California Bill Aims to Ban Clear at Airports in the State — Here’s Why

23.04.2024 - 14:31 / travelandleisure.com

A new bill in California is attempting to ban the biometric security company Clear in the state over protests it creates an unfair advantage for travelers who can afford the service.

If passed, the bill, SB-1372, would ban Clear from operating in California airports with the criticism that it allows wealthier passengers to skip the line at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening lanes, CBS News reported.

“The least you can expect when you have to go through the security line at the airport is that you don’t suffer the indignity of somebody pushing you out of the way to let the rich person pass you,” California Sen. Josh Newman, the sponsor of the bill, wrote in a post on X.

Newman told CBS News it was a matter of “basic equity” 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,” Newman added.

Clear is a paid service that allows travelers to use a separate security line, which is often shorter than the regular TSA security line. The service uses biometric data  — fingerprints or iris image scans — to confirm the identity of its members. The company currently operates in more than 50 airports, stadiums, and other venues across the country, according to Clear.

A Clear Plus membership costs $189 a year to sign up with the ability to add up to three other members for $99 per person. Some credit cards also offer to reimburse the full or partial membership fee as part of its cardholder benefits, including the American Express Platinum card.

A representative for Clear did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Travel + Leisure.

Besides Clear, travelers can shorten their wait at airport security by signing up for TSA PreCheck, another paid service to expedite the security process. With TSA PreCheck, which costs $70 to renew online or $78 to apply in person, travelers are allowed to leave their shoes, belts, and light jackets on and leave their laptops and liquids in their bags when going through security.