Registered Traveler (Fly Clear) (Merged Threads)
Jan 18, 2008, 1:48 pm
#93
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,622
Article in the Washington Post states that Clear has contracted with the folks that run DCA and IAD. There is a guaranteed payment from Clear to the Airport Authority in excess of $500,000 per year.
By the time they pay that, plus the screening fees, plus the people to run the lines, they've got to have a LOT of people signed up. And the only real way to do that is to make the other lines unbearable. The airport authority now has a vested interest in eliminating elite lines and slowing down performance of the main lines to make people want to go with Clear.
By the time they pay that, plus the screening fees, plus the people to run the lines, they've got to have a LOT of people signed up. And the only real way to do that is to make the other lines unbearable. The airport authority now has a vested interest in eliminating elite lines and slowing down performance of the main lines to make people want to go with Clear.
Jan 18, 2008, 2:59 pm
#94
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 734
Is it one price for all CLEAR locations?
I'm not familiar with the economics. Would signing up in OAK allow me access at other CLEAR airport locations too? Or do you pay by the airport?
Between CLEAR and A-List I'll feel "oh so special" when I fly LUV in OAK
Between CLEAR and A-List I'll feel "oh so special" when I fly LUV in OAK
Jan 18, 2008, 3:32 pm
#95
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
I didn't realize that adding Clear gave an incentive to slow the regular lines to any entity in a position to accomplish this. Can you connect the dots as to how the airport authority would slow the regular lines? For example, are they able the control the TSA staffing levels?
Regular lines - plenty of things that they can do. At many airports there's a "pre-checker" that examines ID and BP before you even get in line. They can undertake "construction" projects that interfere with flow of regular lines (BWI has been "reconstructing" the floors in the new WN terminal over the last 6 months, including the floors in the screening areas. They can and do negotiate with TSA over staffing levels and access. They can make it less convenient for the lines, or route them out the terminal doors. (At SAT, for example, the lines for screening are currently set up as dual lines at Terminal 1 - they could simply route them as a long single line).
Or, they could go and get TSA authority to contract the screeners out, at which point they will have direct control of the manpower (MCI has private screeners). That cost, by the way, would likely be passed on to the airlines.
There are lots of things they could do, depending on the contracts they have with airlines and other vendors.
Remember that the airport controls the lines, TSA controls the checkpoints.
Now the real question is will they? The answer: I don't know. Doing things that slow down lines will invoke the wrath of the airlines & passengers.
My point, and my only point, is that there is an inherent conflict of interest as the airport gets concession fees from Clear. If Clear doesn't get enough subscribers, the airport will lose the fees.
Jan 18, 2008, 4:08 pm
#96
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
Jan 18, 2008, 4:17 pm
#97
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,459
Jan 18, 2008, 4:55 pm
#98
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
Yep! One membership entitles you to access to the whole system, including registered traveller lines operated by entities other than Clear. I have used mine at SJC, SFO, IND, MCO, and RNO. Please, if there is a god - let there be Clear at LAX!
Jan 18, 2008, 9:16 pm
#99
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
Jan 19, 2008, 8:43 am
#102
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,622
This thread started out covering a subject of some interest to Southwest customers but mostly about Travel Safety and Security. Then, not too surprisingly, it devolved into a typical gripe session about the TSA. So I'm moving this to TS&S to continue any "discussion" you may wish to have.
Jan 20, 2008, 9:36 pm
#104
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Somewhere between DEN & ...
Programs: UA Global Services; UA/1K (since 1991); Marriott Platinum; Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 174
Clear & The Absolute Stupidity of TSA
Gawd I'm getting sick of the stupidity of TSA and their mission creep. So I admit it, I joined Clear sometime ago. Heck, as a former government official with dozens of TS/SCI clearances, what the heck, at least move to the front of the line. And, I've corresponded with Steve Brill about the stupidity of a recent TSA ruling on ID checks, but experienced it for the first time at LGA last Friday.
