Registered Traveler (Fly Clear) (Merged Threads)
#46
Formerly known as CollegeFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: JRA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA PLT, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 6,716
#48
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston
Posts: 8,956
The Registered Traveler program was the topic for a vast majority of Joe Pags two-hour show this morning on the largest AM radio station in Houston. There is an article on their website and his podcast should be up later today or tomorrow.
There were a number of callers spouting the mantra of Anything for Security and this seems to be a pretty conservative show, but I was then surprised to see the tone of many change and were viewing it as smoke and mirrors. Thanks primarily to the info gleaned from all of you, I did call in and explained in better detail about Fly Clear, its issues and TSA issues. It seemed to change the attitude of the host and other callers throughout the rest of the program. One small step.
There were a number of callers spouting the mantra of Anything for Security and this seems to be a pretty conservative show, but I was then surprised to see the tone of many change and were viewing it as smoke and mirrors. Thanks primarily to the info gleaned from all of you, I did call in and explained in better detail about Fly Clear, its issues and TSA issues. It seemed to change the attitude of the host and other callers throughout the rest of the program. One small step.
#50
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Francisco, USA
Programs: United 1P
Posts: 34
Skip the line
I'm going to join just to skip the line. I think people are missing the point. You PAY UAL all this money for tickets and then they let you skip the line. If all you really cared about was skipping the line then $100 a year is a hell of a lot cheaper than paying UAL crazy prices all the time and flying 25,000 miles. If one year you're not a Premier member then you can still skip the line. Or if you fly another airline.
As far as the fingerprints and the scan I really don't give a crap. The gov't has my fingerprint from the CA BAR background check and even if they didn't I have nothing exciting going on that would make me care who has my fingerprints.
But that's the great thing about the USA - to each his own.^
As far as the fingerprints and the scan I really don't give a crap. The gov't has my fingerprint from the CA BAR background check and even if they didn't I have nothing exciting going on that would make me care who has my fingerprints.
But that's the great thing about the USA - to each his own.^
#51
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1
I can understand those that do not want biometric data collected. I have worked in DC for a while...so they have had all of my info for many years. BTW...what you see in clear cards could very well become the passport of the future. The register traveler program is government based. If you are a clear member, you card must work in all other devices...clear or not. Since this is a new program...I am not sure of the "non-clear" lanes in the US. I know Jacksonville FL just rolled out a "non-clear" registered traveler program. As someone that fly weekly in DIA and MCO airports...I highly recommend. But I think the decision to signup for me was based only on the airports that I used that had the service. DIA will have clear lanes this winter. It has allowed me to breeze through the MCO line on many occasions. I typically fly out of MCO at peak times.
#52
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: COS/DEN
Programs: WN RR, UA M+, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 6,115
I WANT the government to verify who I am
A "for instance" - Let's say I'm traveling and I lose my wallet and passport. If there's a record available of my iris scan and fingerprint, I just go present myself to the authorities, ask them to confirm my identify, and they can quickly figure out if I am who I claim to be.
I lost my wallet about a year ago and having a valid passport made my life a lot easier in proving who I was. How is unique biometric marker that different?
#53
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Upstate NY or FL or inbetween
Programs: US former CP Looking for a new airline to love me
Posts: 1,674
OK, if you're planning on starting an armed revolt, I can understand the disadvantages of giving the government an iris scan. OTOH, if you're more concerned about nongovernmental actors (mis)using your identify, the iris scan looks like a great idea.
A "for instance" - Let's say I'm traveling and I lose my wallet and passport. If there's a record available of my iris scan and fingerprint, I just go present myself to the authorities, ask them to confirm my identify, and they can quickly figure out if I am who I claim to be.
A "for instance" - Let's say I'm traveling and I lose my wallet and passport. If there's a record available of my iris scan and fingerprint, I just go present myself to the authorities, ask them to confirm my identify, and they can quickly figure out if I am who I claim to be.
Well, if you spend most of your time presenting yourself to the authorities to confirm to them (and, perhaps to you) who you are, a retanal scan is a really good idea. I suspect most of us, though, are quite secure that we know who we are, and don't see anything but negative repercussions from having to or needing to continually convince those in authoritah who we are. Maybe a bar code tattoo would make you an even better and uniquely identified sheep.
#54
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: COS/DEN
Programs: WN RR, UA M+, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 6,115
Passports can be lost. Wallets can be stolen. but my iris scan cannot. That's the advantage to me. And yes, this attitude does presume that I'm living in and enjoying the protections of a Democratic Republic, not a repressive Big Brother-style dictatorship. If I were on the run from State in a dangerous third world country, I would of course think differently. If it were 95 degrees out, I wouldn't be wearing a jacket, either. But its not.
In brief, I think worries about the state or even a private contractor using my iris scan to verify my identity are misplaced. But of course, the program is not mandatory - and I'm not arguing that it should be. If you think 2024 will be like Orwell's 1984, then don't get scanned.
Edited to add: If you use a credit card for travel, your card issuer (a "private contractor") already knows all the stuff that the CLEAR application asks for. True, they don't have your fingerprint or iris scan, but they do have your purchasing and payment history. I'd be more concerned about the purchasing and payment data than about my iris scan.
Last edited by COS_Flyer; Dec 10, 2007 at 3:31 pm
#55
Formerly known as CollegeFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: JRA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA PLT, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 6,716
#56
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: COS/DEN
Programs: WN RR, UA M+, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 6,115
Its interesting to note that at least the banner ads showing on my screen for this thread are for the CLEAR program...
#57
Formerly known as CollegeFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: JRA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA PLT, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 6,716
By hacking, I mean that a different person's iris scan can be attached to your name, thus allowing identity fraud and leaving you in as much trouble (or more?) than if someone stole your passport.
#58
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Upstate NY or FL or inbetween
Programs: US former CP Looking for a new airline to love me
Posts: 1,674
I suspect you'd be in a far tighter spot if invasive ID techniques such as retinal scan are widely embraced. Software bug, hacked record and any group with authoritah firmly believing that {Retinal Scan = bullet proof ID = Good Security} would make a big challenge for the victim, in numerous scenarios. Imagine if the authorities adopted widespread use of DNA matching, but someone hacked the system and removed the record of your DNA, say in the system that listed all US citizens. Eventually someone might accept that the system had errors. and your record is legitimately missing, but good luck dealing with the front lines until the months it takes to get that straightened out have passed!
#60
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Pismo Beach, CA
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite, UA Premier 1K, TAP Silver, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,544
My partner and I just signed up a few weeks ago and got our cards. Used it at SFO last weekend. We were whisked in front of the line. I do not know why the biometrics are needed since we go through exactly the same screening. So it's essentially paying for VIP treatment. As for the biometrics, I had to get fingerprinted for several things including the INS and the Medical Board. And I was born in a country where everyone can have an ID card with a picture (like we have DLs and SS cards).
I like getting to go to the front of the line!
I like getting to go to the front of the line!