A PR hack sent us a stupidly long press release a few hours ago about Clear, the company that—for an annual $100 fee—will pre-authorize you with TSA to speed up your passage through security. Clear started operating in select airports over a year ago, and this month will add Reagan National and Dulles International airports to its list. So, is the service worth it? We guess that depends on how much you’re willing to spend to be able to jump ahead of all the poor people waiting in line like the common criminals they surely are. We wanted a slightly more objective way to evaluate it, though, so we started looking around online for first-hand experiences of what exactly happens when you flash your Clear card.
Over on Venture Chronicles, some Clear customers have left feedback, calling it “security theatre” and saying it “can cut 15 minutes out of the process”—which we’re not sure is worth $100 bucks a year. Some were upset by the idea of retinal scanning and fingerprinting—all of Clear’s data is routed through the TSA, so the government gets access to that data, if you worry about that sort of thing. One commenter named Celeste notes that Clear doesn’t let you bypass some of the more onerous security activities:
I signed up as well and realize that, for now, I’ll be at the front of the line. My two questions are, since I still have to go through all the security checks (i.e., shoes, laptops, bag screening, etc., as I understand it), why do they need a retina scan and thumbprint? Basically, I’ve paid $100 to bypass 150 people but I’ve still got to take off my shoes. Also, at $100 a year, won’t the FlyClear line be as long as the regular security line in a year, once more airports become available? They haven’t reduced the actual screening time. In fact, it’s been increased by going through the retina and print scan, haven’t they? We’ll see if it’s a benefit next year before I decide to renew.
Another commenter, Jeff, pointed out just how much you’re putting your personal data in the hands of a third party:
I did find myself thinking “crikey I hope they have some killer data security with everything I am giving them”.I guess it’s a Faustian bargain at it’s heart, paying $100 because our government can’t figure out how to have effective AND efficient airport security pisses me off, but I won’t be thinking about that as I breeze through the Clear security lane while everyone else is waiting 100 people deep.
I’m less concerned about the prospect that my civil liberties will be infringed because at some point in the future they may share it with some agency, maybe I should be but I just don’t get worked up about it for whatever reason.
At the blog Daggle, Danny compares Clear’s system to IRIS, a similar program in Europe. He says Clear is pretty behind the curve on efficiency and technology.
Leaving San Jose on a flight last week, there was a short line to go through security — but long enough to make trying CLEAR worthwhile. I walked up and handed my card over — strike one, since after scanning my eyes and fingerprints, why do I need a card?Next, I had to put my right ring finger down. Hard. Like really hard, to the degree it physically hurt, in order to get a good images. Yeah, I’m a big baby. C’mon — it wasn’t comfortable. And then the finger wouldn’t work.
Next to my “backup” finger, my left index. Again, a hard pressing down that hurt, but eventually an image was captured, and I was me.
So why then was I next asked for picture ID? All these biometrics, and they want my driver’s license? Apparently, the CLEAR folks are different from TSA — and TSA wants the picture ID checked.
Danny figures the Clear experience didn’t save him any time at all going through security. In fact, its primary benefit may be that it lets you move to the front of the line, at which point you’ll still be put through the standard gauntlet.
RELATED
“FlyClear” [Venture Chronicles]
“Using CLEAR To Clear Airport Security — This Is Efficient?” [Daggle]
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Interesting. As I type this I’m sitting in the atrium of the Orlando airport looking right at the Clear entry area. Nobody is using it (which I suppose means I’d zip right through if I had access). The regular security area is as cluttered as ever.
I suppose I’d get a Clear card if my company paid for it, but since they won’t, I won’t…
@gamehendge2000: The DHS ID card from the Registered Traveler program is indeed a nice souvenir and it goes with with the FEMA card I have from being a member of the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.
With regard to Clear, I recently submitted my application and look forward to using it for my weekly trips out of Dulles. While the key advantage now is shorter, more predictable security wait times, the promise is that Clear will be the first to introduce shoe and carry-on bag scanners which will then be deployed more broadly by TSA once they are proven.
I am commenter “Jeff” and I wrote the original post. I have several posts about Clear that follow my experiences with the service.
I think there is a common misconception about Clear being “security lite” when in fact Clear card holders still go through the normal security processes (take shoes off, remove laptop, jacket/coat off).
