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CLEAR Plus costs $10 more today than it did yesterday. In other words, if you've been eyeing a membership, you'll now pay $199 annually to enjoy the privileges of expedited airport security instead of $189.
As a result of the changes, cards that offer statement credits to cover the cost of a CLEAR membership have made some adjustments to compensate for the price hike.
Here are the full details of the changes, plus a quick overview of the ways you can save on the cost of enrolling in CLEAR Plus.
CLEAR Raises the Cost of Plus Membership by $10
The news here is pretty straightforward: A CLEAR Plus membership is now even pricier. It's the second time in the past two years that CLEAR has increased its prices. Effective immediately, an individual CLEAR Plus membership costs $199. Building a CLEAR Family commands an additional $119 per person, up from the $99 it cost a short time ago. On the bright side, children under 18 can still join you in the security lane free of charge.
Thankfully, several ways still exist to avoid these now-higher rates entirely or, at the very least, reduce their impact on your wallet.
Related: Why Having Expedited Security Clearance At The Airport Is More Important Than Ever
How to get CLEAR Plus for free (or nearly free)
Within hours of the new prices going live, American Express hiked the CLEAR Plus statement credit on six cards from $189 to $199. That means the following cards can still cover the cost of an individual membership, provided you enroll in the benefit before paying for CLEAR:
- American Express® Green Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- The American Express Corporate Platinum Card®
- Centurion® Card from American Express
CLEAR also partners with several airlines to offer loyalty program members and elite status holders discounts. On the high end, some programs will comp your annual membership.
At the time of writing, airlines offering discounts, bonus miles, or complimentary CLEAR memberships have yet to price in CLEAR's new rates. The benefits or discounts may increase at some point, so it might be worth taking advantage of current rates — or holding off on these promotions for a few days to wait and see if better promotions are offered.
Related: You Can Now Sign Up for CLEAR and TSA PreCheck Together. Is It a Good Idea?
Final Thoughts
It's never fun to write about things that cost more today than yesterday. That said, with several methods of getting a CLEAR Plus membership for free or at a significantly reduced rate, this news shouldn't hit too hard. If you're after a CLEAR membership, check for cardholder benefits and/or airline discounts before you enroll; you should never have to pay full price for an individual membership.
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