Unlock Faster Security With CLEAR^® Plus — Where To Use It and How To Save

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Navigating the airport can be taxing on travelers. There are often many pain points before passengers get on their plane. Fortunately, several services are available to help travelers quickly get through the airport. One of these services is CLEAR^® Plus — which lets you skip to the front of the security line at airports, as well as concert venues and stadiums.

Let's review the ins and outs of CLEAR Plus to help you decide if it's worth signing up for a membership — including how you might be able to do so for no out-of-pocket cost.

What Is The Difference Between CLEAR and CLEAR Plus?

CLEAR is an identity verification platform that provides expedited security screening at airports, stadiums, and arenas. A free CLEAR membership grants fast access to sports and events, allowing you to use designated CLEAR lanes at stadiums, venues, and arenas.

Using CLEAR Sports & Events typically helps you reach your seat faster for concerts, games, and other events. All you need is the free CLEAR app. At an eligible venue, you can log in or enroll by taking a quick selfie. You’ll then receive a QR code to show the ambassador in the CLEAR lane.

CLEAR Plus is an upgraded paid membership that allows travelers to skip to the front of TSA security lines at eligible airports. It verifies a member's identity using biometric data, such as fingerprints or eye scans. Once verified, a CLEAR ambassador escorts the traveler to the front of the TSA line.

While a CLEAR Plus membership includes access to Sports & Events, free CLEAR members cannot use expedited airport lines unless they upgrade to the paid membership.

Credit: CLEAR

How Does CLEAR Plus Work?

When you arrive at the entrance to the CLEAR Plus lane, a representative will first check your boarding pass. Next, the representative will direct you to a kiosk for biometric authentication via your fingerprint or eye scan.

Once you've been verified at the kiosk, the representative will bring you to the front of the TSA line, skipping past the rest of the line. If you're enrolled in TSA PreCheck, you'll be brought to the front of that line. Otherwise, you'll go to the front of the general security line.

Related: Why Having Expedited Security Is More Important Than Ever

Where Can You Use CLEAR Plus?

CLEAR Plus can be used at numerous primary airports, stadiums, and venues in the United States. Click here to view the current list of places with CLEAR lanes.

Airport locations

You can use CLEAR Plus at nearly 60 airports in the United States (plus its territories). This list of airports includes some of the biggest gateways in the United States, such as Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Look for the CLEAR Plus lanes near the security scanning areas at the following airports:

Stadiums, arenas, and venues

You can use CLEAR Plus at nearly 20 stadiums, venues, and arenas within the United States. These locations include Madison Square Garden in New York, Oracle Park in San Francisco, and Coors Field in Denver. Those CLEAR Plus can enter the location via the CLEAR lane, scan their QR code from the CLEAR app, and be allowed into the venue. The CLEAR lane at stadiums, venues, and arenas is also available to free CLEAR members.

CLEAR Plus Membership Pricing: How Much Does It Cost?

CLEAR Plus membership currently costs $199 per year. The primary member can add up to three family members at $119 each. Family members under 18 can join the primary member through the CLEAR Plus line for free.

However, many travelers can avoid paying this list price for CLEAR Plus.

How to get CLEAR Plus for free with credit cards

The easiest way to save on the cost of a CLEAR Plus membership is by carrying a card that reimburses the membership cost. Right now, the following cards (all issued by Amex) offer such a benefit:

• American Express^® Green Card
• The Platinum Card^® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
• Centurion^® Card from American Express

After you enroll in the benefit, charge your CLEAR Plus membership to one of these cards, and you will receive a statement credit (up to $199 for the [CC_AWIN_ShortName slug=AmexGreen], Amex Platinum, Business Platinum Card, and Hilton Aspire; up to $369 for the Amex Centurion Card) within six to eight weeks. The CLEAR Plus membership will automatically renew on that card annually until it is canceled. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.

Credit: CLEAR

Airline discounts for CLEAR Plus

Travelers can get a discount on CLEAR Plus simply by being a member of certain airline mileage programs. And, depending on your elite status with certain airlines, you can get a free membership or take advantage of even better discounts on the cost of a CLEAR Plus membership.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

All Mileage Plan members — regardless of elite tier — can enroll at the same discounted price of $189. Elite status members also receive bonus miles when signing up for and renewing their CLEAR Plus membership. MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75k, and MVP Gold 100k members will receive 1,500 miles for enrolling in CLEAR Plus for the first time at the $189 rate, and 1,250 miles for renewing/reinstating their CLEAR Plus accounts at the $189 rate.

Delta SkyMiles

All Delta SkyMiles members get discounts on CLEAR. General SkyMiles members can get an annual membership for $189. If you have a Delta credit card, Delta Silver, Gold, or Platinum Medallion status, you can get a membership for $159.

