Skip to main content

CLEAR’s smart card helps you zip through airport security

Clear airport smart card
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Detailed on ABC News this week, a New York company called CLEAR is helping people get through airport security in just five minutes utilizing biometrics. Rather than requiring a driver’s license or passport to get through security, a traveler only needs their boarding pass in addition to their personal CLEAR smart card. When the traveler arrives at the airport, they walk up to a CLEAR kiosk and present the boarding pass along with the smart card to an attendant. After inserting the CLEAR card into the kiosk, the traveler verifies their identity with fingerprints or a quickl scan of the iris. While CLEAR members still have to place their carry-on belongings in a tray for an x-ray machine at the CLEARlane, they get to bypass long security lines filled with travelers waiting to get past TSA checkpoints. 

clear fingerprint scanThis service can be particularly helpful for people that have to travel constantly for work or large families that struggle to get to the airport on time. Regarding the usefulness of the program, CLEAR director of public relations Nora O’Malley stated “We wanted to be on both ends and have parents not worry about screaming kids in the security lines. Our CEO took her family to Disneyworld. It makes the whole thing completely stress-free.”

CLEAR management is currently attempting to increase the amount of airports around the United States that offer the line-skipping service. To date, the CLEAR service can be used when flying out of Orlando, Denver, Dallas and San Francisco. However, CLEAR just announced that the first northeast location will be the Westchester County Airport in New York. Travelers that fly on American, Delta, JetBlue, United and US Airways out of the Westchester location will be able to take advantage of the CLEAR system. CLEAR expects to have that location operational by mid-November prior to the major rush of holiday travelers.

airport security lineIn order to become a member, users can fill out an application online with general information about themselves. At this point, potential members will have to visit an enrollment center with two forms of identification such as a U.S. passport and a driver’s license.

Other valid forms of identification could include a state issued ID card, a U.S. military ID, a foreign passport or a U.S. issued permanent resident card. To complete the process, a CLEAR official will log the user’s fingerprints in addition to an iris image. Approximately seven to ten days later, the new member will receive their smart card in the mail.

Of course, zipping through airport lines has a cost. An annual membership in the CLEAR program costs $179 (approximately $15 per month). However, children under the age of eighteen can travel with a CLEAR member at no extra cost. Other family members like a spouse or child over the age of eighteen can pay an additional $50 to be added to the family account. In addition, CLEAR offers a discounted rate to companies that purchase multiple subscriptions for employees as well as a 6-month trial of the program for $79. CLEAR is also planning a promotion around the Daylight Savings change during early November with discounted rates on service.

Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
This bracelet helps you fall asleep faster and sleep longer
woman-in-bed-wearing-twilight-apollo-on-ankle

This content was produced in partnership with Apollo Neuroscience.
Have you been struggling to get the recommended seven hours of sleep? It's always frustrating when you get in bed at a reasonable time, then toss and turn for a hours before you actually sleep. The quality of that sleep is important too. If you're waking up multiple times during the night, you're likely not getting the quality REM cycle sleep that truly rejuvenates your body. If traditional remedies like herbal teas and noise machines just aren't helping, maybe it's time to try a modern solution. Enter the Apollo wearable.

Now we understand being a little skeptical. How can a bracelet on your wrist or ankle affect your sleep patterns? Certainly the answer to a better night's sleep can't be so simple. We considered these same things when we first heard of it. We'll dive deeper into the science behind the Apollo wearable, but suffice it to say that many people have experienced deeper, uninterrupted sleep while wearing one.
A non-conventional approach to better sleep

Read more
The 11 best Father’s Day deals that you can get for Sunday
Data from a workout showing on the screen of the Apple Watch Series 8.

Father's Day is fast approaching and there's still time to buy your beloved Dad a sweet new device to show him how much you love him. That's why we've rounded up the ten best Father's Day tech deals going on right now. There's something for most budgets here, including if you're able to spend a lot on your loved one. Read on while we take you through the highlights and remember to order fast so you don't miss out on the big day.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 -- $200, was $230

While it's the Plus version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 that features in our look at the best tablets, the standard variety is still worth checking out. Saving your Dad the need to dig out their laptop or squint at a small phone screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a large 10.5-inch LCD display and all the useful features you would expect. 128GB of storage means plenty of room for all your Dad's favorite apps as well as games too. A long-lasting battery and fast charging save him the need for a power source too often too.

Read more
The Apollo wearable is proven to help you sleep better (and it’s on sale)
Apollo wearable worn during sleep in bed.

This content was produced in partnership with Apollo Neuro.
Stress, anxiety, and insomnia are all concerning things that just about everyone struggles with at one time or another. Maybe you can sleep, fending off insomnia, but you lack quality sleep and don’t feel rested in the morning. Or, maybe when it’s time to kick back and relax, you just can’t find a way to do so. There are many solutions for these issues, some work, and others don’t, but one unlikely area of support can be found in a modern, smart wearable.

Medicine is the obvious choice, but not everyone prefers to go that route. There is an answer in modern technology or rather a modern wearable device. One such device is the Apollo wearable, which improves sleep and stress relief via touch therapy. According to Apollo Neuro, the company behind the device, which is worn on your ankle, wrist or clipped to your clothing, it sends out waves of vibrations to help your body relax and reduce feelings of stress. It's an interesting new approach to a common problem that has typically been resolved via medicine, therapy, or other more invasive and time-consuming techniques. The way it utilizes those vibrations, uniquely placed and administered, to create a sense of peace, makes us ask, can it really cure what ails us? We’ll dig a little deeper into how it achieves what it does and what methods it’s using to make you feel better.

Read more