Travel Tuesdays: New Way for Air Travelers to Reduce the Wait in Security Lines!
By Kirstin N. Fuller
What is the most dreadful part of traveling by airplane? The wait in the security checkpoint line! You can’t avoid it! You have to do it! Most airlines require that passengers arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before their flight leaves. The dreadful process begins! You have to take your shoes off and take your laptop out of its bag (and in some airports open and turn it on). Friends this is the sole reason I want my own private jet service, no security lines! LOL
Well, there is a special card for air travelers that cuts the security checkpoint wait to a half an hour. Yes, with this card you will only have to wait in line for approximately 30 minutes. The Clear Card (which has been in existence since June 21, 2005), is the travel worlds’ first official pass for airport security. Upon arrival at the airport, Clear Card members use a special kiosk in the security fast lanes, where they insert their card, verify their identity and are escorted to the front of the security checkpoint line by a Clear (Card) Concierge. So, instead of arriving at the airport 2 hours before your flight, you could arrive one hour to 30 minutes before and still make your flight.
Now you’re thinking, ‘how do I get this card’ and ‘is it going to cost an arm, leg and a contact lens?’ The Clear Card costs $199 (effective Oct.15th,2008) per year (2 and 3 year rates are also available). The application process is started online (www.flyclear.com) by entering your basic information and payment information (your credit card will not be charged until your application is approved by TSA).
Once your application is complete, applicants go to a Clear Enrollment Location (usually one of the 20 airports that participate in the program) where unique identity information is gathered. Your photograph along with fingerprints and iris images are taken (right now you are probably feeling like you are in the Tom Cruise movie Minority Report!) along with copies of two government issued identification (i.e. passport/driver’s license). Finally, everything is forwarded to TSA for a security threat assessment. Once approved, applicants receive their Clear Card in approximately 2-3 weeks.
Currently, twenty US airports participate in the Clear Card program. Among the eighteen are: Dulles (IAD), Reagan National (DCA), LaGuardia (LGA) and JFK in New York. For a complete listing of participating airports visit www.flyclear.com. More innovations are also on the way to further reduce the amount of time Clear Card members wait in the security checkpoint line. A shoe scanner is in the works that will allow you to keep your shoes on as you pass through. And a laptop scanner is also in the works that will allow your macbook air to stay in its case while being scanned.
If you are a frequent air traveler, the Clear Card is a great way to cut down the amount of time in the security checkpoint and spend more time sleeping, traveling, with the family or sleeping. LOL
To join, please visit: www.flyclear.com
For more travel information please visit: www.reservationsmagazine.com
- The Travelin Diva
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