Clear,(R) the fast pass for airport security, will celebrate today its three-year anniversary in Orlando, the site of its first lane launch.

Since the program’s start in 2005, Clear has delivered a seamless, hassle-free airport experience more than 750,000 times in Orlando alone, its busiest location (over 1.3 million times nationwide). In just the last six months alone, Clear lanes have seen nearly a 300% increase in monthly usage. Clear now has more than 190,000 sign-ups nationwide — more than 40,000 of them in Orlando. And, the service has a 90% membership retention rate. An additional benefit to members: children under the age of 12 who are accompanied by an adult member can access its lanes for free.

As the program’s three year mark is reached, Clear cards are accepted at 18 airports with additional locations, including Atlanta’s
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, expected to launch this summer. This week, Clear opened its signature fast pass lanes in Delta’s Terminal D at LaGuardia (LGA) and Terminal Two at JFK International Airports, extending roundtrip Clear service between the Orlando and New York Airports. Clear lanes will continue expanding across the country this summer and throughout the fall at major airports.

Clear’s recently-established marketing partnerships include Delta Air Lines and Marriott Hotels, and in 2008 alone Clear has performed more than 75 on-site, bulk enrollments at company office buildings including corporations, law firms and government offices. This on-site service offers enrollment for Clear right in the workplace, making applying for the card easy and convenient. Clear also offers, through its partnership with Delta, enrollment at select Crown Rooms in Delta Terminals.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said, “We are proud that Orlando International Airport was the first airport in the nation to offer the Clear card program and continue to support the innovative efforts of Clear. The Clear card makes traveling a little easier with access to designated security lanes nationwide. When I travel, I use the Clear card to ensure I pass through security checkpoints faster and with more predictability.”

“We need to provide maximum safety for air travelers, while at the same time finding practical ways to reduce the strain on passengers from security checks,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a sponsor of legislation that has expanded the Registered Traveler program first used at Orlando International Airport.

“We’re proud to celebrate the third anniversary of our very first, and still the largest, Clear market — Orlando,” said Clear founder and CEO Steven Brill. “We especially thank our members who joined three years ago, even as we welcome 500-1,000 new members, every day. In just the last year alone, we’ve added more than 100,000 travelers.”

Henry Morgan, Clear’s very first customer on the day the program launched in 2005, who is a regional manager for Massachusetts’ Highline Products said, “Often when I breeze through security with Clear’s help in 5 minutes or less, I see the regular lanes backed up for an hour and a half to two hours. I am so glad that Clear chose Orlando to launch this valuable service for us road warriors. I was the first one to go through back in 2005 and have been very happy to renew my membership every year since then. Thank you, Clear, and its wonderful attendants at the lanes. You greet us so warmly, speed us through, and put us in a better mood to face the rest of the challenges of today’s air travel! Congratulations on your rapid expansion to other airports, where I can also enjoy the benefits.”

Clear member Ann Linn, senior consultant for CLG, a Pittsburgh-based strategy execution firm said, “I fly out of the Orlando Airport every Monday morning and before Clear opened this was a major hassle with the security lines often backed up halfway to the other side of the airport. I had to allow at least an extra hour to ensure I didn’t miss my flight. Now I zip through the Clear lane in just a few minutes and my week is off to an easy start. I have also had a very pleasant experience dealing with Clear support — always a quick connection to a real person who truly understands customer service. For all of these reasons, I have recommended Clear to my frequent-traveler colleagues and, personally, I now look forward to using the Clear lanes at other airports as they become available. Thank you for providing this valuable time-saving service!”

Steve Kahn, CEO of Lake Mary’s Physician’s Marketing & Management, and Clear member since 2005, said, “Clear makes travel the way it should be — whether it is for business or pleasure — it’s less stressful, fast, easy, friendly and fun.”

Clear member Ed Jordan, VP for Sales and Marketing at TBB Global Logistics, a supply chain strategy company said, “I have used the services of Clear since their arrival at Orlando International Airport. As a frequent business traveler (75+ round trips per year), I must be able to move through the airport as quickly as possible in order to meet a very demanding schedule. Prior to Clear, it was a challenge every Monday morning just getting through security. Since I became a Clear member, that is the one part of my weekly trip that I no longer have concerns about. And, your customer service people are the best. THANK YOU CLEAR!”

“We could not have gotten to this important milestone today without the vision and leadership of those at the Orlando International Airport who not only worked to pilot this program, but helped to showcase it for other airports that wanted to bring the program to their communities,” Brill continued. “We also want to thank the Transportation Security Administration for their dedicated service in bringing this innovative public/private partnership to the flying public. And, finally, we are grateful to our partners and key technology providers – Lockheed Martin, GE, L-1, Daon, and many others for all of their great work,” he added.

“Embracing and evaluating new forms of technology to enhance the overall travel experience has been a core value at Orlando International Airport. We are pleased that our early and continued support of the registered traveler program has resulted in improved customer service for over 40 thousand travelers at our airport alone,” said Steve Gardner, Executive Director for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Clear members are pre-screened by the Transportation Security Administration and after application approval, which involves providing iris and fingerprint images, receive a card that allows access to Clear’s security lanes nationwide. Clear lanes, which feature concierges whose assistance speeds throughput while making the experience far more pleasant, operate in airports in Cincinnati, Denver, Indianapolis, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC’s Reagan National and Dulles airports, among
others. The annual fee is $100 plus a $28 TSA fee.

Applicants start the membership enrollment process at http://www.flyclear.com and complete it in person at a Clear enrollment center, where they have their fingerprints and iris images captured. To locate a Clear enrollment station nationwide, customers can visit flyclear.com/enrollment.

About Clear

Clear, operated by Verified Identity Pass, Inc., has signed up more than 190,000 travelers nationwide. Clear cards are accepted at 18 U.S. airports: Albany, Cincinnati, Denver, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, LaGuardia (Terminal D and Central Terminal B Checkpoints), Little Rock, New York JFK (Terminals 1, 2, 4 and 7), Newark (Terminal B2), Oakland, Orlando, Reno, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Washington, DC’s Reagan and Dulles, and Westchester. Clear members are pre-screened and provided with a high-tech card which allows them to access designated security lanes nationwide. Clear members pass through the security checkpoint faster, with more predictability and less hassle. The annual fee of $100 (plus a $28 TSA vetting fee) is charged once applicants are approved by the government. Applicants start their enrollment at flyclear.com and complete the process at an enrollment location where their fingerprints and iris images are captured and their identification is validated. Clear’s registered traveler program has been operational since July 19, 2005. For more information, please visit: http://www.flyclear.com.

SOURCE Clear / PRNewswire