Is a Clear Membership Worth It? Here’s How to Try It for Free to Find Out

18.09.2024 - 00:33 / afar.com / John F.Kennedy

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Even if you have TSA PreCheck, now might be the time to add Clear® to your list of ways to get through airport security faster. Here’s how a Clear® Plus annual membership works (Clear® Plus is just the name of the actual membership, but it’s no different than Clear®): After signing up online and completing a short in-person biometric scan to verify your identity, you’ll be able to walk up to a Clear® kiosk at any airport where there is one (currently available at more than 58 airports nationwide) and scan your fingerprints or eyes (no need to scan your license or passport). Then a Clear® representative will escort you straight to the security checkpoint, bypassing the regular line where the TSA agents check your ID.

With airport security lines commanding extra-long waits nowadays and even TSA PreCheck lines getting longer as membership in that security expediting program grows, Clear® delivers a faster and more efficient airport experience. And with the right credit card or frequent flier affiliation, you can score a free or heavily discounted annual membership.

The price for an annual Clear® Plus membership is $199, but the cost can be lowered through frequent flier memberships, promotional codes, or credit card statement credits. You can also add up to three family members and friends to your account for an extra $60 each per year. Those family members and friends don’t need to travel with you or together to use their memberships. Relatives under 18 years old can always join in the Clear® lane alongside a member at no cost.

Also, if you bundle a Clear® Plus membership with a TSA PreCheck membership, you can get your first year of Clear® Plus for $121.05 instead of $199. TSA PreCheck costs $78 for a five-year membership.

Overall, a Clear® Plus membership is worth it if you regularly fly through any of the dozens of U.S. airports it currently serves, including some of the biggest and busiest airports in the country, such as John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Newark Liberty in New Jersey; Los Angeles International Airport; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; O’Hare International Airport in Chicago;