Test driving Clear Security
Well that took for ever. On January 19th of this year, I took the opportunity to sign up for a free trial of Clear Security. Designed to help the frequent traveler pass through airport security checkpoints faster, the system takes several biometric data from the passenger and in exchange returns expedited service through security. They have kiosks at over a dozen of the largest airports in the country (and some venues) marked with a light blue Clear cube.Whether the service is useful, saves time, is worth the money or is truly secure is a good, relevant question, but for now we'll focus on the logistics of Clear Security operation.
Signing up for the Clear program is a two step process. Interested travelers must first go to flyclear.com where any number of coupons will earn you discounted or free service for a few months. At the site, you give normal registration data and authorize the collection of "excess data," which are the biometrics with which you'll identify yourself in the future. Clear will also ask if they can share your retinal data with NIST (National Institute for Standards and Technology) for research purposes, but you can decline this.
Once you provide billing information, you're required to go to the airport for the second half of enrollment. At any kiosk outside of security, you basically explain that you signed up online and need to provide additional info, then an agent will assist you in providing your biometrics. Passing through Chicago on my way to Boston this January, I took this chance. Each of my ten fingers was scanned separately, then I stepped back at the machine and stared at the window while it scanned my irises. After that, I headed my own way with the knowledge that my card would arrive in 2 – 4 weeks.
It took me three attempts and nearly that many months to finally use my Clear security card. Not every airport hosts the system, and my home McNamara terminal at Detroit Metro isn't one of them, so I had to wait until I passed through one of the cities to try out the service.
The first time was in LaGuardia airport, departing from New York into Detroit on a 6AM flight. Reaching the airport with my Clear security card eagerly in hand, I was disappointed to find out that that the lane wasn't open. Operating hours vary by airport and in this case, I was too early to indulge. My fault.
Passing through of Boston's airport a few weeks back, I missed my second chance. As Northwest Airlines has just switched terminals at Logan, I was unprepared when I arrived at Terminal 1 at 5:30AM and found an outrageously long line at security. Clear's lane was empty.
The next week I came prepared. It turns out the line wasn't as long as it was 7 days earlier, but determined to use my status I marched towards the checkpoint wielding my Clear card. With no line in front me, I approached the kiosk and was greeted by a friendly attendant who took my boarding pass and watched me insert my card. In turn, the machine asked me for a random biometric. In this case, it asked for my right thumb, and I willingly obliged. According to the agent I could have chosen another metric, including any of my other fingers or my retinas, but my thumb print would suffice for now.
A fraction of a second later the machine beeped, the attendant checked my boarding pass and I was ushered towards an x-ray line.
It's important to remind you at this point that Clear does not circumvent your requirement to go through the metal detector, screen your bags or pack 100mL containers. The real time saved is in the avoidance of oft lengthly lines to get your boarding pass screened. In some airports, after screening you merge with the regular line in front of the metal detector. In others, you get access to your own quasi-personal line.
This was the case in Boston, where the absolute nicest Clear agent was scrambling around picking up plastic bins for passengers. While I could have easily leaned over and picked up my own plastic tub, I appreciated the gesture and effort that this poor guy was putting into his job.
At this point, all passengers converged and the benefits of Clear ended. The total time I saved in Boston? This time I probably saved about three minutes. Last week I would have saved about a half hour. And that could make a big difference when you reach the airport at 5:45 for your 6AM flight.
For what it's worth, now that my three month Clear trial is almost up my account is automatically expiring. This is a nice because I don't have to worry about remembering to cancel the service to avoid hefty annual fees. That said, if you get the opportunity to try the service out for free, give it a go. It's worth trying for no obligation, right?
Filed under: Transportation, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bill May 5th 2009 11:41AM
Is that 3 month thing still going on? I figure I could take advantage of it for the summer, but I don't see anything about it on their website.
john May 5th 2009 12:08PM
If you have to go through security anyway what's the point of the biometric stuff? You pay for the privilege of shorter lines, fine. But the extra security seems unrelated. Is it just marketing, that it would be too unseemly to allow the rich to pay their way to shorter lines?
M-D May 5th 2009 2:05PM
IMHO, CLEAR only pays off if:
1) the airports you frequent are participating
2) you frequently travel at peak hours, when the normal security line would be backed up, and
3) you travel enough to make security a hassle, but not often enough to be an Elite on an airline
I briefly looked into CLEAR, but dropped my inquiry when I discovered that you can get the same basic benefits from any level of Elite status (and, in many cases, from airline credit card membership).
frequent flyer May 5th 2009 8:37PM
I received the Clear Card as a business gift and it's the best business gift I received. I've had Clear for over a year, and it has saved me from missing my flights numerous times. I agree with M-D. I'm lucky as the 2 airports I use the most - SFO and JFK - both have Clear lanes --- I think that's really the key to whether or not membership is worth your while. I also take about 15-20 trips a year, so it's definitely worth the time I've saved. When I'm going through the airport, the security line is the biggest variable. It can take 5 mins to 40 mins. The Clear lane eliminates the variable, and I know I will get through the line in under 5 minutes every time.
And I swear I don't work for Clear. :)
rysar May 6th 2009 2:46PM
I'll 2nd or 3rd the benefits of Clear when you travel often out of participating airports. My home airport is IAD (Dulles) and the cities I travel most to are MCO (Orlando), DEN, JFK and LGA.
For vacations when I go to Orlando, I can bypass the security lines which can typically reach 30-45 minutes and only spend maybe 5 minutes from the time I step in line until I put my shoes back on. The personalized attention is also a plus, makes you feel a little less cattle in line for slaughter.
The other added benefit with the new Clear cards is that you do not need your driver's license or other photo ID to get through security. Your photo is on the card and is TSA approved.