IF YOU travel frequently for business, you’ve likely figured out several ways to save time and make your travel experience easier. But there’s nothing worse than getting to the airport and having to stand in line for hours to check your bags or make it through security.
One of the most common ways to speed your way through airport security is to get TSA PreCheck. It costs $78 for a five-year subscription and allows you to pass through a dedicated TSA PreCheck line, which is often less crowded. You get to keep your shoes, belt and jacket on and can leave your laptop and liquids in your carry-on bag. It’s definitely worth it and if you don’t have it, I’d highly recommend it.
In addition to TSA PreCheck, Clear is a private, for-profit company with a service that takes your airport experience to another level. Clear allows you to identify yourself using biometrics and get escorted to the front of the security line by a Clear employee. It costs $189 a year and is available at over 50 major airports in the United States. Many airports also have a dedicated line for Clear members who also have TSA PreCheck, and that combination will bring your security wait time down to almost zero. I’ve had both for many years and if you travel by air often, it’s worth considering.
Here is where it gets interesting. A recent bill introduced in California would ban Clear from operating in California airports. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Josh Newman, a Democrat. In a recent interview with CBS Moneywatch, Newman stated, “It’s a basic equity issue when you see people subscribed to a concierge service being escorted in front of people who have waited a long time to get to the front of the TSA line. Everyone is beaten down by the travel experience, and if CLEAR escorts a customer in front of you and tells TSA, ‘Sorry, I have someone better,’ it’s really frustrating.”
Yes, you read that correctly. They called it an equity issue because someone paid for a service and the other person didn’t. How is that different from purchasing a first-class ticket? It costs significantly more than an economy ticket and the person with a first-class ticket boards the plane first and gets a higher level of service than someone sitting in the back of the plane. Is that also an equity issue? Will first class tickets be banned?
How about higher-priced airlines? Is it an equity issue when someone decides to fly Delta versus Spirit? Will they stop Delta airlines from operating in California because it costs more to fly with them?
The thought of a business being shut down in a state because of the type of service they provide and its cost should raise serious concern for everyone. I sincerely hope this bill doesn’t see the light of day. If it does pass, there’s a good chance other states will follow.
While Clear does not operate at any airports in New Hampshire, there’s a chance they will at some point. Stories about politicians meddling in business operations and attempting to force their radical agendas on businesses and consumers is yet another reason why we should all be grateful to live in New Hampshire.
Christopher Thompson (christhompsnh@gmail.com) writes Closing the Deal weekly.
