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Quote:
Originally Posted by Global_Hi_Flyer
On the one hand, I might agree. On the other (having dealt with Washington and bureaucrats), I know that *if* it fails (and the TSA wants it to fail) there will never be another chance for any sort of registered program that could lessen the screening process for cleared individuals.
The screening process should be sane and streamlined for everyone. Our ticket tax dollars are at waste here, not just the dollars extorted from those paying for CLEAR.
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The screening process should be sane and streamlined for everyone. Our ticket tax dollars are at waste here, not just the dollars extorted from those paying for CLEAR.
the government will never run a screening process that is sane and streamlined for everyone. now that TSA is doing the ID checking, is it better or worse than before?
even though I fly about 75K miles/year, the ticket tax dollars wasted are inconsequential compared to the amount of my income tax dollars that are wasted.
CLEAR did not extort money from me, I paid the cost voluntarily even though the airports I use the most, ord and phx, have elite lines. at den CLEAR works great when the elite lines are clogged with the TSA ID checking process.
even though I only use CLEAR a few times a year, I'm happy to be supporting a cause that might result in the TSA providing better customer(taxpayer) service.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gh3319
even though I only use CLEAR a few times a year, I'm happy to be supporting a cause that might result in the TSA providing better customer(taxpayer) service.
To one their own, but all you're really doing is lining Steven Brill's pockets.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gh3319
if the TSA was properly managed, the opportunity for an entrepreneur to start a business would not have been created.
if he fails, a force to have the TSA be less bad will be gone.
the TSA is not going away, even though we'd like it to do so.
at the us air A gate at phx two weeks ago at noon, the non-elite line looked like the wait was at least 30 minutes to get to the ID checkpoint. as I was in the elite line it didn't affect me, but I couldn't help thinking "I'm from the government, I'm here to help you"!
ID checking should not be happening at all.
I want anyone who tries to profit from un-American harassment to fail miserably. And I want anyone from the government who requires ID checking to go to prison for the rest of their lives.
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You cannot uphold American ideology with un-American actions. It's time for change.
The screening process should be sane and streamlined for everyone. Our ticket tax dollars are at waste here, not just the dollars extorted from those paying for CLEAR.
Agree. But I'd also contend that those who have security clearances or are willing to get them should be subject to a lower level of scrutiny than those who are not/do not. I have no objection to a "pay for play" system that does a background clearance on folks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spiff
ID checking should not be happening at all.
I want anyone who tries to profit from un-American harassment to fail miserably. And I want anyone from the government who requires ID checking to go to prison for the rest of their lives.
Again, agree. Reserve the ID check for folks that are given access above and beyond a normal screening process. Stop the establishment of a system to give Government permission and tracking for travel.
That's honestly one of the best suggestions I've heard so far this year!!! Why is Clear partnering with Hyatt when they could instead partner with SWA and give 1 year free Clear membership to all Companion Pass holders (or better yet A-listers)?
Clear also has a deal with MARRIOTT - they comp it to all Platinum MR customers (75+ nights/year).
Any news on when ORD (Chicago) and DTW (Detroit) will get CLEAR ?
There were folks handing out flyclear brochures in downtown San Francisco last week. It's good to see that they are making good use of those annual fees to hire people to stand around and give out brochures all day... as if they didn't already give out enough of them at the airport, where you at least know the people actually fly. Is the TSA really trying to make this a profit center?
Sure, but that doesn't mean that some in the federal government don't intend to have CLEAR become the profit center CLEAR's owners intend it to be -- some in the TSA now or before may even have money at stake in the game.
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This game is not as much fun as it used to be: 2008/2009 Frequent Flyer Program Fleecing Award goes to Delta Airlines
Sure, but that doesn't mean that some in the federal government don't intend to have CLEAR become the profit center CLEAR's owners intend it to be -- some in the TSA now or before may even have money at stake in the game.
TSA hates Clear and the RT program. Congress shoved it down their throats. There's a reason that the screening is exactly the same and why it's only a paid skip-line program.
From TSA's standpoint, they'd be happier if it went away.
TSA hates Clear and the RT program. Congress shoved it down their throats. There's a reason that the screening is exactly the same and why it's only a paid skip-line program.
