Registered travelers pre-screened for security. As described here. Sounds like a good idea. Anybody here done it? Has it been discussed? (Search returned way too many items.)
A couple of frequent travelers at work have tried it, and quit in disgust. They found that even though they went through the fees and hassle, it actually sometimes takes them more time to get through security (could be selection bias - you only notice it when it’s a hassle or you’re running late…), and they’ve been pulled aside for the “full screening” much more often than they ever did whilst in the “normal” line. Add to the fact that most airports don’t recognize the system, and it’s a losing proposition. They’ve been quite vocal about what a tremendous waste of time and money it was to them, and claim it is a sign that the TSA and air travel is only going to get worse. It sounded akin to the tests of the shoe scanners, where it took much longer than just taking off your shoes and standing in line like a good little prisoner.
Edited: changed “selective” to “selection”
Looks like a scam to me. It looks like you just stand in a different line to go through all the same hassle and you pay a stiff fee for the privilege. No thanks.
I don’t think there should be a way for anyone to do an end run around security anyway. Even if there were a way to buy yourself past the hassle, it would just provide any would-be terrorists with a means to do the same, plus airlines are classist enough as it is. I want people with money to be harrassed just as much as everyone else.
Well, the goal is that it’s supposed to reduce the hassle. And if it worked, it has a valid purpose, in that sometimes the security lines “meltdown” and you can stand for honestly hours before they deign to allow you in. If you’re a business traveler, very often, and many times for reasons out of your control, you have limited time to get to your flight and make it home. Business travel sucks ass right now (says the woman who has been flying about once per week for some time now this year…) and any way it can be made better is good. And missing flights can mean lost opportunities, lost work, lost jobs, and lost time at home with those who love you.
All I’m saying is, the people at my office who have tried it have found that it does not work as planned.
Stand in line for hours waiting to get through security, sit in the plane for hours waiting to take off, sit in the plane for hours waiting to disembark.
So much for the speed and comfort of air travel.
Man, I’ll never do that again. My raincoat got torn, some of my hair is missing, and I had to go home without Lili Marlene.
It’s like I’m living for nothing now.
Clear? No never got there. Still some Theans buzzing around in my head in their spaceships that look just like DC-3s.
As a frequent flyer, I have looked into it and stopped at the booth, but I don’t think it’s a good deal.
- They do not promise you it’s faster. Worst case scenario: you head for the Clear line and waste time only to find out it’s longer.
- It is only a handful of airports.
- The most likely group buying the service are frequent flyers, and we almost always have a separate security line designated for us and First Class. We are already not standing in the regular line.
Without a guarantee of speedy passage through security and ubiquitous availability it is not going to fly.
I travel a lot and looked into it, but I didn’t sign up because a) from what I’ve seen at the airport, the line doesn’t move any faster and b) I’m tired of the intrusiveness of the government into citizen’s lives (but that’s in IMHO kind of thing).