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Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

politico.com

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Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#21

Post by cge »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #16
cge wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who uses Clear, it has a significant benefit in that, for a comparatively low cost, it makes time through the airport more consistent. If I have priority check-in through airline status, or am not checking baggage, then security waiting time is the main variable in the time to get from the terminal entrance to the gate (we'll ignore disaster airports like LAX where time from the freeway to the terminal is…

> In Europe, some airports just directly offer a paid priority security option, which sometimes is actually quite inexpensive. But it seems this may not be allowed by the TSA, and the alternative is the fiction of Clear supposedly offering some identity verification benefit. The question is why a non governmental entity is inserted into the middle of transportation security, with a profit incentive. There already exi…

It is, in reality, just paying for a separate line, nothing else. It is not a more convenient or even different security process, as precheck tries to be, it is just a more consistently short line to get to that process. The entire identity verification aspect is nonsense, and everyone knows it is nonsense. It is arguably slower than just showing an agent my passport.

I agree that it makes little sense, and doesn't seem like it should be allowed, but for some reason, the airports in the US have decided that paid priority security lines should be outsourced to a for-profit private intermediary offering a nonsense security service.

Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#22

Post by xenospn »

pknomad wrote: post #14

As a frequent traveler (80 flights alone last year), I feel like this bill is rather useless. First, Clear is not present at all airports. Sometimes it's not even available at all terminals of the same airport (see JFK terminal 7 2 years ago) https://www.clearme.com/where-to-use-clear Secondly, Clear lines clear (heh) much slower than the TSA-pre lines. EWR is a great example of this. Lastly, TSA-Pre is going to eat…

Global entry kiosks clear me to enter the country in 3 seconds. No reason going through security should take any longer.

Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#23

Post by Scoundreller »

SllX wrote: post #20
Scoundreller wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How’s it work with SFO where they have their own contractors for security screening that aren’t federally employed TSA agents?

Airports can run their own agency but they still have to follow TSA’s guidelines. If they aren’t there, then TSA would be.

The TSA hate/dislike wouldn’t be anywhere near as strong as it is if it weren’t for the poor service levels, which is the key selling point for Clear.

Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#24

Post by Scoundreller »

xenospn wrote: post #22
pknomad wrote: post #14

As a frequent traveler (80 flights alone last year), I feel like this bill is rather useless. First, Clear is not present at all airports. Sometimes it's not even available at all terminals of the same airport (see JFK terminal 7 2 years ago) https://www.clearme.com/where-to-use-clear Secondly, Clear lines clear (heh) much slower than the TSA-pre lines. EWR is a great example of this. Lastly, TSA-Pre is going to eat…

Global entry kiosks clear me to enter the country in 3 seconds. No reason going through security should take any longer.

I’m even miffed about global entry being a separate program you have to sign up for. Should just be an automatic thing after you’ve made X entries without any issues. As if the gov isn’t already assigning risk scores to people and pre-evaluating who is high or low risk.

Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#25

Post by kmlx »

Scoundreller wrote: post #19
yincrash wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, the state government cannot alter TSA's authority.

How’s it work with SFO where they have their own contractors for security screening that aren’t federally employed TSA agents?

SFO was the only airport where i had to wait in the security line starting from inside the plane. took 2.5hrs to reach passport control.

went again in february this year. 3 guys checking passports of hundreds of travellers. another 1.5hrs wasted.

meanwhile back in london i just scan my passport and go thru the automated gates. why can’t the US solve this issue? is it unions? is it federal government? what’s going on?

Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#26

Post by pknomad »

xenospn wrote: post #22
pknomad wrote: post #14

As a frequent traveler (80 flights alone last year), I feel like this bill is rather useless. First, Clear is not present at all airports. Sometimes it's not even available at all terminals of the same airport (see JFK terminal 7 2 years ago) https://www.clearme.com/where-to-use-clear Secondly, Clear lines clear (heh) much slower than the TSA-pre lines. EWR is a great example of this. Lastly, TSA-Pre is going to eat…

Global entry kiosks clear me to enter the country in 3 seconds. No reason going through security should take any longer.

You have to consider the fact that most airports were built pre-9/11. The architectural constraints of the airport means long lines are unavoidable if you need to scan people and carry-on luggages for things like metal and sharp objects. Global entry only deals with international passengers which represents fraction of all passengers traveling in the US (which is what the front security deals with).

It also doesn't help that the security have to deal with passengers who don't follow the rules: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-england-patriots-jack-jones...

Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#27

Post by kondu »

gnutrino wrote: post #7

I had clear for a bit when I traveled for work more often. It was nice, and it's definitely not "for rich people". It's less than $200 a year. I bet most people pay more for streaming services for non-essential entertainment. I've always been torn on if it's something viable long term though. While they're at it, they should ban fast passes at amusement parks.

That's $800 for a family of 4. With the median household income at under $80,000, it's ridiculous to think the average person can afford to spend that much just to skip a line a couple times a year.

Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#28

Post by miles »

Meanwhile...

Ted Cruz wants lawmakers to get security escorts through America’s airports https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/03/ted-cruz-airport-se...

Sen. Ted Cruz faces backlash over his push for airport special privileges for members of Congress https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/national-politics...

Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#29

Post by rkagerer »

lazerpants wrote: post #12
rkagerer wrote: post #10

Can someone share background on how they got privileges in the first place (as a startup) to escort passengers to the front of the queue? Do they act as designated reps of the airlines?

Here's a great and kind of terrifying story on CLEAR: https://onezero.medium.com/clear-conquered-u-s-airports-now-...

Thanks. Non-paywalled: https://archive.ph/Wx8WS

Re: Airport security line cutters are target of first-in-the-nation California bill

#30

Post by gottorf »

kmlx wrote: post #25
Scoundreller wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How’s it work with SFO where they have their own contractors for security screening that aren’t federally employed TSA agents?

SFO was the only airport where i had to wait in the security line starting from inside the plane. took 2.5hrs to reach passport control. went again in february this year. 3 guys checking passports of hundreds of travellers. another 1.5hrs wasted. meanwhile back in london i just scan my passport and go thru the automated gates. why can’t the US solve this issue? is it unions? is it federal government? what’s going on?

Passport control is CBP (a part of USCIS) and doesn't really have any relation to TSA, which is security checks to go from the "unsecured" (curbside) part of the airport to the "secured" (planeside) part.

> back in london i just scan my passport

Presumably your passport is a UK passport? Generally it's much quicker for a country's nationals to enter a border than foreigners.

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