From TSA's standpoint, they'd be happier if it went away.
How many people who have worked for DHS and/or the TSA have or will have some financial interest in the success of the registered traveller programs run by the private sector? A small number but still my bet is on some (i.e., those in past or current management and more senior types of past or current government employees) getting a cut of the action in some form or another.
The TSA would probably be happiest if they controlled everything, but Congress didn't explicitly shove the RT slice of pie into the hands of the TSA which is what probably annoys those in the TSA who may see this as a path for re-privatization.
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This game is not as much fun as it used to be: 2008/2009 Frequent Flyer Program Fleecing Award goes to Delta Airlines
How many people who have worked for DHS and/or the TSA have or will have some financial interest in the success of the registered traveller programs run by the private sector? A small number but still my bet is on some (i.e., those in past or current management and more senior types of past or current government employees) getting a cut of the action in some form or another.
The TSA would probably be happiest if they controlled everything, but Congress didn't explicitly shove the RT slice of pie into the hands of the TSA which is what probably annoys those in the TSA who may see this as a path for re-privatization.
Let's see... Clear is run by Brill (marketing/media, not government). L-1 (supplying the systems integration) is a big gov't contractor - by definition they'll have Fed-ex's on board to help secure gov't contracts. But then again, L-1 will get the money one way or the other - either through gov't contracts or not. The airports benefit through fees.
I don't know enough about the others.
TSA/DHS opposed RT because they claimed it would reduce security. So they neutered it. Remember that the original proposal was to skip some of the obnoxious kabuki (like shoe x-rays) for RT. TSA has even impeded RT from putting shoe scanners in.... and they (still) require you to present photo ID even if your biometrics are checked.
TSA would prefer RT to fail because doing so would be job security - and it would reduce the complaints it gets about Lexus lanes.
Let's see... Clear is run by Brill (marketing/media, not government). L-1 (supplying the systems integration) is a big gov't contractor - by definition they'll have Fed-ex's on board to help secure gov't contracts. But then again, L-1 will get the money one way or the other - either through gov't contracts or not. The airports benefit through fees.
I don't know enough about the others.
TSA/DHS opposed RT because they claimed it would reduce security. So they neutered it. Remember that the original proposal was to skip some of the obnoxious kabuki (like shoe x-rays) for RT. TSA has even impeded RT from putting shoe scanners in.... and they (still) require you to present photo ID even if your biometrics are checked.
TSA would prefer RT to fail because doing so would be job security - and it would reduce the complaints it gets about Lexus lanes.
Wasn't a "known traveller" type of program -- basically RT programs -- discussed by some of those in or working for Congress (i.e., elected officials and some committee staff members at least) and/or by those working for the Executive even before the Richard Reid incident happened (i.e., literally a couple of days before Christmas eve 2001 IIRC)? I recall some such talk in the fall of 2001 (i.e., before the Richard Reid incident) about such systems to lessen the burden on security screeners so they could selectively focus on those whose backgrounds were not "known".
The shoe carnival certainly didn't exist at US airports at all in the first month of the TSA's official existence.
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This game is not as much fun as it used to be: 2008/2009 Frequent Flyer Program Fleecing Award goes to Delta Airlines
Wasn't a "known traveller" type of program -- basically RT programs -- discussed by some of those in or working for Congress (i.e., elected officials and some committee staff members at least) and/or by those working for the Executive even before the Richard Reid incident happened (i.e., literally a couple of days before Christmas eve 2001 IIRC)? I recall some such talk in the fall of 2001 (i.e., before the Richard Reid incident) about such systems to lessen the burden on security screeners so they could selectively focus on those whose backgrounds were not "known".
The shoe carnival certainly didn't exist at US airports at all in the first month of the TSA's official existence.
Correct. And TSA refused to implement anything. So Congress directed them to. The milquetoast you see now is the result. Just a paid way to cut in line.
Correct. And TSA refused to implement anything. So Congress directed them to. The milquetoast you see now is the result. Just a paid way to cut in line.
at SJC on monday I was pleasantly surprised to be escorted from the clear machine to the xray belt without having my ID checked by any TSA personnel. out of habit, I did give my ID to the clear person who was at the machine. My march clear use at DEN included a TSA check of my ID.
