Breeze-thru Security for Rich, Long Lines & Shoe Checks for the Rest of Us

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/11/30/financial/f140750S22.DTL

San Jose airport second in nation to offer express security checks
By MAY WONG, AP Technology Writer
Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Passengers at Mineta San Jose International Airport will soon be offered a high-tech express lane for security checks.

The airport is slated to become the second in the nation to launch a so-called "Registered Traveler" program that offers airline passengers a prepaid, preapproved security pass — complete with fingerprint and eye scans.

Enrolled passengers who pay a fee and get a background check will be able to bypass the airport's general security checkpoint. Instead, as holders of a "Clear" card, they could head to the more exclusive security lane where their bags will be scanned, and a separate machine will check their fingerprints and eyes to verify their identity and preapproved security clearance.

The program is already in use at the Orlando International Airport in Florida, with more than 10,000 members paying a $79.95 annual fee, said Rich Dressler, a spokesman for the San Jose airport. San Jose passengers will likely be charged a similar fee, he said.



All's I can say is:

A) I hope that when the next terrorist attack happens, it's done by a holder of one of these cards, just to show what BS this is.

B) I sure as hell hope someone sues over this. WTF? If you're rich enough, you get express-lane security? F- THAT! The rest of us in coach should block the express lane in enough numbers that there's nothing they can do about it.

:mad:

who travel a lot on company time. However, yes, their companies have to pay the fee and accept the background check.

The rich use private airports and private carriers. Trust me, the last thing they want to do is rub shoulders with any of US.

The people you are talking about are super-rich.

For most people, an extra $80 hurts to spend. People who spend that much without a thought are rich, IMO.

then "poor" people don't use air flight anyway, as most airline tickets are much more than $80

and the corporation will gladly spring for that $80, knowing full well that Mr. Bidnessman will spend the time he saves on his laptop, like a good little corporate drone.

I bet many business travelers will end up paying out of pocket for this

If you're flying someone twice a month, this amounts to about $1.66 a trip(assuming security pass both ways). Compared with lost work time for travel....that's a huge bargain. Even 4 times a year makes this worth it as a company at an extra $10 per trip.

Just like they wouldn't pay for a priority club for rental cars, saving 20 minutes per trip waiting in line each trip.

A rational company would recognize the value of employee's time. My employers must be irrational (not news to me!)

Sometimes the shortsightedness of bean counting gives me a laugh.

Okay, we're in agreement.

A SMART company would be okay with this.

Most people I know wince at having to pay that kind of cash.

But then most people I know live paycheck to paycheck, but they still need to fly home now and then.
But okay, I'll mark you down as being in favor of two sets of security procedures, one for the haves, one for the have nots.

I would remind you that the existing security is paid for from taxes we all pay. Why not make security smoother for everyone? Or at least make the fee reasonable?

It is a 'frequent flyer' thing. My husband flies every week, as do my brothers and a lot of others I know. They would happily hand over $80 to avoid those lines.

I don't have a problem with it at all. If you fly a lot, this would be a real help, and if you fly a lot, you are helping the economy, so I'm for it.

in fact, he's running it into the ground.

Maybe that's who needs to be on the "no-fly list" :-)

i wasnt surprised the rich would be granted easy passage adn was all ready to pounce on it, then i read the article.

80 annually, that is 80 a year. IF your friends wince at 80 a year, i bet they would really wince at the prices of the plane tickets they would be buying in a year to make this 80 investment worthwhile

and yes, it is nice i could afford 80 a year, yet i dont fly. i havent since after 9/11 and the airports became prisons where we lose all rights. i either drive or dont go. but regardless, if you are going to rant about people being able to afford 80 a year, rant about those that can afford 40 a month for a cell phone, or 60 a month for internet, or 50 a month for cable.

:thumbsup:

I don't subscribe to cable, have a cell phone and my DSL is $26 a month. I don't consider those to be the province of the rich, but they are not usually necessities. (Although I have to have DSL since I work at home)

But we ALL have to go through security, and this is a way for those who can afford it to avoid it.

I don't think this is even remotely similar to those luxury items.

"But we ALL have to go through security, and this is a way for those who can afford it to avoid it."

They are avoiding a line, not security.

And think of it this way, waiting in line a few times a year vs. having an invasive background check (ever been thru one?), giving fingerprints and DNA to a government agency for the "privledge" of saving 20 minutes. Who's the real winner?

I have no problem with the process or special ID, etc. Just with the fact that it is only affordable to the relatively affluent.

How much clearer to I have to be about that?

