I've been a member of Clear for over 2 years now and cannot say enough good things about it. I travel frequently and will intentionally try to use airports where I can use my Clear card as opposed to airports that do not accept it.

I've had excellent experiences with Clear, I've actually made flights that others have missed due to security lines. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they work well with their TSA counterparts to make the security screening as painless as possible.

The writer mentions that she's never seen anyone use a Clear lane or had a need for it. Madam author, I disagree. First of all, you never see anyone in the Clear line because they're already through it, and second, even if the security lines were a barren wasteland, I'd still use the Clear lane, the staff helps you get all your stuff onto the belt and handles your ticket for you.

In short, Clear is the only way to pass through security in my humble opinion. I will continue to be a loyal member.

Posted By Mark Shoger on May 19, 2008, 5:01 PM

I have been a member since inception in Orlando in July, 2005. Let me tell you, it is well worth the process of signing up and paying the reasonable fee. Utilizing CLEAR, I have never spent more than 5 minutes going through security totally from approaching the CLEAR kiosk to putting my shoes back on after the X ray machine. FIVE MINUTES!! THAT'S IT!!.I originate from Orlando. Some mornings, to your point, lines are minimal and probably doable in 15 minutes. However, other days, the lines are 6 across and all the way across the lobby into the people movers. This is a two hour line. So if I were to leave home without CLEAR, I take a big gamble--making my flight or missing my flight due to miscalculating security. CLEAR takes all the guesswork out of the process. I can depend upon CLEAR to get me through to make my flight. In fact, it has saved me several times due to unforseen traffic holding me up. No, Ms Lindt, CLEAR is NOT a gimmick. The info you divulge is no more than that you would for a credit card. The difference is that the gov't checks you out. If you have nothing to hide, then you will pass. I support all the statements made by Mr. Shoger above. Lastly, a CLEAR lane helps other travelers by taking traffic out of their way. There is no downside to CLEAR!!

Posted By Henry Morgan on May 19, 2008, 10:43 PM

I have been a Clear member for a few months. I am very happy with this program. As a person who is in airports several times a week, the time (and stress) it has saved me is significant. I can't wait to see it added in Baltimore, Atlanta and Miami!

Posted By Tim Muth on May 20, 2008, 7:52 AM

Hi Naomi:

I read, with interest, your latest entry about the RT program. My sense is you don't spend much time in an airport. Clear recently came to Washington Dulles and I signed up immediately. It has been a fabulous experince. I fly over 100,000 miles a year and I can't tell you how wondeful it is to be welcomed with a smile and friendly greeting. I have a pacemaker and the security process is always slog for me to begin with, but Clear makes it bearable. I'm through the process in no time and believe me the extra few minutes of sleep in the early morning when lines at Dulles can be long or the extra time at the office are well worth the minimal cost. (Plus, as we begin the vacation season the lines will get longer with families traveling bearing the enire contents of their closets because of the extra checked baggage charges) Clear has added a bit of sanity to the flying process and my life. My next purchase is Global Entry!
Ken Reid

Posted By Ken Reid on May 20, 2008, 9:46 AM

You have got to be kidding. I fly San Jose to Orange County almost every Monday morning on a 6:30 flight. If it wasn't for Clear, I would standing on line at 5:00. With Clear, I get the the airport at 6:00 for my 6:30 departure and still have time to buy a paper. It is a HUGE time savings for me. An hour here and an hour there adds up. Not to mention the stress relief from avoiding TSA lines. I wouldn't live without it.

Posted By Bill Hirsch on May 20, 2008, 1:47 PM

Like your other respondents, I think Clear is a fantastic service, and I wish more airports were signed up. I fly frequently, and Clear makes the security line a breeze. I feel like I'm flying first class before I get on the plane (only to find that I'm usually in an economy seat!). The staff is first rate: genial, calm, and efficient. It is well worth the price for the time-savings and the much more civilized passage through security.

Posted By Charles Green on May 23, 2008, 4:23 AM

I travel to all parts of the USA to do my job. I find i can concentrate not having to worry about security lines and check in. Clear has helped me stay on site longer and be more productive. I support one of the other responders in that the author has not seen anyone in line at clear because we are already through and heading to the gate. This service will be even better as more airports are added.

Posted By leon Nicholls on May 23, 2008, 9:57 AM

All I have to say is that if it wasn't for clear, I wouldn't have gotten to spend Easter with my family this year.

I should have made it to the airport earlier, but due rare circumstances, I was extremely late. Without Clear I wouldn't have made it home.

This one experience paid for my membership 5x over.

Posted By James on May 24, 2008, 12:17 AM

I fly about 50 weeks a year and have status on American and United Airlines. Flying through San Francisco (SFO) last Friday was my first chance to try out Clear.

