An unexpected airport charge experienced by an area resident’s relative is serving as a reminder for travelers — especially infrequent flyers — to carefully review documents before signing up for expedited airport security programs.
Jan Sciacca’s son Aaron Strobel was recently flying out of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport when he was approached by a person wearing a uniform similar to airline personnel. Strobel said he was told he could use a no-cost service through CLEAR to move to the front of a security line.
Strobel said the process happened quickly. His photograph was taken, he electronically signed a document and was told his credit card would only be temporarily charged $1 and credited back.
Two weeks later, however, he discovered a $334 charge on his credit card statement.
After contacting CLEAR and spending considerable time discussing the matter with customer service representatives, Strobel was able to receive a full refund. Online reviews suggest others have not always had the same experience.
According to comments posted on Trustpilot, reviewers frequently reported unexpected charges, confusion regarding enrollment terms, automatic renewals and difficulty canceling memberships. Some also described airport sales tactics as pushy or unclear.
CLEAR is a legitimate airport identity verification and security-expediting company operating in airports across the United States. However, travelers are encouraged to fully understand the terms, costs and renewal policies before enrolling in any fast-track airport service.
Consumer advocates recommend travelers avoid signing electronic agreements in haste, particularly in busy airport terminals, and carefully monitor credit card statements after traveling.
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