Recently I signed up for the FlyClear program (www.flyclear.com), a registered traveler program. Over the past year I've been travelling more than usual and security in Orlando can range from a breeze to having a 1000 people queued, makes the timing a little uncertain and waiting in line isn't much fun. To enroll in clear you fill out an outline form and provide credit card information (about $125), then you go to the airport to provide copies of two of the eligible documents (drivers license, passport, birth certificate, a few others). They scan the documents, then scan your iris and finger prints. Enrollment probably takes 10 mins online, 10 mins at the airport. Then you wait for 3-4 weeks for the background check to be completed and your card sent.
Orlando is one of a handful of airports that have the Clear program, so it's mainly helping me on the flights out. Is it worth what I give up in privacy? They have a decent privacy policy, but I didn't give them any information that isn't reasonably available about me to the government anyway, having been finger printed and background checked as part of my military days. I'm assuming if someone really wanted to investigate me officially they would start with credit cards and that would take them to the airlines anyway. The bigger danger is that the Clear security is compromised, opening up identity theft or really worst case - inserting someone as an authorized traveler that hasn't really been checked.
I'm trading money for time/convenience, more on that philosphy soon! In Orlando you go to the Clear area, scan your card, scan a finger print or iris, and they walk you right up to the xray machine. On good days no real time savings, on bad days easily an hour, plus the stress reduction of not having to worry about missing a flight because you're stuck in line.