The Clear line was easy to find -- there was a nice bright blue-and-white Clear sign on top of a pole. I walked past the nearly empty 1st-class/premium status security line, past the mostly full regular security line, to the completely empty Clear line. I presented my driver's license and my Clear card to the TSA screener who then handed them to the Clear employee right next to him who then handed them back to the screener. I followed the screener to the Clear machine three steps away, inserted my Clear card, and was directed by the machine to put my right index finger on the small reader pad.

My first two attempts with the fingerprint reader failed. The TSA screener just shrugged and pressed the "Try Again" icon on the touch screen. It seemed a common occurrence. On my second try, I noticed a small window on the machine's screen that displayed my fingerprint. I could see that, because of the angle of the reader pad, it was only picking up half of my fingerprint. On my third attempt, I watched the little window, adjusting my finger until it picked up a full fingerprint. Bingo! It immediately approved me. The screener then escorted me to a regular screening station, holding off a couple of other travelers so that I could go directly to the metal table and start putting my things into the grey bins.

On that Friday morning in SFO, the $100/year Clear line saved me nothing over the free premium line. Indeed, with the card shuffle between the Clear employee and the TSA screener, and the three tries at the fingerprint reader, the Clear line probably took me four times longer than having someone glance at my driver's license in the premium line. It would seem that the real value for programs like Clear are at those airports without 1st-class/premium status security lines -- Oakland (OAK), Reno-Tahoe (RNO), San Jose (SJC), and Orlando (MCO). Now, if Clear could sign up Las Vegas McCarran Airport (LAS) -- brutally long lines and no premium lanes -- then they'd have a real value proposition.

Posted By Mark Peacock on May 27, 2008, 10:46 PM

I've been a member of the Clear program since its inception. I consider this service invaluable and am more than pleased with the service and convenience. I typically travel every week and go from one city to the next all over the US and Canada-4 days each week. At least 300-350,000, miles per year. With all the stresses of travel this service has actually allowed me to sleep a bit later knowing I could easily get through the security lanes.

A recent example of how Clear has helped- On May 14th I travelled from Little Rock back to my home in LA. It was a 6:30 am flight and I got to the airport with what I thought was plenty of time. I did NOT remember that Little Rock had recently allowed Clear to operate. When I saw the blue sign I breathed a sigh of relief as there were at least 100-150 people in line and they were moving slowly.
Quite a surprise to encounter such a number of people in line, but a bigger surprise to see the Clear lane with no wait at all.

I travel mostly from LAX and can't wait to have this service available. I have the highest frequent flyer status with all the major airlnes and even with the priority lanes there are times those are very long.

Lastly, if there is a choice of airports to fly into I have my travel agent pick the airport with Clear available.

Posted By Bruce Posner on May 29, 2008, 2:30 PM

Clear is a completely useless program. Should you fly enough to make the $100 purchase worthwhile, the airlines give you status and you already get this line skipping benefit. All the people who are purchasing clear are doing is moving us to the model where frequent fliers will have to pay $100 to get the benefit that they were getting for free. They will also have to surrender more and more information to the government.

Posted By Seasoned Flyer on June 2, 2008, 3:25 AM

By way of background, as a frequent flyer, both business and pleasure, I've watched the 'premium' lines swell over the past two years as the airlines have cut flights and 'coerced' travelers into purchasing more expensive tickets so as to avoid the hideous general lines and fierce competition for limited carry-ons space once on the plane. Any moderately priced program that allows me to avoid the stampede of angry consumers normally found at airports due to the above is a good thing.
My experiences at JFK, LAX, SFO, Oakland and other cities have been uniformly outstanding -
- remarkably polite and knowledgable employees,
- well marked entry points,
- excellent updates from the program itself,
- heck, even the TSA folks seem to appreciate that we're making their jobs easier.
In short, the CLEAR program makes flying tolerable.
And yes, when the international program comes on line, I'll sign up for that as well.

Posted By Bruce Cunningham on June 3, 2008, 12:57 PM

I have been a member of Clear since its inception. I was concerned that the availability of Clear privileges would be a challenge. Since I joined, the service has spread to many of the airports I use regularly. It is such a pleasure to be greated by friendly and professional staff. They help with your luggage, they don't yell at you like typical TSA staff, they are kind and seem to truly appreciate my business. I have never had to wait to get through Clear security. They have offer it for outbound international flights, which is a real treat. I travel about 50% of my professional time and not having to worry about getting through security takes off a lot of stress. I cannot say enough good things about Clear and hope they continue to expand to more airports and terminals.

Posted By Sharon L. Schenk on June 15, 2008, 8:19 AM