You know Spiff, I'd say the majority of us, including me, really don't mind having to show our IDs. There are a lot more important things to worry about than a TSA agent shining a light on my ID before I fly. To the degree that having ID / boarding pass checks eliminates non-flyers from clogging up security lines, it's a benefit. And the terrorist name match, while certainly a problem for those whose names are close to those of people on the list, is, for most of us, added security with almost no burden on the traveller. I'm all for that.

Actioned, Actionable? And how...
 

I agree with all that Spiff is saying, but I believe this is the most cogent and actionable of all the comments here. And did someone say 260,000? There's a lot of energy here. And the roar has just begun. I believe that the congress will hear it. Wait until the media gets hold of it. Think of all the people the story touches in a place that they're already mighty upset -- not just Clear clients. It's a great narrative follow-on to the laptop loss that the broader population will remember.

You can bet that there is much to come of this. Don't be surprised to hear words like "fraud" and "criminal" (all the major hustle to join by cognizant people at Clear in the run up to this) and "class action" -- beyond these boards. But those are looking back. GUWonder offers as sage a comment here as he ever has. While others are working those aspects, this is what we can be doing moving forward, the 260,000 who went for it, and those who didn't -- together.

Coincidentally today, there's this:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new...on_data_theft/

This is actually a second interesting coincidence. Does anyone remember that the laptop was misplaced just as the first decision on the TJX case was handed down?

I'm upset about the demise of Clear. It made getting through security predictible. I knew I could clear security in 5mins.

I had the RTGO card (FLO) b/c it was cheaper (100/year). I'm thinking about cancelling and getting a pro-rated refund before they fold. Ideally, they would take over Clear lanes, but that's just wishful thinking.

Yep - I saw that coming, oh, about two and a half years ago!

You do realize that the BP/ID check is nothing more than the TSA doing revenue protection on behalf of the airlines, don’t you?

There never really was a problem with "non-flyers" clogging up the lines. That's a pretty lame reason for the government to be enforcing the ticketing rules of the airlines. As far as name matches are concerned, once someone is screened and is found not to have weapons, what difference is it what their name is? Wasting the time of all those innocent individuals whose names bear a slight resemblance to those on some secret government watch list is quite unfair -- particularly when the government itself admits that the really bad guys are deliberately not on the list!

My friend, that ship has not sailed.

We can convince our elected representatives to put an end to this disgusting, un-American stupidity.

I will not give into extortion. Give me Liberty, or give me Death.

ID is not security. I completely object to the notion that showing an ID has anything to do with the security of an airplane or an airport.

The TSA should have been shot the moment they started this disgusting, un-American harassment. No government entity has any right to know who flies, when, where, or why.

But...I want to fly today. :(


;)



Hey, I've written to my Congressman and Senators. What more can I do? You start a lobbying group to eliminate the ID rule and I'll gladly join up and even contribute to the PAC.

Til then, I've done what I can do and yet I dont anticipate any change any time soon.

And with TSA's 'competition' from Clear dead, they will only be further emboldened, I fear. :(

Sorry you missed out.

It's implied by thinking that someone is going to take your biometric information and use it against you.

Do you live on a farm? Because you seem to have an abundance of straw with which to set up these men. The fact is, no one is stealing your identity through a mathematical hash of your fingerprint or iris scan. These are useless to anyone.

More straw. Where did they show clumsiness?

Retinas and fingerprints and data, oh my!
 

You gave up a scan of your RETINA to Clear? That's awesome. I bet it was all cool and Star Trekky when they had you stare into the machine when you gave them a high-res scan of your most unique personal biometric feature.

Good luck getting new retinas as your current ones have been compromised. You do realize that ones retina is a truly unique identifier; and now other people can buy, sell and/or lease yours?

Right. Because Circuit City went bust, why would anyone shop at Best Buy?

Clear was one of the few entities trying to stand up to the TSA. Sure it was based on profit and sure they received plenty of personal information but they were there standing for the proposition that taking our shoes off and other TSA garbage wasn't necessary for every person. Clear lobbied Congress and kept pressure on the TSA to back off on some level. Some members of Congress listened to them.

While unfortunate, the practical issue is our elected representatives will not pay much attention to a constitutent complaining about matching ID's to tickets.

I made it through faster without, but thanks for your concern.


First, "implied thinking" is simply a synonym of "assuming." I don't think I need to say anything further on that.


You do realize they get your full name and Social Security Number as well, right? No identity theft potential there at all, right?


Clear lost a laptop for a time being. Sorry you were busy thinking of clever one-liners at the time.

You don't even have to give your SSN or full name to steal an identity. Happens every day and the information was never given.