MissJ

Ouch, that is quite expensive for such a small program. And why SEA? Being so close to Canada, anyone with a passport can get Nexus for far less. If people aren't willing to do that, they likely aren't going to pay way more for this service if SEA is their base.

rustykettel

I've seen Clear elsewhere, other than airports. At a stadium or something like that.

My understanding is that Clear & Pre are complementary, not competing. If you have both, you get escorted to the front of the Pre line (if there is one).

eponymous_coward

Yeah, but at airports with both (I fly through LAS a ton, SJC some), I've literally never seen any kind of long line for Pre that would entice me to spend $180 a year. It's always boom, you're done.

Now, when Pre is shut down, LAS TSA at T3 turns into a horrorshow, but when that happens Clear's been shut down too.

CKDGM

You don't even have to go to Canada if you can be patient enough; there's a NEXUS enrollment center at Boeing Field, though it's understandably popular so it's hard to schedule an interview there. (Impatient people drive to Blaine.)

MissJ

That's right, I remember seeing that when I did mine. Appointments were months out, though. Blaine was a breeze.

TWA884

A post that is more of a debate about policy than information was moved to the following thread in the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum:
TWA884
Co-moderator, Travel Safety/Security

sunpass

Apparently, some major airports are not receptive to CLEAR proposals to set up business there. MSP is undecided about it, LAX doesn't see a need for it and both HOU and IAH plan to remove their existing CLEAR kiosks next year.

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0YP0DZ

naumank

I fly out of SFO once a month. I go through the security under 5 minutes. I also have a Signature Visa so I save $60.

It's worth every penny.

HOUdat

I'm disappointed to read that.

MSPeconomist

That's disgusting. First the airport and DL allowed TSA to mess up the security situation at MSP by reconfiguring the lines and now they object to DL's attempt to improve things.

pseudoswede

Monday morning at DEN

Mrs. Swede dropped me off at the airport at 6:23am at the level 6 departures. The North security Pre-Check lane was roughly 60-deep (with two ID checkers). I used Clear and Pre-Check, and I was downstairs waiting for the train by 6:31am. It literally took me longer to walk to security than for me to go through security.

So, yes, I think Clear is worth it.

ms1027

I had Clear when it first debuted at MCO. It was free, on a promotion through Hyatt status.

I called a few weeks ago, when I had a number of upcoming flights out of MCO, and was told that I still had 9 months paid and only had to reactivate my account.

Of course, I did... and beat a colleague who arrived 20 minutes ahead of me. I was relaxing at a gate-side restaurant with coffee and breakfast when she arrived. She had Pre-Check.

My observations: Clear seems to be positioning itself as a concierge-type service. The attendants were extremely polite. I scanned fingerprints, and was escorted to the front of the line for security check.

To me, the combo of Clear and Pre-Check is the way to go. Immediate passage through ID check line, then escorted to the head of the Pre-Check line. The recent media on TSA delays seems to have caused a huge spike in Pre-Check applications. Once they clear the backlog, I expect the Pre-Check lines to grow substantially.

It is a bit pricey, but well worth it to me. I will be adding MRS1027 to my Clear account ($50/year) next flight out of MCO.

pseudoswede

Groupon is offering discount Clear memberships. $59 for nine months.

https://www.groupon.com/deals/clear-me-3

The problem is that you have to redeem at a Clear kiosk. It's a bit confusing as you need to view the voucher, which you are allowed to look at once. I just cancelled my free trial, and I will call to see if I can reactivate over the phone.

Edited to add: Yes, you can apply the voucher code over the phone against your expired membership.

televisor

Mainly out of interest - does anyone have experience trying to apply as a non US-citizen/LPR? The application process seems to only require a DL or state ID (which don't show your citizenship/residency status, except for the fact that they have a shorter validity if you are on a Visa). And it doesn't seem obvious why Clear should be restricted to citizens/LPRs (GE isn't restricted after all) - e.g. there's not much need for a background check since you end up in the same security screening as you would without Clear.

(Looking at the history of the Registered traveller program, that seemed to have separate, pre- style screening - but the current implementation looks like a shorter line with fingerprint access.)

pseudoswede

Four month subscription for $15

Use code CLR42016