But $199 Security Pass May Be Returning To Airports

For frequent travelers, it was a very attractive. Pay $199, submit to fingerprinting and an iris scan, and skip the long security lines as some airports around the country. Verified Identity Pass, a company founded by entrepreneur Steven Brill, made the offer and convinced some 200,000 customers to sign up for the service.

Then, last June, the company said it was ceasing operations and did not have the money to offer refunds. It was back in the line for those passengers.

The New York Times is reporting that Emeryville California investment banker Kurtis Fechtmeyer said on Tuesday that his new investment group, Henry Inc., will buy the assets of V.I.P. and re-open the security express lane called "Clear". “People are still desperate for convenience at security checkpoints, and the government is very interested in having more registered travelers whose identities are verified,” he said. “There is still strong demand for this service.”

V.I.P had become the focus of a string of controversies, and Brill was eventually forced out of the company and sued by investors. But even many of those who lost money say they would return to the service should it be re-instated. Former airport partners are also very interested in the service. Fechmeyers' wife, Allison Townley, who is also a principal in Henry Inc. said some airports have said "you can't open soon enough."

The Times reports that renewed interest in Clear has also sparked renewed interest in a TSA pre-clearance program, which was the subject of a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing Wednesday. Ms. Townley was scheduled to testify.

Fechmeyer said for those former members who choose not to sign up with the new company, their personal data currently on file would be destroyed.

FMI: www.tsa.gov