Airport Fast Pass Lets Redskins Fans Cut Security Line

Airport Fast Pass Lets Redskins Fans Cut Security Line - Via Threat Level:

A fast-pass airline security company is now expanding its services to get football fans into their seats faster -- a breakthrough that opens the possibility of fast-pass lanes in every segment of society.

Starting this season, Washington Redskins fans can apply for a $100 pass that lets them jump to the front of the security line at 19 airports around the country -- and get them into Redskins football games ahead of their fellow tailgaters.

Flo, a Registered Traveler company behind the offer, is also working with the Baltimore Ravens to offer the same services starting in 2009.

Registered Travelers who can provide a valid social security number and government identification card are given a special card with their iris biometric embedded in it. Flo competes with Verified Identity Pass, which offers the Clear pass -- which recently suffered an embarrassing loss of a unencrypted laptop used to enroll members.

But the cards use a common standard, and members of one can use the other's lanes.

Many who join the Clear program are business travelers who talk about how useful it is to bypass lines full of inexperienced travelers who can't remember that four ounces of liquid is bad, but three is okay, while shoes must always come off -- even if they are flip-flops.

Threat Level understands and sees a very bright future for the concept.

Are you a frequent McDonald's eater frustrated by infrequent fast-food eaters who hold up the line by not knowing their Value Meal numbers?

A daily Whole Foods shopper who hates those who don't know how much their ginger-squash soup is per pound?

A regular lottery player frustrated by noobs who dilly-dally over which scratch-off tickets to buy?

A coffee snob annoyed by people who order low-fat mocha freezes at Starbucks?

Imagine if you had a Flo or Clear card that would let you slide right up to the Mickey D's counter and instantly order the number three value meal, scoot out quickly with your organic arugula, lay down the right numbers for the Mega-Millions Multi-State Money-Madness and slide out within minutes with a perfect dry cappuccino.

Just don't tell anyone else about it, okay? I'd hate to have to move on to the ultra- fast pass lane to get past all the idiots in the fast pass lane.

By the way, in July, the Transportation Security Administration abandoned the $28 cursory and meaningless federal background check originally required, and the pass is now plainly a way to pay to get to the front of lines at airports and football stadiums. And hopefully soon Target!