Will You Get an Airport Clear Card?

Have you heard about the Airport Clear Card? It’s a card allowing you to go through airport security faster. The card costs $100 with an additional $28 fee added for TSA costs. So, for $128 you can go through airport security faster than others. Of course, according to the Clear Card website, Clear Card holders are prescreened before they can use the card. The card can be used by anyone, business travelers or casual vacationers.

How Do You Get a Clear Card?

According to the Clear Card website,  you have to apply for the card, completing a little basic information. Then, get this, you have to go to a center, show at least two forms of identification and get fingerprinted as well as get your eyes photographed. You know, like those high-tech machines that you see in the sci-fi movies where your irises are scanned. That’s cool, yet a little scary in my opinion. Once everything checks out, according to  Clear Card, you have the privilege of going through the Clear Lane while at the airport, if your airport participates.

Continuous Monitoring

Even after you have been cleared, clear card holders are continuously checked and monitored. I also read on the Clear Card site, that the cards can be revoked. You don’t get your money back, either. If something in your record becomes an issue, you will no longer be able to use the Clear Lane.

Where are Clear Lanes?

Clear Lanes are new and not all airports have them yet. Actually, not all airports may offer the Clear Card. It may also not be offered for all terminals. Looking at the Clear Card web site, it appears that the cards are offered at certain airports and certain terminals within the airport. Airports and airlines have to agree to offer Clear Lines. You can check to see if you airport has Clear Lanes here.

Will You Apply for a Clear Card?

It does seem like a good idea, and I’ve heard that you are supposed to be able to basically breeze through airport security if you have a card. If you travel a lot, and you don’t mind the government continuously monitoring you (don’t they do that already?)  you may want to spend the $128 for the card. So, what do you think? Is a Clear Card worth it to you?

Credit: Drawing by Annie Wong, Flickr Creative Commons License