I was wondering when this would eventually happen. 😉
Back at the beginning of the summer, two airports began test piloting virtual queues for their respective TSA checkpoints. Passengers were allowed to make reservations for the queue ahead of time and therefore skip the line. It was so popular at one of the airports that it became a permanent fixture a few months later – the first one in the country! Not-so-surprisingly, a week or so later another airport, this one in Texas, started their own test pilot of a virtual queue via reservation.
All three of those airports use(d) different systems (the one in Texas is using SignUpGenius. No, really!). However CLEAR just started their own program for a TSA virtual queue, called Reservation Lane. It just launched at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and, if successful, I suspect it will eventually become “the granddaddy of them all.”
CLEAR’s website explains how the system works:
Reserve
…enter your flight details, the number of passengers in your group, and find a reservation time that works for you.
Confirm
Once you select a time and input your information, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a QR code.
Go
Upon arrival at the Reservation Lane, scan your QR code with our staff and enjoy the fast lane.
Here’s what the CLEAR app looks like when you make a reservation (photo courtesy of MCO Twitter feed):
There are a few questions that some people may have about Reservation Lane Powered By CLEAR…
- The Reservation Lane is FREE (yay free!), but is not the same as having a CLEAR Plus membership, and doesn’t give you access to the CLEAR Plus lane.
- The Reservation Lane is available at both of MCO’s security checkpoints, for all airlines.
- This pilot program is currently only offering time slots between 5am-11am. They’ll evaluate the demand for it to possibly extend the time slots available throughout the day.
- Even if you use the Reservation Lane, you still, of course, have to go through the TSA checkpoint, show your ID and plane reservations, go through X-ray, etc.
- Reservation Lane powered by CLEAR is not integrated with TSA PreCheck. So if you use the pilot program, you won’t be able to use the PreCheck queue.
- You can make reservations up to 30 days in advance.
- They give you a 20-minute window for your time slot when you make a reservation.
- If you get there early (or late), there is a grace period (but they don’t say how long it is – they suggest talking to CLEAR team members when you get there)
- If this pilot is deemed successful, there are plans for expansion to other airports.
They don’t mention how long the pilot program will last, but honestly, this is Orlando International Airport. Walt Disney World is in the midst of its 50th-anniversary celebration. International flights will be coming on board in a couple of weeks. If you’re flying out of MCO and don’t have TSA PreCheck (or, depending on the line for that, even if you do), it might be a VERY good thing to try out and see if it works for you and your party.
Go to this page of CLEAR’s website for more info.
Feature image courtesy of MCO Twitter feed
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