Clear the Runway
MANY of us attending ASIS this year have already made plans and flight reservations to do so. But those familiar with the Las Vegas airport are not looking forward to dealing with one thing—the security lines.
Are you ready to take on the endless security lines at the Las Vegas airport? Neither am I.
A recent trip to San Jose, Calif., convinced me that it’s time to become part of the Clear® Registered Traveler program. OK, it’s not available at every airport, but it’s worthwhile enough to learn about and enroll in. If you’re like me, you value every minute of every day, and waiting in an airport isn’t my idea of carpe diem.
Enrolling at flyclear.com gets you started in the program. However, the biometrics—fingerprints or iris images—portion of the registration has to be completed at in-airport enrollment stations. The upside, as I found out in San Jose, is while people wait in line to get to the ticket screener, those with the Clear card are whisked to the head of the line. The cost, $99.95 per year.
The overriding success of this program isn’t so much of what the company, Verified Identity Pass Inc., gets out of it, but what U.S. security can gain. People boarding planes with Clear are prescreened, all at no cost to the government.
According to Steve Brill, founder and CEO of Verified Identity Pass, 30 to 50 percent of people traveling on a weekday will be registered travelers within the next two year. These will be people who have agreed to enhanced screening and believe in enhanced security.
The airports that have implemented the Clear card are located in Reno, Nev.; San Jose; the New Jersey/New York region; Indianapolis; Cincinnati; Little Rock, Ark.; Albany, N.Y.; and, of course, Orlando, Fla., where it all started. That’s right, I didn’t mention Las Vegas, but San Francisco is working on a public competitive bid. Also expected to join the network will be Washington, D.C., Denver and Atlanta.
By the way, just a note about renewal rates—Clear is maintaining 94 percent of its customers.
Clear is growing into a national network of fast lanes, though the TSA has a requirement that all registered traveler cards be interoperable. In June, Registered Traveler launched its interoperability environment as Clear lanes began accepting the Unisys Card. Clear is on the cutting edge, and it certainly is traveler friendly.
I wondered if the card could or would be used to track the public. Verified Identity Pass said the card is not used to track members’ movements and that all data is held under strict controls. The privacy policy and controls are verified regularly by independent privacy auditors. Clear offers its members an identity theft warranty and provides an independent ombudsman to handle any privacy issues. To date, there have been no complaints.
Domestic Travel
In July, AirTran Airways jumped on board with Clear to form a versatile partnership. I’ve never flown AirTran, but Clear officials say the airline is providing a proven, avidly-appreciated customer service. The airline implemented Clear at its terminals at LaGuardia International Airport. Brill said they are “delighted to partner with AirTran Airways to rollout Clear across its network to the millions of fliers that enjoy its service each year.”
AirTran is Clear’s first domestic airline partner, and I believe this truly marks a turning point for Registered Traveler and for the domestic flying public at large. The program has been widely accepted by international air carriers, as well. In fact, Air France, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were early partners and have registered traveler programs at New York’s JFK Airport, as well as in Newark, N.J.
Clear Facts
Registered Traveler has been enrolling members since June 21, 2005, and Clear lanes at security checkpoints have been in operation since July 19, 2005. TSA approved a national rollout of the program Jan. 12, and because it’s been wildly successful, the registered traveler program is expected to expand to up to 20 airports this year.
Why join? As a frequent traveler, you already know what security checkpoints are like. And if you are a Registered Traveler member, you will get expedited treatment at the security checkpoint, plus you get access to any Registered Traveler lane in the United States.
New Technologies
In January, Clear announced that it will now feature shoe-scanning technology, which has TSA’s stamp of approval. Of the entire airport security process, taking off my shoes distresses me the most. First of all, I don’t like wearing stockings, and secondly, what stockings I do have are likely to have holes in them.
Clear has an answer to my problems with its verification kiosk and state-of-the-art shoe scanner technology, installed at Clear lanes in JFK, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and San Jose international airports.
Here’s what I specifically like about the shoe scanner. Clear members, in most cases, can leave their shoes on as they pass through the security checkpoint. The shoe-scanning technology will be activated in other airports in the Clear network as soon as protocols are in place. What that really means is as soon as TSA approves the measure, other airport will have shoe-screening technology.
GE Security is responsible for the shoe-scanning technology, which detects the presence of explosives and metal in shoes. This takes place at the kiosk where the registered traveler presents their Clear card. Once the shoes are scanned, the traveler is given a printout receipt with their photo printed on it. It is then presented to security workers who allow the cardholder to proceed, complete with shoes.
An explosives trace scanner is in the works. This will take the place of having to take off outer garments to pass through X-ray. Clear is picking up the tab for both technologies—and is responsible for moving airport security lines.
What I like most about this venture is that it’s the private sector partnering with a government agency to help maintain security without depending upon the government for a hand out.
This article originally appeared in the September 2007 issue of Security Products.
About the Author
Ralph C. Jensen is editor-in-chief of Security Products magazine.