Clear Brings Biometric Security Screening to SEA-TAC
Jeff Edwards July 25, 2016
Passengers have a new option for cutting the security line at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in exchange for a monthly membership fee.
The firm Clear is bringing its biometric identification technology to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). The company has launched a biometric identification system that will allow passengers to skip boarding pass and identification screening at TSA checkpoints at the airport using only a fingerprint. Clear members will instead have their identities and itineraries automatically confirmed. Those who qualify will still be required to pass through the TSA screening but will manage to largely avoid long lines prior to presenting a boarding pass.
SEA-based Alaska Airlines has already partnered with Clear to provide biometric boarding passes to select members. The introduction of biometric scanning prior to security will mean that many passengers could avoid presenting boarding passes altogether at the airport.
“Our big picture dream is that any time you have to prove who you are during any of the steps of air travel, you could simply use your fingerprint instead,” Alaska Airlines manager of customer research and development Jerry Tolzman said of the partnership with Clear. “We want this to be a curb-to-seat experience.”
According to the tech site GeekWire, the rollout of the new technology at SEA was delayed by ongoing construction projects. The program will initially launch with six fingerprint scanners at the airport, but the company says that their presence will increase as demand for the service grows.
The company’s security checkpoint fast-tracking service is currently available at more than 16 US airports including Denver International Airport (DEN), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). A partnership with Delta Airlines will bring Clear fingerprint scanners to all of the legacy carrier’s hubs including Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
The same technology might also help members to avoid long entry lines at concerts and sporting events. Clear has agreements with the New York Yankees, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Miami Heat among other professional teams and venues.
The ability to sail through long lines comes at a price. According to Clear’s website, the price of membership runs $179 annually. Family members can be added for an additional $50 per year and discounts apply to some travelers with elite status.
[Photo: AP]
What's the point of paying $179 annually as opposed to $85 (for PreCheck alone) or $100 (for Global Entry plus PreCheck) once every 5 years, unless you can't qualify for PreCheck? PreCheck tends to have short lines already (and is faster once you get through the line and get to the actual screening station, which CLEAR isn't as far as I can tell).
:O