https://www.thrillist.com/news...fornia-airports-bill



California Could Soon Ban Clear from Its Airports, Here's Why

A new proposed bill with bipartisan support is advancing, here's what we know so far.

By Serena Tara
Published on 4/25/2024 at 2:41 PM


Clear members might soon have to conform to the general masses in California, due to a new advancing bill that would ban the security screening company from operating in all California airports.

The argument for the new ban—which was proposed by California Democrat Senator Josh Newman and backed up by Republican representatives as well as the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the union representing TSA security officers in Oakland, Sacramento, and San Jose—is very simple: You don't get to skip ahead of other passengers in line just because you can afford to pay a fee.

"It's a basic equity issue 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 TSA line," Newman told CBS MoneyWatch. "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."

Reportedly, Clear operates within nine California-based airports, and serves almost 1 million Californians. It costs $189 to get an annual membership, which allows Clear to verify the passenger's identity in order to escort them through security.

While it gathered bipartisan support as well as union backing, the bill faces opposition from a few major airlines, who argue that the new ban would restrict the operational faculty of security lines, ultimately resulting in a worse travel experience both from a passenger and a business perspective. As CBS News reports, those opposing airlines include Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and United, and others. Among these, Delta, United, and Alaska have standing partnerships with Clear.

The ban isn't trying to actually get rid of Clear

It's important to note, though, that the ban isn't looking to put Clear out of business or get rid of the company across California's airports. According to Newman, the bill would still allow Clear to operate, but it would do so by forcing the company to have its own dedicated security lines that are separate from other passengers.

The way Clear works right now is that it doesn't feature dedicated lines, and Clear members are allowed to skip the entire general line and be escorted in front of everybody else.

When will Clear be banned in California?

On Tuesday, the bill passed the first legislative step by passing the Senate Transportation Committee by a vote of 8-4. Now, the bill still has to be approved by the full California Senate and Assembly, after which Governor Gavin Newsom will have to sign it to make it into law.

This considered, the ban is likely to take a while to be potentially approved and be put into effect.

What about TSA Pre-Check? Would that be banned too in California?

No, TSA Pre-Check isn't affected by this legislation because it already features a dedicated lane in most airports. When a dedicated lane isn't available, TSA Pre-Check members must get in the general line.

giving them their own line would just make the peons even madder.... LOL

I had a conversation with someone about this at the airport one time. He was all upset that someone could go in a different line ahead of him just because he could afford it. I pointed out that he could be in the same line ahead of us , with issues that caused our line to be held up, like checking rifles like i was. Sure enough when i got to the counter, he was waiting a bit longer till the next one to the side could take him .

What next , no business class ?

Flew into Toronto.

Was told to get VIP meet and greet, because the air is run by idiots.

We arrived.

Made to wait in the plane for over twenty minutes.

Because the immigration hall was full.

Got out of the plane, were met by our meet and greet.

Went through a side line, two minutes later we were through and were able to catch our inward flight.

The immigration hall was packed like sardines!

Communism is coming to America!

Very fast.

We are all equal.

Some are more equal than others!