Frequent Fliers Cannot Avoid the Lines Before They Travel
Verify Identity Pass promised frequent fliers that they can bypass the trouble of security checkpoints if they avail a membership. This service has saved many of its customer’s security screening time and the difficulty of long lines and that is why many were upset when it shut down recently. Travel will become stressful for them again.
What is worse is the $178 to $199 annual fee may not be refunded at all.
The company says that the abrupt stop of operations is due to unsettlement with their creditors. Some of the members were pre-warned through e-mails, but may learn about the closure at the airport already.
Many frequent fliers were dismayed, especially those who travel for business. They say that the extra fees were worth it because they have saved time and stress from them.
The company was founded in 2003 by Steven Brill based on the TSA’s Registered Traveler, aimed to decrease the tough security lines after the 9-11 incident. But TSA denied any relation.
Besides losing the privilege, many members are worried about the personal information they released to get the membership card—information like iris scans, fingerprints and other personal qualities. They are afraid that these may get into the wrong hands and put it on sale.
The company promises that the personal information will be kept based on TSA standards and will be deleting accordingly.
Meanwhile, the Air Transport Association emphasizes that they cannot see the benefit these travel services offer. They say that TSA also provides this service without any charge, besides, not all air companies have long lines and also offer some special deals for those who travel frequently.
But many frequent fliers that this travel privilege has helped them a lot: saved time and hassle-free processing. Some hope that another company will offer the service and bring back the hassle-free travel they are willing to pay for.
