Putting Fans in the Fast Lane
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The smart card that speeds travelers through airport security will now get Washington Redskins fans into FedEx Field faster.
FLO, a Chantilly start-up that makes the airport cards, signed a three-year deal with the football team last week. For a $100 annual fee, fans will receive Redskins-branded FLO cards that will let them enter the stadium through separate "fast-lane" gates.
"It's not a security issue," said Luke Thomas, executive vice president of FLO. "It's a service for a shorter, faster line."
Much like their frequent-flier counterparts, Redskins fans will need to submit identification and iris and fingerprint scans to FLO.
FLO's newest partnership comes as the Transportation Security Administration is allowing the private sector to expand the registered traveler program. The administration recently lifted a cap that limited the fast lanes to 20 airports and got rid of the mandatory $28 government background check.
The Redskins card also allows access to special security lanes at airports including Reagan National and Dulles International, as well as FLO's basic membership benefits, such as discounted golf club rentals and hotel fares.
Likewise, travelers who already own FLO cards will have fast-pass access to FedEx Field at no additional charge.
Mitch Gershman, the Redskins' chief operating officer, said more than 60,000 of the team's fans took more than 10 domestic trips in the past year.
FLO, which stands for Fast Lane Option, has been trying to differentiate itself from its main competitor, Verified Identity Pass, which runs the Clear program. Expanding its business into venues and events -- a first for the registered traveler industry -- is just a "logical extension," Thomas said.
Cardholders will get a 10 percent discount at Redskins team stores, and a portion of every card sold will go to the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation.
"This fan-centric membership helps to advance our ongoing quest to improve the total fan experience on game day," Gershman said in a statement.
-- Kendra Marr
