Whether I'd sign up depends on whether I start flying more often out of Reagan again. Lately I've flown out of Dulles in international business class more often than I've flown out of Reagan, and thus I've had access to the "premium passenger lane." The waits were short enough that I'm not sure the Clear lane would help. From Reagan I usually fly economy, so it might make a difference there, depending on which portions of the terminal it serves.

But if Clear gives one a way to avoid the shoe silliness, then I'd sign up immediately!

You need to ask a second poll question - Do you trust "Clear" and the TSA to keep your data in well-secured databases?

That would be a no.

I just wanted to add that Clear has also launched lanes at Dulles, in case anyone was wondering. As for the privacy concerns Chasmosaur mentions, that's certainly something Clear addresses (read about it here: http://www.flyclear.com/footer/privacy_fairinfo.html). It sounds good, but will their security measures really work? We'll just have to wait and see.

Christina -

I probably should have clarified. I'm sure Fly Clear, as a start-up, probably has all sorts of security measures.

It's that the TSA then collects and reviews the info. It's TSA I feel is the weak link here. We all know the Feds have not done a stellar job of keeping private data private over the past couple of years.

"special 'concierges' staff the Clear lanes to help with luggage, bins and shoes"

So our taxes are paying to hire special concierges for those well-off enough to spend $128 per year for an airport ID card?

I wonder how many business frequent fliers are going to expense that $128 to their companies or put it down as a nonreimbursed business expense on their taxes? If I flew out of those airports on a regular basis, I would pay it in a heartbeat. By regular I mean more than once a month.

I wonder how many business frequent fliers are going to expense that $128 to their companies or put it down as a nonreimbursed business expense on their taxes? If I flew out of those airports on a regular basis, I would pay it in a heartbeat. By regular I mean more than once a month.

I forgot to mention in my prior post that there are various discounts out there. Members of Frontier's frequent-flyer program were being offered an extra month for free (at least as of February 7 when they sent me an advertising e-mail), and American Express were offering something similar in January. I believe I read that federal employees also get a discount if they sign up at a particular location.

I go back and forth on the concern "Chamosaur" raised. I don't trust the TSA for an instant. But on the other hand, I also figure that the TRULY determined ID thief can probably hack into "secure" databases elsewhere and find the same information, so I'm undecided as to whether TSA ineptitude (a redunant phrase if there ever was one!) even matters.

It's not worth it if you still have to go through security. The risk-reward of having the TSA background check you, and paying $128/year, only makes sense if you get to skip the search and can take whatever you want on the plane in return. But if I still have to remove my shoes, put liquids in a ziploc and go throug hthe other hassles, then this is a no-brainer for me. (And I've already flown 20 times this year.)

I've spent way too much time waiting on line behind families with 3 kids and 3 strollers, grandparents who haven't flown since pre-9/11, and people who don't respect the 2-carry-on rule. If DCA and IAD had separate lanes for "frequent" vs. "infrequent" flyers and could actually ENFORCE those designations somehow, I wouldn't bother with the Clear card. Until they do, I'll gladly pony up the cash (and actually already have my card!).

I'm not especially concerned about my so-called "private" information. Nothing they asked on the questionnaire was information that couldn't be obtained for a fee from any public-records database. I protect my identity by keeping a close watch on my mail and my bank and credit accounts and never, ever giving out any information over the phone if I didn't initiate the phone call.

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