Excuse me for reminiscing about good ol' times when I could get through security in 3 minutes or less. :p :D

I never understood why Clear ruffled so many feathers. It was entirely optional, and the money paid was supposed to fund additional security lines and personnel (which elites and non-elites alike could also use). I can't wait for Clear (or something similar) to become an option again.

We agree on the first statement! The second one is indeed the most common one throughout this thread. Well, first, it's because the system itself should work as you reminisce. Without creating an elite and hanging a meter on it. Second, because there's no assurance about where our biometric data might go if the private concern goes bust, including no assurance that it will be destroyed.

And now, when the - same? different? - company with the same database (which, of course is the heart of their unique value, as opposed to a whole new company starting from scratch) turns up and says it's still there, one wonders what was possible in the interim. And even if one loves all things private sector and hates all things government, what can be the confidence level as to whether the government got it?

In fact, why not start from scratch? They surely will, as to fees.

Now, as to creating an elite and hanging a meter on it, will advocates condone the idea of a key official in government setting up a disaster of an agency - by most accounts here (the very reason for creating an elite and hanging a meter on it) - then moving over to profit from it?

There's another way back to the olden days. Make the system that that guy created work.

So, according to the flyclear.com website, they will be honoring previous customers subscription. The open question I guess is: if we got a prorated amount back from the credit card company, is our subscription valid still, or did the bank get money back from the parent company, and our subscription canceled?

I guess we'll find out soon enough.

That's exactly why you needed it. The third rate airports don't have first class or elite lines.

And some of earn our livings going in and out of those places.

I don't care if a new Clear charges me all over again even tho I think I had some time left on the former subscription. I was with them from day one and if I did have some time left, it was not very much and, whatever that may be, I have long since written it off in my mind (and to the IRS). I already have gained my money's worth from the first signup.

It is a shame it is just a line pass; if the new Clear would allow us to bypass the nude-o-scopes/patdowns, I would sign up in a heartbeat.

Here's the money quote from the NYT piece:
 

"A company spokesman said that Clear would purge the personal data — including fingerprint and iris patterns — of customers who chose not to reactivate their accounts."

Clear goes bankrupt and, after "taking appropriate steps to delete the information" the iris scans, fingerprints, and associated personal data are not only not deleted, bu lay around Lord knows where for a year.

The data is now being used by the new company. They claim they'll delete your information, so trust them, just like you trusted Steve Brill. What could possible go wrong?

General sleaziness aside, this use of dubiously stored old data also strikes me as terrible, terrible security.

clear is back?
 

Just heard "fly clear"program is coming back soon. Can anyone confrim??? I used it allot, liked it very much. Then, like so many others, got gut punched right after I'd re-newed, when they went under and wouldn't refund! Apparently, they're under new management, and will be excepting your existing fly clear card, if you still have it.

Doug

Why would anyone trust CLEAR with their money again?

A new company bought the assets. New management, new company believes that they can make this concept work. Time will tell.

The concept was great at Den, where the elite lines are often long. The TSA will never give consistant good customer service.

I wouldn't bother with any sort of 'verified traveler' program unless they could guarantee interoperability with other VT programs. But YMMV.

Agreed. I flew in and out of IND almost every week. No elite or FC lines made CLEAR a no brainer, especially during rush hour and holiday time. It will really come down to what the "new" program looks like. Now I am flying out of TPA, which was not on the list of CLEAR airports when the program was active, so who knows?

Is Verified Pass Back? At least in email form, it seems
 

I really have no idea where to post this, but I guess if a mod thinks this is the wrong place, maybe they will have a better idea.

I was wondering, did anyone else just get a blank email from Verified Pass? The subject line was Your Verified Identity Pass Membership, but nothing was in the email.

I wonder if they are selling their email list and looking for valid email addresses? Someone just turned on the computer in the office for the first time in a year and they started sending out the emails they forgot to send before?

And I am regularly in and out of SDF which did not have Clear (nor any provision for elites or premium classes) but some other company set up there and accepted the Clear cards. They folded when Clear did and I will be severely disappointed if service of some kind does not come back there.

This will probably end up in the friendly confines of the Travel Safety & Security forum...

I received the same (blank) email and deleted it as a potential hacker attack. Will be interesting to see if it ends up being anything legitimate.