Clear ceases operations [merged threads]

[nycguy]

I was just about to sign my wife up....glad I postponed or I would have been out some $$$...I liked the program though.

[xyzzy]

Gd riddance!

I wonder how much cash they are going to generate selling all that personal data they've cllected... ...

[zman]

The program should have been run by the Feds from day 1 as the proto system was and not by some private company, who may be politically connected, trying to make $ off us frequent flyers.

[DesertFlier]

Just got the email, too.

I let my membership lapse, but I wonder about all the people who have paid for their current year in advance.

They really needed to lower their membership rates, in light of the current economy, and I think not doing so lost them a LOT of members. And then when you consider how many had free memberships the first year out...makes sense they have no paying customers left.

Too bad.

[luv2ctheworld]

Wow, good thing I didn't renew. They were hounding me once a week via email or phone for a renewal (first yr free via Hyatt Diamond).

I only got to use it 6 times for the whole year (due to lack of presence at home airport).

Kinda disappointed; they were supposed to roll it out at LAX.

Wonder what happens to those who renewed recently.

Que sera...

[TravellingMan]

Originally Posted by xyzzy

Gd riddance!
I wonder how much cash they are going to generate selling all that personal data they've cllected... ...

I guess to the highest bidder as those are the only assets they have apart from the blue carpet and cubes. Not to mention all the uniforms

[oupiglet]

Just got my email too. I'm more upset about now having the service than I am about the money that they took from me. Though it pisses me off that as recently as Saturday they were sending promotional emails advertising "Buy Dad Clear!" I think that's really crappy considering they must have known they were closing.

Now I'm gonna get stuck behind the screaming children here at MCO.

[erikfos]

Prior to being a Fly Clear Card carrier, I would begin weaving my own noose while standing in line at MCO.

Breezing thru the bratty child mayhem at MCO made the Fly Clear fee worth it (then the little bugger sits behind me and kicks the seat).

Life goes on... Time to use the FF line.

[birdstrike]

Not unexpected considering that the only "service" Clear provided was to skip to the head of the line. If Clear was allowed to fulfill its promise of limited screening, TSA would have been formally shown to be the fraud that it is. DHS could not allow that.

More interesting is how long the Clear card will continue to be allowed as checkpoint ID. This is going to be another nail in the coffin of the TSA. Damned if they eliminate it, damned if they don't.

[monitor]

I am upset because the Clear card has been extremely useful at SDF since they recently set up a generic "Registered Traveler" line. The attendant (only one) was not a Clear employee but of some other company that also allowed the Clear card to be used at their terminal. Does anybody know the identity of that company?

Despite what some 6AM Friday weekenders say, from 4 to 6PM that terminal is a zoo because WN (and everybody else) have lots of departures and sometimes the line into security was more than 50 deep. I will miss it there since I use SDF nearly every month and usually hit the airport at 530-6PM right after work..

[jrothenb]

Seems so sudden. I've always felt uncomfortable about this program but bit the bullet and signed on to save time. It certainly did help sometimes. However, I do not like that we had to give all of our personal information to this company. Shady.

[Galla47]

Just got this note from Clear:

At 11:00 p.m. PST today, Clear will cease operations. Clear's parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc. has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations.
After today, Clear lanes will be unavailable.

I hope people are going to get their money back.

[Echo]

I was a big fan of Clear. Definitely very sad to see this news. It saved my hide at least a few times when I was cutting a flight very close.

[DLATL777]

Walked past a group of Clear sales personnel in JFK today and let them know their company had just ceased operations. They laughed at first cause they thought I was joking, then stopped slowly, realizing I was being serious.

[TravellingMan]

Originally Posted by jrothenb

However, I do not like that we had to give all of our personal information to this company. Shady.

Curious. What information did you have to give that company? Did it include fingerprints?