Went to the Clear line, inserted my card, put my thumb on, and what do you know, the biometrics worked and identified me as who I was supposed to be. But, the poor Clear person asked me for my ID. (I knew this was coming but had to nonetheless question it). Why, I ask? "So I can show it and your BP to TSA so they can verify it." Huh? Didn't the biometrics just match me to the card and therefore, to the name on the BP? "Well, yes, but TSA requires this."
The poor kid then takes my drivers license (which is a duplicate, but think I'll get a fake one soon) and shows it to the TSA guy checking ID's, who looks it over, looks at my lovely face, back at the drivers license, and, yep, confirms, it's me!
This shows why so many people on here are sick and tired of TSA and this lousy excuse for screening. TSA is supposed to check for dangerous items, not look at drivers licenses in order to protect airline revenue. This schmuck at the screening line had no idea whether my licence was real or fake. At least Steve Brill and Clear knew I was who I said I was, but not TSA.
So, for all of you thinking about getting Clear so you can avoid some of the stupidity of TSA, hang on to your (fake) documents. The geniuses at TSA are still going to check.
Which reminds me, just what is the purpose of ID checking? They don't compare it to any watch list, they can't verify whether it's real or not; and, as we've seen on other threads you don't need ID to fly anyway.
This is why the public is becoming cynical. This is why people on here despise TSA. This is why I will continue to fight the stupidity of TSA anyway i can.
Go watch the German indy film, "Lives of Others". While others are moving toward freedom, we're inexorably moving toward a police state.
Glad I got that off my chest.
Went to the Clear line, inserted my card, put my thumb on, and what do you know, the biometrics worked and identified me as who I was supposed to be. But, the poor Clear person asked me for my ID. (I knew this was coming but had to nonetheless question it). Why, I ask? "So I can show it and your BP to TSA so they can verify it." Huh? Didn't the biometrics just match me to the card and therefore, to the name on the BP? "Well, yes, but TSA requires this."
The poor kid then takes my drivers license (which is a duplicate, but think I'll get a fake one soon) and shows it to the TSA guy checking ID's, who looks it over, looks at my lovely face, back at the drivers license, and, yep, confirms, it's me!
This shows why so many people on here are sick and tired of TSA and this lousy excuse for screening. TSA is supposed to check for dangerous items, not look at drivers licenses in order to protect airline revenue. This schmuck at the screening line had no idea whether my licence was real or fake. At least Steve Brill and Clear knew I was who I said I was, but not TSA.
So, for all of you thinking about getting Clear so you can avoid some of the stupidity of TSA, hang on to your (fake) documents. The geniuses at TSA are still going to check.
Which reminds me, just what is the purpose of ID checking? They don't compare it to any watch list, they can't verify whether it's real or not; and, as we've seen on other threads you don't need ID to fly anyway.
This is why the public is becoming cynical. This is why people on here despise TSA. This is why I will continue to fight the stupidity of TSA anyway i can.
Go watch the German indy film, "Lives of Others". While others are moving toward freedom, we're inexorably moving toward a police state.
Glad I got that off my chest.
Jan 21, 2008, 1:47 pm
#105
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 325
Personally, I think CLEAR is a bunch of BS. Sure, you can get through the line sooner in some airports. But is just handing over your rights on a silver platter worth the cost?
This is what our gov't is best at these days. Acting as though certain things are law, when they're not. Then, once the vast majority buys into it and stops questioning, they make the unlawful lawful.
I STRONGLY urge everyone to reject CLEAR, and go about flying as usual.
This is what our gov't is best at these days. Acting as though certain things are law, when they're not. Then, once the vast majority buys into it and stops questioning, they make the unlawful lawful.
I STRONGLY urge everyone to reject CLEAR, and go about flying as usual.
No one is asking you to trade away your rights. You have the right to stand in a long line like anyone else if you choose.
Clear has saved me the indignities of long airport lines, making my airport time more efficient. It is a fair tradeoff.