Comments on: Clear / Verified Identity Pass shuts down

By: ShortWoman» Blog Archive » The Shorties Sense

ShortWoman» Blog Archive » The Shorties Sense — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:43:16 +0000

[...] free card is dead: It was always a dumb idea, and now the company that made it seem possible is out of business. Gee, maybe now the TSA will have to get serious about security that [...]

By: NotClear

NotClear — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:50:37 +0000

Called the VISA company, it is under review.

A lot of other people no happy:
http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/registered-traveler–4694/

Maybe the Obama administration can bailout and then run Clear!

By: CWD from NYC

CWD from NYC — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:05:31 +0000

Well that sucks. I got the email and I was not happy. I liked clear and I also liked that I was able to use the new cards with the picture as my ID rather than my drivers lic.

What really chaps me is I just renewed mine and I my husband’s membership.

By: S A

S A — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:43:37 +0000

I like that the defenders of Clear here are those who got the Clear membership for free, or who were giving the membership to an occasional traveler as a gift.

That’s a pretty lousy business model.

Having said that, I feel sorry for the Clear employees who lost their jobs because of this. Good luck to those looking for work in this economy.

By: Alex N

Alex N — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:43:31 +0000

You are wrong that they had no customer base, although clearly they did not have a big enough one or market to it well. Many people (like me) travel frequently but go for cheap tickets – we don’t get much in the way of frequent flier points, and they are too distributed to achieve status. Clear saved my ass several times and I loved the service. Fortunately I got it for free through the Hilton Honors program.

Their problem was that they did not need all that expensive biometric security since they did not reduce the amount of security one went through. They were essentially a paid fast-lane for security.

By: Eric Wolf

Eric Wolf — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:13:57 +0000

Clear does have a market, and I will tell you what it is. The droves of older folks who travel infrequently. None of them can endure the risk of standing for a half hour and jockying for their position constantly. They frequently opt not to travel. As a business traveller I am imune to the indifference of those few employees that are just plain mean at security. (watch how they yell at folks in NYC area or LAX) (REMOVE SHOES!… and step in the filth and gum) For me, anything that reduces this stress such as a Clear employee being nice and helpful is a boon. This is why I wanted to surprise my parents with a Clear membership. Even if they used it once in the three years, I would be happy to know I reduced their stress and maybe made the difference in planning their next vacation. Clear gets it, and should take over all Airport security!

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:48:48 +0000

@NotClear and @JimL, and for anyone else who recently renewed, you should contact your credit card company to see about having the charges reversed, since the services you paid for are not being provided.

Good luck. Please report back what you hear from your credit card co.

By: PFR

PFR — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:29:05 +0000

Good riddance to a bad idea.

Pay to sacrifice even more of your privacy, so that you can go to the front of the line… What could possibly go wrong with a business plan like that?

By: Eric Lamb

Eric Lamb — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:30:51 +0000

I too am a CLEAR customer who LOVED the service. Sure, I could use the airline elite line, but sometimes it was long…. I am just lucky that I had not yet renewed, and my membership expires in about 2 weeks….. It may be a niche market, but it was GREAT service. I wish the excellent employees the best of luck, and hopefully those of you that paid recently can get your money back.

By: Eugene Rosenfeld

Eugene Rosenfeld — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:19:13 +0000

That’s terrible. They saved me many hours of wait time in security lines. Wonder if another Registered Traveler provider will pick up Clear’s customers.

By: Jim L

Jim L — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:35:36 +0000

How hacked off am I? I had just renewed for a three year membership!! Time for a lawsuit Steven Brill.

By: NotClear

NotClear — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:11:26 +0000

Cannot believe this! Did not even have the decency to send me an e-mail. I do hope they shred all my personal info… NOT. Do you think I can get a refund by complaining to my credit card company???