Back in May I wrote about signing up for FlyClear as a way to save time travelling and in doing so, trading off (potentially) some privacy. Since then I've used it a few times with no real problems and it's always been fast in Orlando. For those who haven't tried it, you enter the Clear area and present ticket, ID, and Clear Card. They walk you to a Clear machine, you insert the card and then do a biometric verification (iris or fingerprint), and then walk you into the xray area, help you unpack your stuff into the tubs and get it on the belt. In Orlando they have a lot of scanners so there is one that is used for airline employees/Clear passengers that typically has no line. Very smooth and they score well on customer service.

Recently I was flying back from Indianapolis and they had set up Clear aisles there...sort of. Hard to describe the physical layout, but picture entering security via 2 lines that go into 4 scanners. Clear was in front of the TSA station where they checked ticket vs ID, so once you go through the Clear process one of them walks you to the TSA person, shows them their ID and once they get the head nod, walks you over to unpack your stuff. Then - this is the fun part - they walk you over to one of the four main scanner lines and insert you at the head of the line, explaining 'Clear traveller' or some such. It works, but...

Feels icky. I knew I was paying for convenience, and this case made it abundantly clear that FlyClear isn't about increased security, it's about monetizing the idea that people need/want predictable/faster transit through security. The only difference is that while TSA normally checks your ticket/ID, in this setup Clear personnel do so. What FlyClear should be is the ability to bypass the scanner/remove your shoes line and go directly to a flight, but of course that substantially lowers the bar for those wishing the rest of us ill.

For all it's imperfection is has some value for me, but I wish for something better.