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Fly Clear
Let’s face it, air travel is becoming more and more complicated and stressful. There is nothing worse than showing up to the airport a couple hours early, only to find that the security line is ridiculously long! Then once you finally get to the TSA agents, you now have to basically strip yourself of shoes, belts, jewelry, laptops and of course the 3 ounce liquids. It’s like an episode of the Amazing Race, except you not only have to do it as fast as humanly possible, but with an audience behind you staring you down as if to say “Hurry the &%$# up!”. If you’re lucky enough to be a frequent or first class flier you can skip most of the line and hit the “special line” which is usually shorter, yet in the end you still get thrown into the same chaos.
Now, imagine a world where you show up for your flight with your preprinted boarding pass and you waltz through security in just a few minutes with the help of a concierge. Your flight concierge helps you unpack and repack your electronics and quart size bag of liquids. This would never happen right? Wrong, now there is Fly Clear.
Currently, Fly Clear isn’t available in Atlanta, so I haven’t gotten to experience it first hand. However, I know a very successful doctor and business man that has. Here is the Fly Clear experience of Dr. Darren White.
1. How hard was the application process?
The process was quite simple. From home I logged onto Fly Clear and filled out the online application and paid the $128.00 for one year. The second part of the registration must occur in person at the Fly Clear in the airport or satellite location. Since I live in Seattle and Fly Clear isn’t in Seattle yet we had to wait until we flew to Oakland, CA to do the second portion. They require to pieces of government I.D., a retinal scan on your eyes and fingers prints. The whole process was completed in fifteen minutes. About one week later my wife got the email that she was CLEAR. I was left to sweat it out two more weeks before they decided I was okay. But then again, I am a British citizen living as a permanent resident in USA (or maybe it was that thing in 1998…).
2. How long does it take you to get through security now as compared to before Fly Clear?
Depending on the airport and time of flying, before Fly Clear it took me a good 20-50min to get through security, which made it about an hour process from curb to gate. Now, you print your boarding pass at home, carry on your Tumi luggage and you are at the gate with Starbuck’s latte in under 10min.
3. How does the Fly Clear security line compare to that of the First Class/Club members line in speed?
HA! My wife and I were in the First Class security line with Dennis Kucinich at Reagan Airport in D.C. We stood in that “First Class” line for more than 35min, great if your chatting with your favorite politician, sucks if you are trying to catch the flight. Right next to us was the Fly Clear…EMPTY! That is when we made our decision to raise our standards.
4. What is the Fly Clear process like at the airport?
We have never seen a line at Fly Clear. You basically step up to the Fly Clear machine ender your card and get your eyes and fingerprints scanned. BAM! you are “CLEAR” Then you can proceed straight to an empty metal detector screening. This part can’t be avoided however Fly Clear has a “concierge” to help you strip down.
5. Would you recommend Fly Clear to frequent travelers?
If you don’t fly first class or have not attained the upper elite tier of a frequent flyer program AND you you fly between airports that currently have Fly Clear… it is a MUST. Otherwise, there is really no rush until it is available at more airports.
6. Are there any improvements/changes that should be made with the Fly Clear process?
I’m looking forward to this becoming standard at all major airports. The biggest nuisance is still having to strip down and put your belongings into five trays as you walk barefoot through a scanner trying to hold up your pants. I think if we have had a full background check then we should be able to have a reduced security screening. With all our technology there has to be a better way than having to strip down every time.
So, there it is. Fly Clear is expanding quickly and luckily for me, it’ll be available in Atlanta in the Fall of 2008. As soon as I’m CLEAR, I’ll let you know how it’s impacted my air travel experience.
I’d love to hear more Fly Clear experiences…so please comment if you’re CLEAR!
Ciao!
Kimberly
80°F Sunny & No Humidity
Next Trip: 
Hi Kimberly,
I complete my FlyClear process in Denver just less than a week from now. I’ve already done the on-line paperwork, now all that’s left is the retina scan, the fingerprinting and the ID confirmation. They expect it to take 10-15 minutes. I fly a lot, but the airports I’m most often in lately don’t yet have the program. However, I’ve read (and had it confirmed by a FlyClear representative) that BWI (Baltimore’s airport) is evaluating proposals from contract providers to run the FlyClear program there as soon as this Fall. THAT WOULD ROCK! ((BWI is often the test-bed for TSA which makes it odd that it wasn’t one of the 1st airports to have the program.))
I do have several trips already planned that include flying to airports with FlyClear. I’m hoping to get a chance to compare how it works at several airports over the next few months.
Ciao!
–>> Hillel
Do you foresee the short lines changing soon? I know Frontier gives CLEAR to it’s top-tier fliers already.
Will the CLEAR line go the same as the ‘Elite’ lines as more an more people adopt it? Sure, the privacy and ‘big brother’ concerns will deter most folks, but I think the people in those Elite lines will just move over and “clear” the way for me.
Sounds great but i am not a fan on the invasive body / retinal scans….ill wait in line…..
I travel frequently throughout the year and do many weekend trips where time is a factor. Even if the Clear Pass was $10 I’d still decline. I just don’t feel they merit reason to keep my fingerprints and iris scan on file. The TSA nor a private company.
Another recent development: the Clear program is expanding beyond simply gathering data and giving you a pass. Here in Denver they’ve partnered with the Broncos allowing early stadium access and merchandise discounts.
http://www.flyclear.com/news_pr/pr/pr_081908.html
So to increase sales and marketing we may just see the Clear Pass morph into something like the Gold C coupon book – where you can flash it around town getting discounts to shows, restaurants, and events. And the more they discount it the less exclusive it will be. That I find almost as strange as the need to collect my iris scan.
Also – air travel is in a decline around the country. Over the past three months I’ve also seen NO lines. Less that 5-6 people ahead of me. This may be my preference for really early morning flights, but at LAX, Tampa, and Denver (twice on Friday afternoon,) and LGA last Tuesday evening, I haven’t even had time to stuff my keys in my bag before I’m at the xray.
I try and abstain from traveling on holiday weekends – but that leads to another question: If business travelers are like myself, traveling Friday afternoons and early-mid mornings, why even bother BUYING the pass? Unless its simply for contingency.
If air travel is on the decline and peak times aren’t busy, then its just a scary marketing ploy by Clear to paint the regular airport lines as third world chaotic nightmares.
my opinion? Intrusive procedure and simply unnecessary.
james http://www.futuregringo.com
As of June 22, Clear is out of business. Below is an e-mail I just got from them:
***
Dear David,
At 11:00 p.m. PST today, Clear will cease operations. Clear’s parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc. has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations.
After today, Clear lanes will be unavailable.
Sincerely,
Clear Customer Support
***
$128 down the chute! At least I didn’t get the 3 year membership, I’m sure those people are REALLY mad right now.
Is their any New Way to Fly,well good to hear this one,really amazing.