Financial dispute halts program that let fliers avoid security checks


Clear, a service that allowed registered travelers to bypass security checks at Orlando International Airport and others across the country, is shutting down at 2 a.m. today (11 p.m. PST) in a financial dispute.




A message at www.flyclear.com said that "Clear's parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc. has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations."

The action leaves more than 200,000 customers nationwide in a lurch.

Cindy Rosenthal, former vice president of media relations for the Clear program, confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that the company is shutting down.

The Clear program started at OIA in 2005. Customers -- mostly business and frequent travelers -- paid a membership fee, submitted to a security vetting and provided biometric information such as iris scans and fingerprints.

In exchange, they were issued "Clear" cards and that allowed them to use express security lanes at airports that have registered-traveler programs in place, whether operated by Verified Identify Pass or a competitor.

The most recent fee for the service was $199 a year.

As of June 4, Clear claimed to have enrolled more than 260,000 fliers.



source : http://www.orlandosentinel.com