Frustrated Travelers Say Using Clear Is Taking Longer Than Waiting in Regular TSA Lines at the Airport

21.12.2023 - 22:11 / travelandleisure.com

Popular time-saving service Clear, which advertises to travelers the opportunity to “get to your gate faster" has recently become a topic of conversation online due to longer wait times in comparison to regular security lines. 

“I’m confused as to how I have Clear and stood in line for an hour to get through security,” a. Los Angeles-based traveler shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

With another sharing that they canceled their subscription after 12 years due to the long lines.

«The Clear lines are longer than the regular lines, with correspondingly longer wait times,» the traveler wrote. Why should I pay to wait longer to get through airport security? The value just isn't there any more."

Echoing that sentiment, a traveler also said that they're considering canceling.

«I used to love @Clear but the past 8-10 times at the Austin airport, the Clear lines have been longer than Precheck (which is cheaper than Clear),» the traveler said. «I probably won't renew Clear unless I see improvements soon.»

Clear costs $189 per year.

Matthew Rodrigues, a television host in Chicago, additionally told Travel + Leisure he has stepped out of the Clear line for his last several business trips from Midway Airport. 

“I realize Clear is a luxury but it’s one that I pay for," he told T+L. «It’s been pretty disappointing showing up to the airport and realizing that the normal TSA Precheck line is empty and the Clear line is backed up dozens deep,”

For its part, In a statement to Travel + Leisure, CLEAR spotlights how airports are busier this time of year and how the company is taking steps to invest in new technologies to minimize wait times. 

“Airports across the country are experiencing the busiest air travel period ever and Clear will continue to work as a force multiplier to verify identity, freeing up TSA resources to keep our airports and travelers safe,” a spokesperson for Clear shared with T+L. »Our top priority is helping Clear Members move through airport security safely and easily, and we have increased our airport staffing to assist travelers, meet travel demands, and help our Members speed through the Clear Lane during this holiday rush."

The company also shared that they're rolling out their NextGen Identity+ upgrade option «to deliver an even faster and more frictionless airport experience.»

The new program may also lead to longer lines as its introduced.

For what it's worth, there were a few fans of the program, appreciative that it got them through security fast.

«Atlanta is the busiest airport in the entire world,» a Clear user shared. «I was just happy to walk past all the long lines with CLEAR and Pre-Check saving me bigtime [sic] yesterday evening.»

2023 has been a record year for travel according