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Fly Clear

December 2, 2008 · 16 Comments

I've mentioned this service before - $199 / year to skip the lines at airport security (you don't skip the security checks, just the lines) - and here's a way to get a month free: use this refer-a-friend code when you sign up - DSCAM1163375. The price has doubled since I initially signed up but the time savings are incredible if you travel a lot and now they offer photo ID on the CLEAR card so you can use it as your only form of ID to go through an airport which simplifies things still further. You can also use the CLEAR card to jump the lines at certain sports grounds :)

Tags: personal

16 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Tom Chiverton // Dec 3, 2008 at 8:05 AM

    Some UK airports have a similar scheme, but I refuse to pay to bypass a mess they deliberately create.
    If they make money by inconveniencing people, where is their incentive to stop going to come from ?

  • 2 Sean Corfield // Dec 3, 2008 at 8:28 AM

    @Tom, I refuse to stand in long lines for a measly couple of hundred bucks a year :)

    I've been through Heathrow (twice) and Amsterdam this year and security is a breeze, compared to American airports. Trust me, if you had to fly regularly in the US, you'd soon cough up the money.

    It's a drop in the ocean compared to our annual travel bill anyway. I'm Premier on United and my wife is Premier Executive (over 50k miles flown) so saving time at security for that many flights is a big deal to us.

  • 3 David // Dec 3, 2008 at 10:39 AM

    Dude...are we going to get into an argument again ;-)

    Cheers,

    Davo

  • 4 Sean Corfield // Dec 3, 2008 at 10:45 AM

    @Davo, only if you start one :) :)

  • 5 TJ Downes // Dec 4, 2008 at 5:58 AM

    this CLEAR card sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

  • 6 Sean Corfield // Dec 4, 2008 at 7:52 AM

    @TJ, not sure why you think that... it's a biometric ID card... in the new format, it's also a photo ID card... it doesn't change the security you have to pass through at an airport, just the time you spend waiting (they guarantee four minutes or less to get thru).

  • 7 TJ Downes // Dec 4, 2008 at 9:06 AM

    Ahhh, my understanding of the program was different, I didnt think you still needed to pass through the detectors. But after reading I see that you do. Good deal.

    However, I see this becoming a lot like the DMV reservation system in CA. After a period of time so many people will get CLEAR that the wait times will be almost as long as being in the standard lines. Maybe not, due to the upfront cost of $199, but even though I only fly 4-5x a year at most I could see myself getting this

  • 8 Sean Corfield // Dec 4, 2008 at 9:16 AM

    Use this referral code and get a free month: DSCAM1163375 (I'll get a free month too).

    The money going into the CLEAR program allows it to equip airports with more / better security equipment so the *theory* is that CLEAR flyers will actually help make things better for everyone by paying to expand the facilities.

  • 9 TJ Downes // Dec 4, 2008 at 9:23 AM

    sweet, will do!

  • 10 Andy Powell // Dec 4, 2008 at 6:54 PM

    If you're Marriott Platinum, then it's free for the first year.

  • 11 Sean Corfield // Dec 4, 2008 at 7:05 PM

    @Andy, good to know - thanx!

  • 12 tony may // Dec 27, 2008 at 8:18 PM

    I am curious who on the Fed side has signed off on their quality control and security screening.

  • 13 Sean Corfield // Dec 27, 2008 at 8:31 PM

    @Tony, bear in mind that even with CLEAR you still have to go through the security screening - you just don't wait in line. The only "check" you skip is the somewhat perfunctory TSA check of your photo ID and boarding pass - and the CLEAR staff do a much more thorough inspection of that anyway.

  • 14 Sean Corfield // Jun 22, 2009 at 6:55 PM

    FYI, Clear ceased operation today (June 22nd, 2009).

  • 15 Kevin Schmidt // Jun 23, 2009 at 2:29 PM

    Yeah I just got my Clear Card in the mail last week, got to use it once. I am not happy! Def will be disputing the charge on my credit card when I get it.

  • 16 Sean Corfield // Jun 23, 2009 at 2:49 PM

    @Kevin, yeah, my wife and I renewed for two years earlier this year but with her broken ankle we have missed several travel opportunities where we could have used it - and it's too late to dispute the charge now for us.

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