Is Clear Security secure?

by Grant Martin on

If you’ve passed through airport security at more than a few airports in the past year, you’ve probably noticed Clear security lanes. The Cliff Notes version of their service is that they take a retina scan, store some info and let you get through screening faster — for a fee, of course.

I have to admit, I don’t know anyone that uses it. Most business travelers I know fly either in First Class (so don’t have to go through the long security line) or plan well enough in advance to anticipate long security lines (so don’t worry about it). And I think that some people are concerned about giving biometric and personal data to a third party to store in a database — you know, that whole privacy thing.

But surely a security company would keep tight control over and even encrypt that private data, right? Not necessarily. According to cbs5tv, a Clear laptop at San Francisco International airport was boosted the other day, along with the personal data of over 30,000 members in the system. New applications are on hold while the company that operates the checkpoint, Verified Identity Pass Inc., tracks down the notebook.

I’m glad I didn’t apply for a Clear Pass last year.

AirAsiaX mulls charging passengers by weight

by Grant Martin on

Based on heated previous discussions here at Gadling, we know that the idea of charging passengers by their weight is a very touchy subject. In addition to the questionable legality of the concept, many are uncomfortable with the fact that one passenger may have to spend significantly more than the next — only to occupy the same seat on an aircraft.

For a while it was almost a joke — people knew that no American company would dare try something so bold at the risk of alienating the majority of their passenger base. Even Philadelphia Media Holdings ran a full page ad for a fake airline called “Derrie-air” to tease people and collect some marketing data on what the reaction would be.

Our new perspective on oil and the economy, however, is turning some of those chuckles into awkward inquisitions. Could someone really get away with charging a passenger by his or her weight?

AirAsiaX is starting to think so. Darren Wright, operating manager of the airline, recently told Travel Today that such extreme measures might be a possibility given the current state of the market. Stating that weighing each passenger could help balance cargo and overall aircraft balance, Mr Wright suggested that the measure “could help Aussies lose weight.”

No word on whether the airline is seriously considering the changes or whether Wright was just speaking candidly, but if something like this were to go into effect, it would surely rock the industry in which we now fly.

10 tips for smarter flying


Paris Airports Help Passengers Groove

by Josh Lew on

A service at Paris area airports will have people dancing in the terminals. Literally.

As a special summer promotion provided by Aeroports de Paris, dance classes will be offered to passengers before they hop, or samba, onto their flight. Call it France‘s version of the reality hit So You Think You Can Dance. Styles include tango, salsa, modern jazz, and mambo. There is even instruction in hip hop and rock and roll.

You are imagining a teacher wearing a leotard and leg-warmers prancing around Charles De Gaulle critiquing each step that students take, aren’t you? It’s not quite like that. Passengers are given a set of headphones on which instructions and music are played. They are pretty much on their own after that. The classes run for about 15 minutes and are only offered during weekend daytime hours.

According to airport authorities, over 4,000 people have used the service since it began at the end of June. No word yet on whether these ground-breakers participated willingly or not.

Are in-terminal dance classes the wave of the future? Or is it simply a ploy to get people talking about something besides how high oil prices are making air travel so damned expensive?

Source

“Bomb” bag passes through security at Brisbane airport

by Abha Malpani on

When a large bag with the word “bomb” written on it passes through airport check-in without question, there’s got to be a problem with their security system. This is exactly what happened at Brisbane’s Domestic Airport at a Qantas counter, ultimately causing a 40 minute delay.

The bag was only questioned once the baggage handlers saw the “bomb” bag and raised an alarm. The bag, still unscreened (!), was then dragged through the populated airport before it was opened and checked. Fortunately it turned out to be a false alarm.

This made me think: 1) Why would anyone choose to travel with a bag that has “bomb” written on it? 2) How on earth could that be missed on check-in, and then dragged through the airport without being screened first? What if there really was a bomb in it?

Anyway, the case has been referred to the police and the Transport Worker’s Union at the Brisbane airport have demanded an investigation of the airport’s security system.

Struggling airlines close airport lounges

by Grant Martin on

Scrambling to cut costs at every corner, airlines have now turned to their airport lounges as possible ways to save money.

If you’ve ever been walking through the airport and saw a business person on a Blackberry weaving through the crowd only to duck into a room labeled “Red Carpet Club” or “Admiral’s Club”, you know what I’m talking about. Airport lounges were created as a way to award elite and first class passengers for their business, make a little money on memberships and provide haven from the oft busy airport terminals that we deal with on a daily basis. For me, they’re a lifesaver, while others only view them as an extravagance.

Unfortunately, some of them just were not making enough money to justify their existence, so many airlines are closing their underutilized or overstaffed lounges. Delta just announced that it’s closing nine of its Crown Room Clubs, while United similarly is closing four. You can check out the UA lounges being closed here, while you can find the CRC’s that are still active here.

At the very worst, those who hold memberships to either clubs that are closing may be able to use partner clubs — holders of Crown Room Club cards should be able to get into other Skyteam lounges while United members can use Star Alliance lounges.

And if those aren’t an option? Try a magazine.

[Thanks to Moody75 for the link]