4 ms·

The airport isn't a great example here. There are 3 lines because there are 2 different parties involved: the TSA, which has authority over the security checkpo

The airport isn't a great example here. There are 3 lines because there are 2 different parties involved: the TSA, which has authority over the security checkpoint, and the airport/airlines, which have authority over the lines leading up to the checkpoint. The regular line is self explanatory. Precheck is solely run by the TSA, and they politely ask the airports to set up dedicated lines for precheck. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Until passengers are in the checkpoint though (i.e. beyond the id check), the TSA has fairly limited authority. The airport is ultimately responsible for getting passengers to the security checkpoint, subject to some minor conditions by the TSA. Clear pays the airport/airlines a kickback from the subscriptions to let their agents manage the queues, which includes putting their subscribers in front of the other lines. One thing they can't do is give you special perks inside the checkpoint like precheck does. So, 3 lines because 2 different parties get revenue from one each.

rrrrrrrrrrrryan 3y ago
By "manage the lines" do you mean ID verification, boarding pass check, etc? I assume all the biometrics for Clear aren't just to prove your the person who paid for Clear?
- AlotOfReading 3y ago
  No, collecting biometrics at registration is required by the legal framework they operate in (a.k.a as a "Registered Traveler" program [0]). However, they could use other biometrics like fingerprints if they chose. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_Traveler https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_Traveler
lotsofpulp 3y ago
I do not see how any of that is relevant. The point is, you pay more, you save life time. The government could have chosen to make it free so everyone can access these time saving measures, but our leaders did not, deeming it acceptable for further tranches of society to be publicly displayed.
- ta1243 3y ago
  Would you like speedy-boarding sir for our discount price of just 9.99? It lets you skip the line Oh sure, that's great. How many have bought it? Oh everyone on today's flight, it's such a good deal
- crazydoggers 3y ago
  If you make it free, then everyone will choose the fastest one.. which means it will no longer be faster. So in order for time saving measures to work, you have to require selectivity. Paying is an easy way to select for those who value it the most, which are the frequent fliers. If you’re a business traveler or otherwise someone who travels a lot, the price is small compared to the flights and the time saved is very large. That will be the inverse for those who need it least, the infrequent travelers. Yes some people who travel infrequently will choose to pay for the faster line, but then they are also subsidizing the extra cost of staff to run the other systems. The idea that this is meant to put tranches of society on display is ludicrous. Knowing a number of people who have to travel a lot for work, I might even say that most of the poor shlubs in the precheck lines who have to travel monthly or more frequently are the real losers in the grand scheme. Traveling in flying sardine cans to make a living is no fun.
  - lotsofpulp 3y ago
    >If you make it free, then everyone will choose the fastest one.. which means it will no longer be faster. So in order for time saving measures to work, you have to require selectivity. Or you can increase staffing. > The idea that this is meant to put tranches of society on display is ludicrous. It may or may not be meant to put it on display, but it shows it for what it is. People who can afford to pay to save time get prioritized through public infrastructure, and people that do not pay have to wait.
    - ta1243 3y ago
      > Or you can increase staffing. Which would increase the cost. You could pay for that by charging everyone more, but many people on their annual trip don't think that the extra $10 on the ticket is worth the 20 minute saving. More importantly they'll choose the airport which is $10 cheaper as they have fewer agents so the peaks aren't smoothed.

rrrrrrrrrrrryan 3y ago

By "manage the lines" do you mean ID verification, boarding pass check, etc? I assume all the biometrics for Clear aren't just to prove your the person who paid for Clear?

AlotOfReading 3y ago
No, collecting biometrics at registration is required by the legal framework they operate in (a.k.a as a "Registered Traveler" program [0]). However, they could use other biometrics like fingerprints if they chose. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_Traveler https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_Traveler

lotsofpulp 3y ago

I do not see how any of that is relevant. The point is, you pay more, you save life time. The government could have chosen to make it free so everyone can access these time saving measures, but our leaders did not, deeming it acceptable for further tranches of society to be publicly displayed.

ta1243 3y ago
Would you like speedy-boarding sir for our discount price of just 9.99? It lets you skip the line Oh sure, that's great. How many have bought it? Oh everyone on today's flight, it's such a good deal
crazydoggers 3y ago
If you make it free, then everyone will choose the fastest one.. which means it will no longer be faster. So in order for time saving measures to work, you have to require selectivity. Paying is an easy way to select for those who value it the most, which are the frequent fliers. If you’re a business traveler or otherwise someone who travels a lot, the price is small compared to the flights and the time saved is very large. That will be the inverse for those who need it least, the infrequent travelers. Yes some people who travel infrequently will choose to pay for the faster line, but then they are also subsidizing the extra cost of staff to run the other systems. The idea that this is meant to put tranches of society on display is ludicrous. Knowing a number of people who have to travel a lot for work, I might even say that most of the poor shlubs in the precheck lines who have to travel monthly or more frequently are the real losers in the grand scheme. Traveling in flying sardine cans to make a living is no fun.
- lotsofpulp 3y ago
  >If you make it free, then everyone will choose the fastest one.. which means it will no longer be faster. So in order for time saving measures to work, you have to require selectivity. Or you can increase staffing. > The idea that this is meant to put tranches of society on display is ludicrous. It may or may not be meant to put it on display, but it shows it for what it is. People who can afford to pay to save time get prioritized through public infrastructure, and people that do not pay have to wait.
  - ta1243 3y ago
    > Or you can increase staffing. Which would increase the cost. You could pay for that by charging everyone more, but many people on their annual trip don't think that the extra $10 on the ticket is worth the 20 minute saving. More importantly they'll choose the airport which is $10 cheaper as they have fewer agents so the peaks aren't smoothed.