Orlando International Airport is the first major airport to institute Clear Lanes. Photos courtesy of FlyClear.com

Clear Pass Membership Cuts Down on Airport Waiting Time

By Jessica Taryn

Everyone is sick of waiting in lines at the airport, but we all want optimal security measures taken to make sure we are safe when we fly. So what is the solution? A company called Verified Identity Pass, Inc. thinks they may have found it, and Orlando International Airport agrees.

The Clear Membership allows frequent travelers to be pre-screened, issued a Clear Member’s card, which they then scan in the Clear Lane at the airport, and within seconds their fingerprints and iris images are matched to those embedded in their card and they are free to proceed, significantly minimizing time spent in security lines.

OBTAINING A MEMBERSHIP

Having begun operations in July 2005, VIP Inc. now has 13,000 Clear Members. Each member has filled out an application, which is available online, and has submitted two acceptable forms of identification, including a photo ID.

The applicants submitted all fingerprints, both iris images, and their applications along with their biometrics to the US government’s Transportation Security Administration, which is a unit of the Department of Homeland Security. The TSA then performed “Security Threat Assessments” and approved their applications.

Once approved, the member received his or her Smart Card in the mail, which can be activated by phone, at a local kiosk or in person at the airport. Cindy Rosenthal, director of public relations and marketing at Verified Identity Pass, Inc. says that the entire process from the time you fill out the application until the time you receive your membership card should be about two to four weeks. The company tries to make the process as easy as possible for potential members.

“We have taken our kiosks to convenient locations in downtown -- banks, office buildings, etc. -- and we do offer onsite enrollment to corporations signing up over 150 employees at once,” she says.

SAFETY

Rosenthal says that the TSA is very careful in their threat assessments and conduct continual assessments to insure that people do not become security threats at any time during their membership. If there is any question, memberships are revoked and pro-rated costs are returned.

“Assuming you qualify with the appropriate IDs, citizenship, etc., the TSA does not publicly state how someone could fail their 'Security Threat Assessment,' but they are checking databases of terrorists and other lists,” explains Rosenthal.

With over 4,000,000 flight miles under his belt, Bob Jones, best known as the Travel “Frugalist” for OneTravel.com has been a top elite member of four hotel frequent guest and four airline frequent flyer programs.

A traveler for over 40 years and a travel columnist, Jones speculates what the TSA might be checking, “Were I TSA, I would run a check with NCIC (National Crime Information Center) and EPIC (El Paso Intelligence Center) for basic law enforcement history. I would also check with the credit bureaus and travel history of the applicant.

"Foreign travel is going to automatically go into the traveler’s record and there could be triggers in place for credit and criminal records. Financial checks have always been part of background investigations simply because those in grave debt may be tempted to do something stupid to get out of debt,” he said.

Jones says that you will still be searched if there is any suspicion, regardless of your status. “Just because you are a trusted traveler doesn’t mean you are immune from checks. If you set off the metal detector or your bag contains something that is not kosher, they will give you the full search.”

ENTERING THE CLEAR LANE

“Once you are a member, you present your card at the entrance to the Clear Lane at the airport’s checkpoint and just like an ATM machine, you slide your ClearCard into the kiosk and either scan your fingers or iris image to assure a match. Then you proceed a few feet down the lane to the security processing area where you put your carry-on bag through the X-ray and go through the metal detector.

"Clear Members also have their boarding card stamped so they are exempt from secondary searches unless they set off the metal detector or have another problem. The verification process in our lanes takes seconds, avoiding a potential wait of nearly 35 minutes at times in Orlando,” Rosenthal says.

Jones says that he is not sure Clear Membership is actually worth the money.

“For top elite members and full-fare first class passengers at major airports, there are already lines designated for them. Weigh carefully the cost vs. the benefit. If you fly 10 times a year or less, is it worth the four or five dollars a minute it is going to cost you?” he said.

Rosenthal disagrees, “If you are one of the 13,000 members who travel two times a week and can be assured that you are not behind the 800 people who have just gotten off a tourist bus from Disney, etc. you’d think this was worth it.”

ARE BIOMETRICS RELIABLE?

According to the Verified Identity Pass company, the biometric scanners pick up the iris image or fingerprint accurately over 99 percent of the time.

Rosenthal says that biometrics cannot be duplicated in any way. “Your image is on a chip in the card, but it must match you, live, in person, at the kiosk, verified by our operators. So, unlike the movies, you can’t present someone else’s finger without our staff noticing!”

PRIVACY

In all aspects of traveling, especially since September 11, people are very concerned with privacy violations and there has been an ongoing debate over maintaining privacy versus maintaining a safe environment for travelers. In introducing new technology, privacy is once again questioned.

However, Jones says, “There is a point where I am not concerned about my privacy if other's security is an issue. I am well aware the ACLU will jump on this one and shout Fourth Amendment violations, but since it is voluntary, how can they claim this?”

Rosenthal promises that every precaution is taken to make travelers feel comfortable and not violated in any way.

She says, “Privacy is one of our primary focuses -- to assure every member that we will uphold all of the policies and promises we have put in place, such as having an ombudsman, a public audit and an identity theft warranty. We are taking every opportunity we can find to have the best privacy practices—such as we don’t track members and we won’t sell your name or information to any third parties.”

LONGER LINES

So, what happens when so many people join Clear that those lines become longer than the regular lines?

“I am sure TSA will adjust to keep things moving. Already, elite-only and crew-only lines are used by others if there are no folks in those 'only' lines,” said Jones.

Rosenthal confirmed, “Similar to the electronic tolling that roadways have, you can alter the number of lanes available to registered travelers at peak times, such as early morning and evening; it is done through modeling of the lane traffic to learn what is needed. This is very effective in the tolling industry.”

VERY FREQUENT FLIERS

Jones says that he would not be a good candidate for Clear Membership, even though he is a frequent flier, and he would not be interested in purchasing or joining.

“Since I generally travel mid-week from a small- to medium-sized airport and am a top elite member, it makes no sense for me to participate. If my travels began in Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles (LAX only), Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Salt Lake City, Boston, St. Louis, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Pittsburgh or San Diego and I traveled 15+ times per year and if my departures were Monday mornings, I would look long and hard,” he said.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Rosenthal says that Clear Lanes could potentially work at sports stadiums, chemical plants, nuclear plants, etc.

“Think about the visitors or delivery people who drive trucks into those facilities all day long with no checks on who they are!” Rosenthal said.

She also says that San Jose and Indianapolis Airports have chosen to use Clear and will begin the program as soon as they receive approval from TSA, which they expect will happen shortly.

“We are negotiating with Sacramento Airport now and we are in talks with dozens of other airports, as well,” she said.

Jones agrees that this trend will spread fast, “I expect the major airports will commence almost immediately, but [smaller airports like] Kalamazoo will probably never join in,” he said.


Jessica Taryn is a former intern at GoNOMAD. She attends the University of Massachusetts