It buys me nearly two weeks' worth of food. Or almost a months' worth of gas. Or a trip to the doctor. Or about two weeks worth of heating in my apartment. Etc. Etc. Etc.

a month.

but..... the really outrageous about this i am hearing from you all, it is the actual plane ticket that will kill you. in order to invest 80 annually you would have to be flying often. think how much groceries you could buy with all those plane ticket prices??????

and I haven't once stated my opinion on the OP, I just wanted to let you know that while $80 doesn't seem like a lot to you, it is a lot to many people.

assumptions about my world. i was poor many many many years. was talking to father today about just this. spending 70 on a haircut, 30 on nail, not something needed. and that 100 bought lots of food. i cut my own hair. i am well aware of cost and budgeting, ect. and not having. i can afford it now, and still cut my own hair.

but thanks for your effort to clue me in. i was posting the realities of the op, not to being without

you said "$80, doesn't sound like you have to be rich". Of course I have no way of knowing what your life has been like, or the lives of any DUers for that matter. So, all any of us can do is go by what information is in front of us. There are a lot of people out there for whom $80 is nothing -- something that can be spent on a whim. I have no way of knowing whether you are one of those people or not.

And just for a little comic relief; I could never cut my own hair. The results would be beastly.

I'm talking about working people who save up for that once-a-year $200 ticket home. Such a fee is an imposition, and so is a longer wait in line.

you dont get it. this is an option for people who use airlines often. and it sounds to me like they have to do a lot of work to begin with to get this, with application, backgound checks and finger and eye? print. this is a service that cost money. who in the world would go thru all this for a once a year flight? you are griping about nothing. but if you want to bitch about everyone who has more than you go for it

...and forgetting my place. Won't let it happen again, sir or ma'am.

I'll make sure to remember to smile when I use the po'folks' entrance next time. Thank you for settin' me straight.

on edit: forget it. dont answer. i just dont care

or not done at all.

that is $80 a year for me that wind up being about a buck a flight.

For anyone who flies 4 times a year it is $10 bucks.


This is not a a luxury and I fly coach.

Besides you surely realize the impracticality of doing background checks on everyone that flies.

From one poor person to another, welcome to DU!

I am assuming that they use this form or equivalent to get the federal clearnce for this. As it is used for National Security positions. Having to update this form once every five years versus waiting an extra 20 minutes a year in line?
Waiting in line will take less of your time.

The bigger question is how much does it actually cost to do the background check? You can't get a full background check and financial review for $80.

I mean let's be reasonable here.

We're talking about an $80 fee for what amounts to a luxury bought for another luxury.

Discount tix are on par with bus ticket prices, and waste much less valuable time.

I see it as privilege for the upper third, rather than just a commodity.

I suppose you also think that people who pay an extra fee should also be able to hook up to a special pipe with better water provided by the city?

buying filter systems or better bought water

Taxpayer-funded agency that is supposed to serve us all equally.

First, can the hyperbole and making shit up about people you don't even know that you have seen all of one post from.

Second, this "privledge" is only expensive if you fly once a year. And even then with the prices of plane fares going way up with fuel, this is not as much money as one would think (ie: 2 years ago I could fly cross country roundtrip for $200-$250, this year I am looking at between $350 and $400 if not higher).

If I flew more thatn 3 RTs a year, that second secruity line could become enticing. Except I'm not crazy about giving up all the pre-background check stuff.

Do you throw a fit that First Class gets better food, entertainment choices and gets on and off first? Or that before 9/11 there were special security lanes for 1st class passengers?

Mountians and molehills. All to stand on your soapbox.

I believe this is probably a good idea for people who have to fly a lot. If you had looked at what I was originally responding to you would see that I never once said anything about the express security cards. I was talking only about $80 being a lot of money.

It highlights how bogus the domestic security band-aids are.

And look at it this way - the more people that pay the $80 the regular security lines get shorter also.. win/win situation if you ask me.

I am sorry... you have no idea what is is like to fly for a living.

I fly about thirty times a years. nights are lonely, meals alone suck. meetings drag on endlessly.

I frequently get to an airport shortly before my flight is scheduled to leave. I am not rich...I am not powerful. I would gladly pay the $80 for an increased opportunity to see my two year old daughter grow up.

Until you have your first inkling of what life on the road is like....sit down and shut up. Please!!!!

:thumbsup:

This whole argument about rich versus poor is bullshit. I am so sick of this rich versus poor argument in total. Yes, some people are better off than others. Deal with it. ( not you, the OP)

positively aggravating thread of the month".

Thanks for all that contributed to the chuckles, and raspberries to you that caused the bruises on my forehead.

Some are getting thanks and raspberries.

:)

many airports already have special security lines for first class passengers and frequent flyers. Las Vegas Northwest is one -- 2-3 min wait there vs. 45min in the regular line.

I don't really have a problem with it. If certain people or companies want to pay more to be able to bypass lines -- weather due to hiring additional security gaurds or using background checks and biometrics, I don't see the problem.

if you are a frequent flyer or first class ticket holder.

I'll happily leave a little earlier and wait in the regular lines.