Clear is essentially a toll road that gets you through the checkpoint faster than standing in line with everyone else. I was skeptical at first but after having used it for 6 months I am sold on it, not only is my time-in-security quantifiably less, but the stress caused by lines and schedules has been eliminated. In my last flight from Denver (I live in the Bay Area) I literally only made my flight because Clear cut 10 minutes off the security process.
Lastly, it’s somewhat irrational but a lot of people get pissed off about Clear because it costs $100 a year for preferred access. If you are a frequent flier on any airline in a hub city you usually get through security with priority status anyways so what’s the big deal. I refuse to fly United enough to get Premier Exec or 1k status so I’ll gladly pay $100 a year for this privilege. Also, Clear is paying for the technology and the staffing, so it’s great example of how public/private partnerships can work.
@tinyrobot, first class passengers already get priority access at TSA checkpoints, and no one is skipping the TSA checkpoint. You clearly have a preconceived notion of what Clear is without bothering to actually fact check your bias.
If you fly multiple times per week, it may be worth $100 a year to skip to the front of the line. And if you an expense that back to your company, even better.
I bet Tom Cruise has one of those bad boys for his trips to Florida to clear his body of those evil thetans. I can see the Co$ greedily clapping their hands together with a collective “excellent” in Mr. Burns style. Anyway you look at it, a hundred dollars to cut in line just doesn’t seem right.
“If you fly multiple times per week, it may be worth $100 a year to skip to the front of the line. And if you an expense that back to your company, even better.”
Indeed, it may, but the background check, iris scan and fingerprinting are all window dressing for its real purpose, the cut in line $100. They should just admit that and do away with the useless and intrusive checks and biometrics–then they’d have more money for scanners and such. Without all the Orwelian crap, more people would sign up for it.
@rochec: Hi kettle, this is the pot and you are black.
Your post is invalidated because of your poor spelling. I don’t know how to ‘thin’ something. I don’t think thin is a verb.
Hey, I have an idea, before throwing the stones, look at your own house…m’kay?
I think the only reason this is not more widespread is that it is only at limited airports. If I had to deal with Orlando, I would get it in a heartbeat. Nothing better than sitting in line behind a family of 6 who has never had to fly before and does not understand why their shoes must come off.
For those of you who see the inequality in this because of the cost, then they should at least have 2 lines at the airport for those of us who know what the heck we are doing and the people who crawled out from under their rock. I wouldn’t care if it is a Subway-type stamp program but those of us who fly and can move through the line quickly should have their own line. There are only about 6 signs pertaining to liquid restricions yet there is always someone complaining that they cannot bring their 16oz shampoo bottle. They need to go in the special line and not delay the rest of us.
@rochec: Poor English???? WTF are you talking about?
What is so sad about this is that you are giving away your personal information, paying $100 for 15 minutes of time? Who knew that the loss of civil liberties would be so cheap?
There’s a much funnier account of what Clear actually gets you from Brad Feld (who happens to be another VC blogger): [www.feld.com]
What do 50 lesbians and 50 TSA workers in one room have in common? They both don’t do dick.
Told to me by a SW Airlines flight attendant.
@avsfan123: You could be really lucky, like myself, and work at an airport, and have this nifty little thing that costs $0 per year. Unless you lose it or it gets stolen, in which case it costs $100 to replace (or does at the airport I worked at). “Lucky” might also not be the correct word, my airport employment experience left me dreading airports more than malls or hospitals.
@aviationwiz: They try to discourage you from using your badge for personal travel, (as well as for using it to get 10% off the ridiculously-priced airport food during such personal travel), but in my experience, nobody really cares too much. Just check your baggage and bring in a normal bag (purse/manly messenger bag or whatever) for your carry-on. If you’re paranoid, just go through a different checkpoint.
@Buzz Lightyear:
A diamond lane for experienced travelers would be a great idea. A few weeks ago I was held up for an extra 5 minutes or so due to a group of women in front of me who weren’t familiar with the liquids ban/boarding passes check/etc.
Oddly though, there were not the usual signs up explaining the procedures and it wouldn’t have taken that long if the TSA woman had been more polite instead of spending at least three of those five minutes rolling her eyes at the ladies and telling them that they should know better.