2023-04-18 08:12:31
Walk through security like the VIP you truly are.
Ah, the dreaded airport security line – a place where dreams of early arrival are dashed and flights are missed. Even though you may have packed your bag like a pro, checked in early, and downloaded your boarding pass, the security line can still ruin your savvy travel preparation like that bottle of water you accidentally left in your bag. . But there is a way to avoid injury, hack the system and pass like a VIP.
Yes, there are apps to check wait times so you can budget your time appropriately, including an official app from the Transportation Security Administration. But true travel professionals know that the best way to speed up the airport security process is to book your seat online.
And it’s free. Here’s how it works.
How to reserve your place in the security line
Clear, a travel technology company that uses biometric identity verification to speed up the security process, has a tool called Reserve. Start by going to https://www.clearme.com/reserve(opens in a new tab) on your computer or mobile and select the departure airport. How far in advance you can reserve a seat depends on the airport, which can be found on the airport’s website.
Reserve powered by Clear is available at 15 airports in North America and Europe: Calgary, Charleston, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, Orlando, Phoenix, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Amsterdam, Berlin and Munich. These cover many major travel hubs, but Reserve plans to roll out to more cities, so don’t worry if none of them are near you. That will eventually change.
Fill in your flight information
Click on the airport you are departing from, and you will then be taken to a new page where you will need to fill in your flight information, including departure date, destination, airline and flight number.
Then select the number of people you will travel with – up to 10 people.
Then choose from a list of 15-minute time slots for your reservation. Note: Reservation will hold your spot for 15 minutes before or following your reservation time, so you have some leeway if you show up early or are late.
Fill in your name, email and phone number.
Finally, verify your information and click on “Create an appointment”.
We love a QR code
Now that you have reserved your place, you will receive a confirmation email with a QR code. When you arrive at the airport, follow the signs to the Reserve line and scan your QR code with a Reserve agent. This will allow you to pass the TSA line. Don’t forget to say hello to all the suckers waiting in line.
The fine print
Reserve is different from Clear and Clear Plus, the latter being a paid subscription that gives you access to the Clear express lanes. If you have Clear or Clear Plus, you can use Reserve to reserve a spot in the safety line. Although Clear Plus members already have fast-track access in the Clear lane, so it wouldn’t make much sense. If you have TSA PreCheck and are using Reserve, this won’t help you much because Reserve will guide you through the standard TSA line of screening.
In addition, there is always privacy to consider. There are inherent risks associated with using Clear due to all the biometric data it collects. According to its privacy policy(opens in a new tab), Clear says it will never sell your data, that you can delete your data at any time, and that it meets the highest standards for data protection. However, the wealth of its customers’ personal data makes it an attractive target for hackers and shares non-biometric data with its partners for marketing purposes. Although Reserve does not require you to provide biometric information, you will still share personal information (name, email, flight information) with the company.
As the saying goes, if you get something for free, you are the product, which is important to keep in mind whenever you share your information online. So be smart, stay alert and bon voyage.
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