A major vendor that fast-tracks fliers through airport security for an annual fee of $199 will end operations tonight, according to its website and a former employee, leaving hundreds of thousands of customers in the lurch.
The website of the so-called Clear program, launched by New York-based Verified Identity Pass Inc. four years ago, today carried this message:
“At 11:00 p.m. PST on June 22, 2009, Clear will cease operations. Clear’s parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc. has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations.”
This was Steven Brill's baby. I have no idea why it was ever allowed to exist.