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If you’ve been in a long airport security line, you may have noticed a Clear banner—and people zipping past the kiosks—off to the side. You may know someone who has it and have considered signing up, or you may be surrounded by TSA PreCheck devotees and not know a thing about it. If you have any questions about what the (usually nonexistent) line is for, and whether you should join, read on for a comprehensive look at what the expedited airport security service is, where it’s accessible, and how to sign up and score a discount.
All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
In short, Clear is a security service that replaces a physical ID check with a biometric scan of a person’s eyes and fingertips, allowing passengers to move through security faster. The biometrics are turned into an encrypted code and stored in a secure, cloud-based system, so that when someone approaches a machine in an airport or venue, a scan of their iris and fingerprint can identify them in seconds.
A Clear airport kiosk uses biometrics to scan passengers.
While the first iteration shut down in 2009, the service relaunched with new ownership at Orlando International Airport in 2010. Today, it’s run by a technology company based in New York and has been certified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As Clear CEO Caryn Seidman-Becker told Traveler in 2018, the certification means Clear has been qualified as anti-terrorism technology. She explained the partnership between Clear and the Department of Homeland Security, which hinges on a common goal of making life safer for travelers, and noted that the partnership does not include the sharing of personal information. “We will not sell or share your data unless subpoenaed,” she said.
Most importantly, more and more airports have added Clear security lanes, and partnerships with airlines like Delta and United, both of which have an ownership stake in the company, gave it an even bigger boost. At the beginning of 2017, 17 airports were on board; by October 2019, it was at 26; now, a few months later, it’s up to 33. The service is available at other public spaces like arenas, stadiums, car rental facilities, and a few boarding areas. Clear hopes to eventually move into medical offices, hospitals, and even check-out lines at stores.
As of January 2020, Clear is available in 33 airports across the United States. Here is a complete list of airports Clear operates in:
As noted above, at some airports, there is a Clear lane for those picking up a Hertz rental car. At those locations, a Clear machine scans your biometrics to verify your license and rental reservation on-site, so you can drive off the lot faster. Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members (a free rewards program) can link their accounts online to gain access.
Clear has also expanded into stadiums and arenas where long lines to enter are the norm and safety concerns are increasingly relevant. At a few stadiums, there are concessions lines set up specifically for Clear members to purchase food and drinks. Here is a complete list of stadiums Clear operates in:
You can sign up for Clear today for $179 per year, billed annually, which breaks down to about $15 per month. There are several ways to get a discount, though, depending on what other services you already use. If you are a Delta SkyMiles member, you are eligible for a discount. Delta Diamond Medallion Members get a free annual membership, while Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion Members and Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Members pay $109 a year and general members pay $119 a year. United MileagePlus members are also eligible for discounts: Premier 1K members get an annual membership for free; Premier Platinum, Gold, and Silver members and United U.S. Credit Cardmembers pay $109 a year; and MileagePlus members pay $119 a year.
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Students receive discounts too, paying just $50 per year for up to four years. A valid school email address and student ID are required to sign up. Additionally, the Clear family plan allows anyone who is enrolled to add up to three adults to their plan for $50 each per year, with no restrictions as to who counts as family. Children under 18 don't need to be formally added and can travel through Clear with family for free.
Clear Sports, which only allows access to stadiums, is free.
It really depends which airports you fly in and out of regularly and how often you do so. For frequent fliers, the cost makes more sense. If you're loyal to a specific airline, it might be beneficial too. As noted above, even at the airports where Clear is in place, not every terminal has machines, so it’s worth cross-checking your airport with the airline or airlines you fly most often if you’re on the fence.
While services like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are plenty popular, there are advantages to having both. Clear eliminates the need to have a TSA agent look at your ID and boarding pass, but you still have to go through a physical screening. Once scanned in, Clear representatives escort members to the screening line. Those with PreCheck go to the TSA PreCheck expedited lanes for baggage screening, and can breeze through without removing electronics from their bag or taking off layers. So even if you have PreCheck, adding on Clear could very well save additional time (more on that below), and vice versa.
However, it is more expensive: TSA PreCheck costs $85 for five years, and Global Entry costs $100 for the same time period, while Clear is more than $100 per year for everyone other than students.
The bottom line: If you prefer to show up to the airport as close to departure time as humanly possible (or if you just detest lines in any form), you’ll benefit from the service. It'll save you more time in transit, so you can take a minute to relax in a lounge, at your gate, or in a Hudson News before boarding your flight. For those still not sure, Traveler editors are here to offer their opinion. Below, insight from a current Clear user and one who gave it up.
“‘Why would I need Clear when I'm already TSA PreCheck?’ I get this question a lot—and before I had Clear, I asked it myself," says city guides director Corina Quinn, who uses the two services together. "Clear works in tandem with PreCheck to get you through security even faster. You kind of need both—though not required—for maximum benefit. I have yet to find a line in the Clear lane—as PreCheck lines grow longer."
