united airlines

United Airlines to Expand Biometric Screenings Through CLEAR Partnership

The partnership between the airline and the security company will also offer discounted and free CLEAR memberships to United rewards members.

United Airlines will partner with the biometrics security company CLEAR to bring more retina and fingerprint-screening facilities to airports across the U.S., the airline announced Monday.

Biometric screening will be available at United’s hubs in Newark and Houston this summer, with plans to expand the service to Chicago’s O’Hare airport in coming months. CLEAR is already operating at United’s hubs in Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington Dulles.

The partnership will offer free or discounted CLEAR membership pricing to United’s MileagePlus members, allowing those who enroll to use eye and fingerprint recognition to bypass the document check portion of the airport security screening process in a line solely for CLEAR members. From there, members continue through the TSA’s screening process.

"CLEAR's secure and seamless biometric security option creates an expedited travel experience that many of our frequent flyers already use and love,” Luc Bondar, the vice president of loyalty and president of MileagePlus at United, said in a statement. “We're excited to partner with CLEAR to expand their presence at our hub airports and to provide all MileagePlus members with either free or deeply discounted memberships."

The program is already available at more than 30 airports and is also used by Major League Baseball for entry at games and Hertz for picking up rental cars, according to Fox Business. United’s competitor, Delta, is also partnered with CLEAR.

Passengers seeking to sign up for CLEAR must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents over the age of 18. The company says that it stores members’ biometric information and does not share it with a third party, using safeguards to protect its systems, Fox Business reported.

For non-rewards members, CLEAR will cost $179 per year through United. The program will be discounted to $119 for MileagePlus members, $109 for U.S. United credit card holders or Premier members, or no extra cost for Premier 1K members.

"It is an incredibly exciting time in the travel industry and we're thrilled to partner with United to deliver easier and more predictable experiences from curb-to-gate and beyond," Caryn Seidman Becker, CLEAR's chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "Our shared focus on the customer experience will enable us to reduce friction at every touchpoint and help travelers enjoy more of what they love."

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.