expected to appeal
mostly to frequent travellers who would think the cost would be
offset by the time saved at airports.