Programs: AA EXP/2MM, QF WP, DL PM, US Conscientious Objector, TED Boycotter, SPG PLT, TSA Disparager Diamond
Posts: 37,447
Quote:
Originally Posted by dlfrflyer
For all of you who didn't think Clear was a good idea and believe this forum should be clogged with your inane, "I told you so's," it is easy to see that your decision not to use Clear was a very limited stroke of luck -- and not, by any means, a stroke of genius! Go yell at the people speeding by you in the easypass lane and let the rest of talk about something important.
It wasn't luck that kept many of us from being extorted for our personal information and money.
__________________
You cannot uphold American ideology with un-American actions. It's time for change.
People should have been howling for TSA's blood, instead of handing over their money and their personal information.
Read it in various posts above. Blood, swine and the kool-aid. Got it. Get it.
Now, do you like my list of next steps?
You started to go wrong, about, umm, here:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin026
* TSA. There is a program for certifying and monitoring these private screening companies and presumably their oversight will need to kick into action. The integrity of the security information, for example, is an issue for the government as much as the customers.
where you assume that TSA has anything to do with "monitoring", "oversight" (as in "supervising", not as in "missing something"), and "integrity of the security information". You're kidding, right??
Not a chance.
__________________ When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty. - George Bernard Shaw
For all of you who didn't think Clear was a good idea and believe this forum should be clogged with your inane, "I told you so's," it is easy to see that your decision not to use Clear was a very limited stroke of luck
Clear said they had 260,000 program members. Assuming every one of them paid $150, that's $39 million a year of revenue.
The manpower, let's say 20 people on the payroll per airport at $30,000 a year. That's $600,000. That puts the payroll at a little over $10 million annually. Then add in....
R&D (those shoe machines didn't come cheap)
Rental space at the airports
Cost of background checks
Cost of producing cards
Cost of support staff (phone ops, ones you didn't see at the airport)
Executive salary
Equipment (scanning machines, laptops at airports)
Radio ads
The fact that many of the 260,000 might just be people from Marriott or Hyatt promotions who didn't renew
A business model that was reduced to a glorified line-cut
Promotion that did not match the actual product.
Plus, the TSA was never a big fan of Clear and Steven Brill left in March.
The fact that Clear was never able to get the TSA to reduce the "security" measures, ever, for Clear members should have been a red flag in itself. It was for me.
Yeah, there's a little "I told you so" in here. But I decided to look at the whole picture rather than buying into the hype. And I have a few extra hundred bucks in my wallet for that decision.
__________________
Excuse me stewardess, I speak jive.
sorry, but i'm not going to feel sorry for those you who paid money to entrust sensitive personal data to a shoddy private company just so that you could cut in line.
this entire scheme was ludicrous from the beginning and i expect it will all end poorly for you clear customers. with luck perhaps some agency will step in and see that all information is destroyed after the financial wreckage of the company is cleaned up.
Have you considered complaining to your Congressperson in the US House of Representatives and to your two US Senators about the situation out of MCO? They can help put pressure on the TSA to stop with the foolishness consumes passengers' time and produces aggravation when it comes to the security screening at the airport.
They won't do a darn thing - and you know it. I've written my senators several times in the past about the TSA.
Just saw this email and it's definitely a bummer. I did get my membership for free via Hyatt (or was it *wood...?) but definitely was getting used to using it every Monday morning at SFO. The elite line there is getting pretty out of hand so this was a nice option. The one thing I didn't like was when the secuirty line right next to the Clear booth was backed up one of the reps would walk you into the other lines and cut you in front of someone (in the regular pax lines). I never heard any push back but especially if I was cutting it close for a flight I wouldn't be happy. Oh and I never got to use the cool retinal scanners...only the right thumbprint was ever asked for Oh well, sorry to those who paid recently but such is the world we live in.
Clear in ATL has saved me a minimum of 20 minutes EVERY time I used it (twice a week).
With clear I was through security within 2 minutes, EVERY TIME!!
The Clear personnel was always very friendly, something I can't say about the TSA.
It was the best setup, anybody saying it was not worthwhile obviously NEVER traveled during peak times where the security lanes are OUTSIDE baggage claim.
I would have paid $300 for this service.
Anybody who is an hourly will understand that every minute is very costly when standing idle in some lanes when we can sit down and be productive in our profession.
Clear was perfect. I hope ATL will come up with some setup for frequent travelers to make up for the loss of Clear!!
Programs: HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, DL Platinum, CO Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 10
Really?
