January 16, 2007
Security Fast Lane to the Plane
Attention, frequent fliers: Terminal 7 at JFK Airport will get the area's first security express lane.
For $100 a year, private company Clear Registered Traveler prescreens you and lets you zip through security quickly. After your boarding pass matches your government ID and special "Clear Card," you put your Clear Card in a kiosk which will then scan a fingerprint or your iris. You will also be scanned for explosives, but the process is supposed to be very quick (though you still need to take off your shoes - the TSA hasn't approved the shoe scanning device for Kennedy yet).
Clear says that membership will be "continuously reviewed" but the underlying theory is "someone who is screened in advance is less likely to be a threat than someone who isn't." Clear has lanes at three other airports - Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Indianapolis International Airport and San José Mineta International Airport - and its CEO Steven Brill, yes, that Steven Brill,
When Clear is offered in more airports, it'll probably be a big hit with business travelers. Of course, this is sort of "whatever" after reading Kathryn Harrison's Times Op-Ed piece about being able to open a gate door to the airplane, setting off an alarm but no one notices, and being able to get on the empty plane (she was looking for her wallet) - all without anyone seeing her or really caring. At Newark Airport.
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Allah Be praised! This is indeed good news. The infidels shall pay dearly.
What is this terrible writing?
People who help destoy the environment by flying often get special treatment! Perfect!
Bet this "Clear" program has more to do with making money than "Security"...
Wait a minute. Lets say, we ALL pay our $100 a year to get this fast pass security clearance thingie to get onto a plane, because we hate those long lines...but then, won't the express lane end up with the long lines? Whats the next scheme to "save time" and not have to mingle in a line with the comman folk?
Clear has been at Orlando International Airport for a while now and it says so right on their website. How'd you miss it?
"Clear" program? Why not just call it "Caucasian" and get it over with? Can't wait to get mine! I hate standing in line with poor people...
I don't see how this is different ... you get ID'd, you get a metal scan, you get your bags x-ray'd. sounds like what everyone else goes through. so, basically, you pay $100 to move into a separate line that will eventually be clogged like all the others? great. well-done.
most people don't fly often enough to pay $100 a year for this...the economics have been worked out and the clearpass line will be short
Um, doesn't this mean that Al-Quaeda will now to recruit from the pool of people with Clear Cards? Maybe it is like when the authorities went keystone cops over anyone Arab, Al-Quaeda switched to recruiting whites and blacks?
Honestly, this off the shelf technology, but what if like in that movie, the terrorists cut off someone's finger they can just used the severed finger with the ID and boarding pass to get past the fingerprint scanner, to get on the plane?
i think the scheme involved would be the $100, right?
The most important thing about this post is "for profit company." This has nothing to do with security and everything to do with money.
When El Al Security starts using this method, I'll get right behind it.
[this is not an anti-semitic comment (i'm jewish!) but rather a note about how effective their security system is. TRY NOT HIRING MINIMUM WAGE RENT A COPS, TSA]