Clear (flyclear.com) - Add predictability to your itinerary
March 24th, 2008 by TJ Mahony tj@flipkey.comIt’s not everyday that I’m genuinely excited about a new travel service, but Clear (www.flyclear.com) is an exception.
I first discovered Clear on a recent trip. I noticed a wide open security line at the airport featuring a blue Clear cube at the entrance Travelers were walking down the designated line, surpassing me in the standard security line, flashing a small card and then being escorted directly to the x-ray scan. For a brief moment I assumed these travelers to be foreign diplomats, Superbowl MVPs or some other form of social privilege. But NO, they were simply members of Clear.
About clear
Clear® is the fast pass for airport security. Clear members are pre-screened and provided with a high-tech card which allows them to access designated airport security fast lanes nationwide.
Clear’s first year price is $100 plus the TSA vetting fee of $28 for a total charge of $128.
How it Works
1) Find the Clear cube
When you arrive at the airport, look for the blue Clear cube that designates the Clear express lane at the airport security.
2) Very your iris or fingerprint
The Clear kiosk will verify your identity using your Clear Card and your biometric data.
3) Go directly to security
Once you are verified, you go directly to security. The Clear concierge will assist you in streamlining this process. Avoid the wait in the long security lines. The Clear sales rep I spoke with guaranteed a maximum wait of 4 minutes between entering the line and clearing security
I love this service. For a small premium, it helps frequent travelers significantly reduce the stress and wait times at the airport. The only negatives to the service are (1) a limited amount of participating airports and (2) a likely subscription bump in coming years.
Currently there are only 17 airports participating in the program, but Clear reps indicated that many more are coming online in the next year. In terms of the very reasonable annual subscription of $128, Clear has made it clear (pardon the pun) that the $128 rate is only applicable for the first year. It is unclear (ha, another pun) what their long-term pricing will look like.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Hi TJ,
I also know someone who has received “free” Clear until something like 2030 because of referrals - not sure how that program works - but worth looking into - I’m on the verge of traveling enough to make this worthwhile
~Carrie
March 25th, 2008 at 3:25 am
There is no gentle way to say this: You are an idiot.
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Benjamin Franklin, ~1784
Not only are you relinquishing your privacy, you are paying to have it done to you.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Not an idiot. In fact, the FlipKey guys are quite brilliant IMHO.
I do, however, agree with your opinion of FlyClear.com - NO WAY I am giving up biometric information. S-L-I-P-P-E-R-Y Slope.
I would not touch this even if it were free. For that matter, you literally couldn’t pay me to use it. Give me a long line and a cup of coffee any day.
**NO NEED TO POST** (But you did get me fired up TJ - put the tube of glue back in th drawer !!)
March 25th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I agree. The FlipKey guys are brilliant IMRHO.
Benjamin Franklin was rather bright as well.
I am not sure if he would consider biometric data which, like it or not, will be used to identify you for almost any transaction in the relatively near future to “essential liberty”.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I am not passionate about the subject of biometric data and its implications on privacy, but I felt I should post my reply in lieu of the word “idiot” being thrown around:) (No worries,, I have been called worse.)
Remember when credit cards were first introduced? Despite the convenience they provided, many resisted using them b/c of security and privacy issues. Their fears were well founded, but I would guess that everyone that has posted a comment on FlyClear holds and uses a credit card.
The fact is, society and commerce evolve - whether we are ready for it to or not. I agree that biometric data has the potential to compromise my privacy; however, no more than sharing my SSN in required transactions, traveling abroad with my passport or simply using a credit card.
With that said, collectively all the various points of identification represent a comprehensive profile or who I am and were I’m at. IMO the biometric data is simply one additional input in to what already exists. U
If you are concerned about privacy call your ISP. The information we expose about ourselves through our day-to-day internet activity is….comprehensive….. and its all stored and associated with unique individual profiles and is accessible by legal agencies on request…. That concerns me more than FlyClear.