Let me just say, I've used Clear for about 15 months. The first year was free through Marriott and I paid the $$ for the next 12-months. Needless to say, it sucks that we'll be losing this service but I don't regret paying the cash. Anybody posting the "I told you so" responses and such obviously doesn't have a clear lane in their home airport, enjoys unnecessary lines, or is too cheap to pay for quality products. Clear allowed for peace of mind and I literally spent less than 2 minutes in security lines each time I traveled from my home airport (JAX). I travel out of there once a week minimum. While the normal line isn't that bad, it still was awesome to not have to worry about the length. With no elite lanes, it made the difference between waking up at 4:30 as opposed to 3:30 for a 6am flight. For me, that is worth it once nevermind 50+ times a year.
Also, for anyone refusing to partake in the fruits of technology out of fear that your fingerprints and retnal scans will be sold off and used against you in some great frame up job...you're not that special. Nobody wants to use your biometrics against you. Do you really think you're going to be the subject of some great conspiracy for submitting your personal information to a corporation? Nothing I supplied Clear with wasn't on file with a private corporation through my employer already. You may get targeted for identity theft at some point, but I'm pretty sure it won't be by people purchasing your information from a corporation and leaving a money trail. It'll be from ATM theives, online scams, or shaddy retailers who sell your credit card #. Get over yourselves.
Programs: AA EXP/2MM, QF WP, DL PM, US Conscientious Objector, TED Boycotter, SPG PLT, TSA Disparager Diamond
Posts: 37,447
Quote:
Originally Posted by ufmiked
Let me just say, I've used Clear for about 15 months. The first year was free through Marriott and I paid the $$ for the next 12-months. Needless to say, it sucks that we'll be losing this service but I don't regret paying the cash. Anybody posting the "I told you so" responses and such obviously doesn't have a clear lane in their home airport, enjoys unnecessary lines, or is too cheap to pay for quality products. Clear allowed for peace of mind and I literally spent less than 2 minutes in security lines each time I traveled from my home airport (JAX). I travel out of there once a week minimum. While the normal line isn't that bad, it still was awesome to not have to worry about the length. With no elite lanes, it made the difference between waking up at 4:30 as opposed to 3:30 for a 6am flight. For me, that is worth it once nevermind 50+ times a year.
Also, for anyone refusing to partake in the fruits of technology out of fear that your fingerprints and retnal scans will be sold off and used against you in some great frame up job...you're not that special. Nobody wants to use your biometrics against you. Do you really think you're going to be the subject of some great conspiracy for submitting your personal information to a corporation? Nothing I supplied Clear with wasn't on file with a private corporation through my employer already. You may get targeted for identity theft at some point, but I'm pretty sure it won't be by people purchasing your information from a corporation and leaving a money trail. It'll be from ATM theives, online scams, or shaddy retailers who sell your credit card #. Get over yourselves.
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
You gave into extortion, now get over it.
No one should EVER have to show ID to fly. It is none of the government's or anyone else's business who flies, when, or where, or why.
__________________
You cannot uphold American ideology with un-American actions. It's time for change.
Let me just say, I've used Clear for about 15 months. The first year was free through Marriott and I paid the $$ for the next 12-months. Needless to say, it sucks that we'll be losing this service but I don't regret paying the cash. Anybody posting the "I told you so" responses and such obviously doesn't have a clear lane in their home airport, enjoys unnecessary lines, or is too cheap to pay for quality products. Clear allowed for peace of mind and I literally spent less than 2 minutes in security lines each time I traveled from my home airport (JAX). I travel out of there once a week minimum. While the normal line isn't that bad, it still was awesome to not have to worry about the length. With no elite lanes, it made the difference between waking up at 4:30 as opposed to 3:30 for a 6am flight. For me, that is worth it once nevermind 50+ times a year.
Also, for anyone refusing to partake in the fruits of technology out of fear that your fingerprints and retnal scans will be sold off and used against you in some great frame up job...you're not that special. Nobody wants to use your biometrics against you. Do you really think you're going to be the subject of some great conspiracy for submitting your personal information to a corporation? Nothing I supplied Clear with wasn't on file with a private corporation through my employer already. You may get targeted for identity theft at some point, but I'm pretty sure it won't be by people purchasing your information from a corporation and leaving a money trail. It'll be from ATM theives, online scams, or shaddy retailers who sell your credit card #. Get over yourselves.
Programs: AA EXP/2MM, QF WP, DL PM, US Conscientious Objector, TED Boycotter, SPG PLT, TSA Disparager Diamond
Posts: 37,447
Quote:
Originally Posted by stfarm
That was great, just what I had on my mind also!!
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
I'm sad that you also gave into extortion and hope you'll get over it too.
Maybe now some of the former extortees will lobby to have this disgusting, un-American agency known as TSA destroyed. It is their stupid policies that created the long lines that people allowed themselves to be extorted in hopes of avoiding.
__________________
You cannot uphold American ideology with un-American actions. It's time for change.
![Clear ceases operations [merged threads]](/forum/iconimages/travel-safety-security/clear-ceases-operations-merged-threads_ltr.gif)
Oh well, sorry to those who paid recently but such is the world we live in.
