Airport security lines

[cec1]

Friendly tip:
In San Juan on Sunday, the TSA lines were super-long. Even with “Pre-Check,” I would estimate that the time to get through the line would have been close to an hour. No Pre-Check . . . the line — extending far outside of the usual back-&-forth queue — must have been 90 minutes. Without intending to sounds like an advertisement, I — nonetheless — will say that I got through with CLEAR in five minutes!! Few people using it.

 

[cassidain]

CLEAR !!!

 

[aewscs]

We are definitely signing up for clear for our return trip.

 

[Leon]

There is no Clear+ in PHL

 

[cassidain]

There is no Clear+ in PHL

because PHL is an AA hub

 

[Leon]

because PHL is an AA hub

Yeah, it seems that there is some animosity between AA and Clear company.

 

[cec1]

Yeah, it seems that there is some animosity between AA and Clear company.

Interesting . . . I wasn’t aware of that. Perhaps it explains why there’s no CLEAR at O’Hare in the American terminal (#3).

 

[cassidain]

Yeah, it seems that there is some animosity between AA and Clear company.

As I understand it, Delta and United have ownership interests in CLEAR, whereas American does not.
So no CLEAR in CLT for example and only in one of five DFW terminals.

 

[Aipotu]

We're going through San Juan for the first time ten days from now -- United and then Tradewind. I know we have to go through TSA on the return (and allocated plenty of time, despite having Pre-Check) but do we on the flight to St. Barth's? We actually let our CLEAR subscription lapse as the two years we had it we never used it once!

 

[JBD]

That is correct, DAL/UAL have invested in Clear and often prevent it from being in other terminals. No luck in JFK T5 either.

 

[cassidain]

We're going through San Juan for the first time ten days from now -- United and then Tradewind. I know we have to go through TSA on the return (and allocated plenty of time, despite having Pre-Check) but do we on the flight to St. Barth's? We actually let our CLEAR subscription lapse as the two years we had it we never used it once!

TW does their own private security clearance.

 

[dadto6]

It that what it is called "private security clearance". Madam, can you open your purse. Sir, can you open your bag.
HaHa Yep, it was really a thorough security inspection

 

[amyb]

It that what it is called "private security clearance". Madam, can you open your purse. Sir, can you open your bag.
HaHa Yep, it was really a thorough security inspection

Easy peasy

 

[cassidain]

Easy peasy

Not too worried about someone wanting to blow up plane on TW flight to SBH

 

[cec1]

It that what it is called "private security clearance". Madam, can you open your purse. Sir, can you open your bag.
HaHa Yep, it was really a thorough security inspection

I'm happy with it!

 

[jamiem4]

*

We're going through San Juan for the first time ten days from now -- United and then Tradewind. I know we have to go through TSA on the return (and allocated plenty of time, despite having Pre-Check) but do we on the flight to St. Barth's? We actually let our CLEAR subscription lapse as the two years we had it we never used it once!

Don’t forget on your return back to the United States that you have to go through USDA. There have been cutbacks with TSA and I have not heard of horribly long lines at the USDA in San Juan. Nonetheless, as luck would have it, I once flew the time when the computer system was down so that was a bit of a headache. They emptied out every single item in everyone’s suitcase and inspected it. I think it was a six hour ordeal.. but I hope that doesn’t happen again to anyone! The main point is with or without TSA pre-check, just don’t forget to have your bags tagged by USDA first.

 

[cec1]

*
Don’t forget on your return back to the United States that you have to go through USDA. There have been cutbacks with TSA and I have not heard of horribly long lines at the USDA in San Juan. Nonetheless, as luck would have it, I once flew the time when the computer system was down so that was a bit of a headache. They emptied out every single item in everyone’s suitcase and inspected it. I think it was a six hour ordeal.. but I hope that doesn’t happen again to anyone! The main point is with or without TSA pre-check, just don’t forget to have your bags tagged by USDA first.

Good point, Jamie! And thinking about my USDA experience at SJU, I recall being struck by how easy it was . . . with no more than 3 or 4 people in line. Googling the matter, I found the following interesting report:
"USDA inspections . . . during a partial government shutdown . . . are considered 'mission-essential' for protecting public health and agricultural safety . . . Non-essential USDA services, such as some research, data reporting, and administrative tasks, will stop, but this does not typically include the physical inspection of items at SJU."

 

[Jim&Cath]

We left SBH and traveled through PHL Monday evening. No lines getting through customs even without global entry. No long TSA the week prior. Even got to go through pre-check!

 

[Leon]

As I understand it, Delta and United have ownership interests in CLEAR, whereas American does not.
So no CLEAR in CLT for example and only in one of five DFW terminals.

According to Google:
CLEAR (Clear Secure, Inc.) is led by co-founder and CEO Caryn Seidman Becker, who acquired the company out of bankruptcy in 2010. As a publicly traded company (NYSE: YOU), its ownership is diverse, with major institutional investors like BlackRock, Inc., The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Durable Capital Partners LP holding significant shares alongside Seidman Becker and co-founder Ken Cornick.
Key details about the ownership and leadership of CLEAR:

• Leadership: Caryn Seidman Becker (Chair and CEO) and Ken Cornick (Co-founder).
• Company Structure: CLEAR operates under Clear Secure, Inc., which launched an IPO in 2021.
• Key Investors: Major shareholders include BlackRock, Inc., The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Durable Capital Partners LP.
• Ownership Stake: As of Q2 2023, founders Seidman-Becker and Cornick held approximately 18% of the company's outstanding shares.
• Background: The company was originally founded in 2003, went bankrupt, and was acquired by Seidman Becker in 2010 to be relaunched in 2012.
  

 

[KevinS]

I joined Clear many years ago, when signing up for it in the moment it was the fastest way out of quarter-mile security lines in Las Vegas. Clear’s biometrics and I never quite meshed 100%, but it worked. When my travel profile changed (different airlines, different airports) I dumped it. Still, with the right airlines and airports, I see value. Just not for me.