How To Use Your Amex CLEAR+ Credit To Unlock a Seamless Airport Security Experience

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Most people know the pain of standing in a slow-moving, never-ending line at airport security. For many, credit cards that offer TSA PreCheck enrollment or renewal fee credits are a lifesaver, allowing cardholders to enter the shorter, quicker-moving PreCheck line.

But you may have noticed a third airport security line: the CLEAR lane. Those willing to shell out over $200 annually for a CLEAR+ membership can access these exclusive, often short lines. If you've ever jealously watched travelers breeze through security with a fingerprint or iris scan, you may be in luck. That’s because several American Express cards offer full reimbursement for your CLEAR+ membership each year. This means you could enjoy the convenience of expedited security without the hefty price tag. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.

Here's how the benefit works and which cards offer it.

What Is CLEAR+?

CLEAR+ is a paid subscription service that uses biometric data (like your fingerprints or facial features) to verify your identity, letting you bypass the traditional TSA ID check and head straight to the physical security screening line.

At most CLEAR+ lanes, you scan your boarding pass and verify your identity using CLEAR’s face-first technology at a CLEAR Pod. CLEAR is also rolling out automated eGates, which make the process even faster. I’ve gotten to try these eGates at a few airports, and I really liked how efficient they are. You can scan your face and head directly to bag screening without stopping at a CLEAR Pod or TSA podium or waiting for a CLEAR Ambassador to escort you through the checkpoint.

For the speediest trip through airport security, CLEAR+ works alongside TSA PreCheck. CLEAR handles the identity verification, and you can still use the PreCheck lane for screening.

CLEAR+ currently offers more than 150 dedicated lanes across over 60 U.S. airports.

Credit: CLEAR

Which Amex Cards Offer CLEAR Credits?

Five American Express cards offer up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year when you use them to cover the cost of a CLEAR+ membership:

For the consumer and business cards, the credit is capped at $219 per calendar year, per card account, even if purchases are made by Additional Card Members. For the Corporate Platinum card, each eligible Corporate Platinum Card Member can receive up to $219 in CLEAR+ statement credits per calendar year.

How Does the Amex CLEAR Credit Work?

Using the Amex CLEAR+ credit is simple:

1. Sign up for a CLEAR+ membership, or log in to your existing CLEAR account.
2. Pay for your membership with an eligible American Express card.
3. Amex will automatically issue statement credits for eligible CLEAR+ charges, up to $219 per calendar year.

There’s no separate Amex activation required. Just make sure your eligible card is the payment method on your CLEAR+ account.

It’s worth noting that CLEAR+ memberships automatically renew, so the card saved to your CLEAR account will be charged each year unless you cancel or change your payment method.

How long does it take the Amex CLEAR credit to post?

In my experience, the credit posted in less than a week, but Amex’s terms say it can take up to eight weeks. As long as you use an eligible card for the purchase, the statement credit should show up automatically.

What if you already have CLEAR?

Existing CLEAR members can still take advantage of the credit. Just update your payment method to your eligible Amex card.

You can also use your credit to pay for someone else’s membership. I have more than one eligible card, so I use one to cover my membership and another to pay for my husband’s. The great thing for families is that children under 18 can accompany a parent through CLEAR without needing their own membership. So, with just two memberships, our whole family can use the CLEAR lane.

Can you stack the Amex CLEAR credit with other discounts?

Yes! Some airlines offer discounted CLEAR membership rates for loyalty program members. For example, both United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, and Atmos Rewards offer discounted CLEAR+ memberships, with rates starting at $129 for certain elite members and complimentary access for their highest-tier flyers.

If your discounted CLEAR+ membership costs less than $219, the rest of your annual Amex credit remains available for other eligible CLEAR+ charges that calendar year. For example, if your membership costs $179, you could still use the remaining $40 toward another eligible CLEAR+ charge.

Already have CLEAR+? You can link your airline loyalty number to your existing membership and any eligible discount will apply at your next renewal.

That can be especially useful for families. CLEAR lets you add up to three adult family members or friends to your account for $125 each. Since those additional memberships are charged to the card on file, any remaining Amex CLEAR+ credit can help offset the cost.

New members can also bundle CLEAR+ with TSA PreCheck for $219. Under one offer, new members can pay $219 for CLEAR+, enroll in TSA PreCheck through CLEAR within seven days and receive a refund of the TSA PreCheck fee after completing enrollment. Since the $219 charge is for CLEAR+, it can qualify for reimbursement through an eligible Amex card. Check the current offer terms before enrolling.

Is the Amex CLEAR+ Credit Worth It?

For me, the Amex CLEAR+ credit has become a benefit I genuinely value. My family now uses CLEAR pretty much every time we fly. Sometimes it only saves us a few minutes compared with TSA PreCheck, but other times the difference is significant. And I’ve become a big fan of the newer eGates, which make the process especially quick and seamless.

I still wouldn’t value the credit at the full cost of a CLEAR+ membership, since I’m not sure I’d pay that much out of pocket. But when I recently considered whether I should cancel my Platinum Card^®, I realized this was one of the benefits I would actually miss. The credit covers a service we use regularly, and that gives it real value to me even if I don’t assign it the full $219.

CLEAR+ is rolling out new EGates, which speed up security even more. Credit: Clear+

Bottom Line

If you have one of the five eligible Amex cards, a CLEAR+ membership is an easy win. The credit fully covers the cost of a standard membership, which is a great way to make airport security faster and more convenient without the hefty fee. And if you want to stretch the value even further, don’t forget — you can stack the credit with loyalty discounts for even more savings.

For frequent travelers, especially those who already use TSA PreCheck, it can be a surprisingly valuable perk.