Travel Clear - Registering for the Clear Lanes
I have mixed feelings about Clear, the system that will allow travellers to pay a fee to register and be pre-screened to avoid the long security lines at the airport. But I started the online registration process today and will complete the in-person portion on Friday when I will be at San Jose airport to fly to LA.
My concerns are that even someone who's been an upstanding citizen can "turn" or unwittingly be used as a tool of terrorists. And I am all in favor of arriving safely at my destination so I'm in favor of airport security measures in general. Also, I have a bad feeling, that's the hairs on the back of my neck getting prickly, about any system that allows for easier and faster aggregation of personal information. I appreciate the benefits, but also fear the coming of the one true ID system with all of our personal information stored in one place. Scary stuff, even if all of the information is out there anyway, having it centralized is unsettling.
Finally, my concern is that given I live in geek central, will so many people register for Clear at San Jose airport that the clear line is longer than the regular line, which, except for Friday mornings, is usually pretty quick.
But in spite of my reservations, my curiosity won out. I'll report back as I progress through the system.
The online registration took me about 7 minutes to fill out and cost about $100 a year. My email confirmation came in quickly and accurately. Friday I will go do the in person registration, if they are open at the ungodly hour I have to fly out.
