A faster trip through LAX security?

Yearning for a quicker trip through security at LAX?

By paying a membership fee of $128 a year, Delta Air Lines fliers may soon be on their way.

That’s because Delta next month plans to become the first airline at the Los Angeles International Airport to offer a program that provides members with special access and concierges to escort them through the security process.

Dubbed Clear, it will be run by Verified Identity Pass Inc., one of several vendors authorized by the U.S. government to operate so-called registered traveler programs. The Clear version is already active in 18 airports, including Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.

When I reviewed the start-up of Clear in San Jose last year, I found some rough edges. Technology such as a special shoe scanner, designed to speed up the process, still is awaiting government clearance, said Steven Brill, chief executive of Verified Identity Pass Inc.

But Brill told me this week that even without such devices, Clear is getting members through security about 30% faster and has enrolled more than 175,000 fliers nationwide.

At LAX, program details were still being worked out this week. For updates, visit the Clear website for the Delta program. Delta also plans to add New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports soon.

–Jane Engle, Assistant Los Angeles Times Travel Editor

[Image: delta.com]

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This entry was posted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 10:23 am by Jane Engle and is filed under Business Travel, California, Frequent Flier, Los Angeles, News, Tips & Advice, Travel Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.