http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/registered-traveler--4694/

Registered Traveler flier-pass vendor Clear shuts down Fly Clear card

A major vendor that fast-tracks fliers through airport security for an annual
fee of $199 will end operations tonight, according to its website and a former
employee, leaving hundreds of thousands of customers in the lurch.

The website of the so-called Clear program, launched by New York-based Verified
Identity Pass Inc. four years ago, today carried this message: "At 11:00 p.m.
PST on June 22, 2009, Clear will cease operations. Clear's parent company,
Verified Identity Pass, Inc. has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its
senior creditor to continue operations."

No one answered the company's phone this evening, which simply carried the
recorded message, "You've reached Clear Registered Traveler." But in a phone
interview, Cindy Rosenthal, former vice president of media relations for the
Clear program, confirmed that it is shutting down.

As of June 4, Clear claimed to have enrolled more than 260,000 fliers, mostly
business and frequent travelers, who agreed to be vetted by the government and
pay the annual fee in return for access to special airport security lanes.

— Jane Engle, assistant Los Angeles Times Travel editor

--------------------------------------

22 Comments on "Registered Traveler flier-pass vendor Clear shuts down"

1. charlie Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:14 pm

rich snots pay so they don't have to stand in line with us poor folk, and
now they're out $200 and still have to stand in line with us. Why do I not feel
their pain?
2. Pam L Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:22 pm

Any ideas if people who pre-paid for multiple years of renewal will
receive a refund for the unused portion of service? Any assistance would be
GREATLY appreciated after spending $$$$ for my husband and I!!! Is a class
action lawsuit the best course of action if company files for bankruptcy?
3. Sarah Rogers Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:36 pm

They just charged my credit card $179.00 TWICE today!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BS!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. Jim Holmes Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:58 pm

WTF happens now!?!
5. Jeffrey T Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:10 pm

Oddly, they just renewed my membership (and sent an email confirmation) at
1:00 am this morning. You think they would have known yesterday they were
shutting down. :(
6. Lenny C Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 pm

What will happen to customer files?
7. Clear Traveler #1 Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:30 pm

Charlie: Get a real job and a life. For the Clear customers, Class Action
is the best course. I hear several firms are putting it together now, however
the assets are non-existant so don't expect much. Best hope is TSA offering a
preferred service or another private entity snatching them up and reopening. We
shall see…
8. Beth Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 pm

Charlie - its JUST that attitude of yours that keeps us "rich folks"
paying any amount of money not to be near the likes of you.

To the others, I believe when a company goes bankrupt or shuts down, your
best bet is to dispute the charges with your credit card company. They should
refund your money.
9. John K Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:32 pm

"Rich snots"? Um, for some of us that pass through airline security over
two hundred times a year, this is (well, was) pretty important to maintain a
semblance of efficiency and sanity.

If you were only going to Disney World and got huffy about us bypassing
the crowd, look at it this way: how would you like it if I (and a couple
thousand other random strangers) decided to get in line to enter your business
place?

The airport isn't just a place to board a plane, it's part of my extended
office.

Bottom line, this was a useful service–that only those of us that used it
paid for. Now, you'll just have to watch us bypass you in the First Class/Elite
lane for free.
10. Anna Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:39 pm

Sent an email as soon as the 11:00pm message was recieved - got back an
automated response. 2 questions - what happens to our data that was provided
when we registered and do we get a refund for the enrollment fee.
If anyone has or gets any info, please post!
For those that were recently charged, hopefully you can call your credit
card company and dispute the charges.
11. JR Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:41 pm

Charlie……are you really that broke or do you never fly? I fly 4 to 5 times
a month on average, so for me it was well worth it. This way I was able to avoid
all the rookie travelers who seem so surprised to have to take computers out of
their bag and take off their shoes. I for one am sad to have to go back to
fighting through the traveling challenged at the airport.
12. Debbie K Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Any hope that the program will be reinstated? My membership was prepaid
for a few years - will any of the cost be refunded to me? And what happens to
all the confidential information that we had to submit?
13. Bill Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm

Charlie - not rich, I just fly a lot on a tight schedule. And, oh by the
way, the money I paid put a lot of people to work. Not everything is about you,
Charlie.
14. BAS Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 pm

Along with Pam L. I too would like to know if a refund will be granted to
those of us who paid for multiple years. My husband and I both are in this
category thus making the impact to us doubly painful.

Contrary to Charlie's statement, it is not not "rich snots" who paid to
travel using Clear. Very immature comment.
15. Jonathan Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:12 pm

To Pam - call your credit card company and dispute the charge. But your
class action lawsuit isn't gonna work they are bankrupt there's nobody to sue
with any $$.

To Charlie - ha ha - looks like I'll be in the slow lane right behind you
now.

To Sarah: Call you credit card company asap.

To Lenny: Good questions since they were already responsible for a major
security breach when a laptop with people's addresses and socials went missing.
16. Eve Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm

Darn!! I got the Clear card as a Christmas present last year and LOVED it!
Not for the snob factor, but that it saved me tons of time at Oakland and San
Francisco airports. Sometimes it was just a few minutes, but a few times I would
have missed my flight without it. Oh well, at least I didn't pay for it … and I
got a lot of use out of it while it lasted…
17. Brian Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm

This "rich snot" had renewed his membership back in Oct for 2 years. I
used my Gold Amex card. I called the 800# and at first they told me that they
couldn't do anything because it has been over 60 days. The woman was nice and
said let me check w/my supervisor. She got back to me and said they, Amex would
cover it themselves and issue me a credit because of the amount of business I do
for them (100K) a year. See Charlie, sometimes it pays to be a "rich snot!"
18. Christian Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:33 pm

"rich snots pay so they don't have to stand in line with us poor folk, and
now they're out $200 and still have to stand in line with us. Why do I not feel
their pain?"

Business travelers that run companies and employ people like you, your
friends, and family used these lanes to make their business travel easier. Use
your brain, moron.
19. PW Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:37 pm

What a shame, it was a great service.

I too am worried about all of the confidential information I provided to
them, but most of all I feel for all of the dedicated people who worked for
Clear and now find themselves out of a job.
20. Chris Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 pm

Sad news. Clear Lane saved me from missing my flight on more than one
occasion and saved my sanity at the airport many times. To Charlie who thinks CL
was a "rich snots" game, he fails to realize that Clear was not just a privilege
for a few, but actually helped businesses cut unnecessary travel expenditures
due to missed flights and re-bookings, missed meetings/events. etc. These
savings, I wager, saved more than a few jobs. Keeping the wheels of commerce
well-oiled helps everyone. I bet someone will jump on the opportunity to
re-kindle a new `Clear Line' operation. Let's hope they're a better funded
company!
21. courtney Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 pm

My 11 year old daughter flies alone across the country once a month to see
her father. The Clear service (available to anyone under age 12 when accompanied
by a parent who is a Clear member) was a godsend when it came to creating a
calm, easy and pleasant travel experience for a young solo traveler. I would
have paid triple the fees for the peace of mind it allowed us on travel days.

I could live with being coined a "rich snot" as long I was helping my
daughter get to her destination safely, comfortably and stress-free. It's the
thought of sticking her back in line with the likes of Charlie that causes me to
consider whether or not I should start driving her back and forth and skip the
airport altogether.
22. Chuck (not Charlie) Says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm

Bummer! Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

Oh, Charlie, some of us FlyClear customers are also platinum elite
travelers who will still get to bypass you on their way to complimentary first
class upgrades.