Diamond Medallion and Delta 360° members can get a CLEAR Plus membership for free.

HawaiianMiles

General HawaiianMiles members can get an annual membership for $189. You can drop the price to $159 if you have Pualani Gold or Platinum Elite — or have a Premier Club membership.

Pualani Platinum members, who have flown 75,000 or more flight miles within the previous or current calendar year, are eligible for a free CLEAR Plus membership.

United MileagePlus

United's partnership with CLEAR Plus offers general MileagePlus members an annual membership for $189. You can drop the price to $159 if you have a United credit card, United Premier Silver, Gold, or Platinum elite status.

United Premier 1K and Global Services members can get a CLEAR Plus membership for free.

CLEAR Plus enrollment promotions

Occasionally, CLEAR will partner with other brands to offer promotions. Some of the promotions have included bonus miles for signing up for a membership, an Uber gift card, and United TravelBank credit.

How To Sign Up for CLEAR Plus

To sign up for CLEAR Plus, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. When you sign up for CLEAR Plus, you will need one of these forms of photo identification to complete your enrollment:

• U.S. driver's license
• U.S. passport book
• State-issued ID

You can begin your enrollment online and finish it at a CLEAR Plus location, or you can complete the entire enrollment process at a CLEAR Plus location. The first steps can be done from home and take five to 10 minutes to complete. Enrollment requires answering identity verification questions, showing a photo ID, and providing payment for the membership.

You'll then need to have your fingerprints and eyes scanned at a CLEAR Plus location to add your biometric information to your account.

Credit: CLEAR

Curb-to-CLEAR and Curb-to-Gate

CLEAR Plus members can add on one of the paid Ambassador Assist services: Curb-to-CLEAR or Curb-to-Gate. These two paid options are currently available at Denver International Airport (DEN), Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., and Orlando International Airport (MCO).

With Curb-to-CLEAR, an ambassador will meet you when you arrive, help with your luggage, and take you through the security checkpoint, bringing you through the CLEAR Plus lane. Curb-to-gate does all of the above, but goes one step further with the ambassador bringing you to your gate, a restaurant, or a lounge.

The ambassador will coordinate a meeting point with you via text message before you arrive at the airport. CLEAR is currently offering limited-time special pricing starting at $24.50 for Curb-to-CLEAR and $74.50 for Curb-to-Gate.

Credit: CLEAR

You must make a reservation for these services online at least 10 hours in advance. Reservations are refundable if canceled at least 12 hours before the appointment time. All travelers in your party aged 18 and up need to be CLEAR Plus members, but children 17 and younger can join paid members for free. Ambassadors cannot wait with you at the gate, bring you from a lounge to the gate, watch your children or pets, accompany minors, or accept tips.

CLEAR Plus vs. TSA PreCheck: What's the Difference?

CLEAR Plus allows travelers to move to the front of the security line (either regular or TSA PreCheck) by going through the CLEAR Plus lane and verifying their identity via biometric technology. TSA PreCheck allows travelers to go through a shorter security line (in most cases) and have less intensive security screening.

While CLEAR Plus typically costs $199 per year, TSA PreCheck costs vary depending on which of the three enrollment partners you apply through. For first-time enrollees, a five-year TSA PreCheck membership costs $76.75 via Idemia, $77.95 via CLEAR, or $85 via Telos. Online renewals for another five years of TSA PreCheck membership cost $58.75 via Idemia, $68.95 via CLEAR, or $70 via Telos. In-person renewals cost $66.75 via Idemia, $70 via Telos, or $77.95 via CLEAR.

But to sweeten the deal, CLEAR is offering $199 for the first year of CLEAR Plus membership and a five-year TSA PreCheck membership (thus making TSA PreCheck free for the first five years!) for first-time enrollees. Here's how to take advantage of this offer.

Related: Expedited Security Screening Programs: How To Get Them for Free

Do I need TSA PreCheck if I have CLEAR Plus?

TSA PreCheck and CLEAR Plus complement each other. CLEAR Plus allows travelers to move to the front of the security line (yes, even the TSA PreCheck line).

Once travelers have been verified and allowed into the TSA PreCheck screening area, they can have an expedited scanning process that doesn't involve removing belts or shoes and technology items from luggage. Using both of these programs together can speed travelers through the security sections of the airport.

Credit: CLEAR

Is CLEAR Plus Worth the Cost?

CLEAR Plus can be a valuable service that helps travelers speed travelers through the airport. Supplementing CLEAR Plus with other airport security services like TSA PreCheck can accelerate your path from curb to gate even further.

There are also credit cards and airline loyalty programs that can reduce or pay for the membership entirely. Ultimately, CLEAR Plus can be an excellent service if you often fly through airports with CLEAR Plus lanes.

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