As a frequent traveler I am quite frustrated with the demise of Clear, the registered traveler program.
The
Transportation Security Administration last summer essentially washed its hands of the Registered Traveler program, saying it offered no real security benefit. If travelers wanted to pay for the benefit of getting to the front of security queues, fine, but other than the potential to provide a legitimate passenger identification process, RT wouldn't help secure the nation's aviation system, TSA insisted. That development frustrated many RT proponents, including the National Business Travel Association, but
largely validated my views of the program. It was, I figured, the end of the debate as to whether RT would be used as a security tool. Hence my confusion as to why the folks at NBTA in the following months continued to press for a greater role for RT. Turns out NBTA's hope is not without reason.
