CLEAR Airport & Stadium Security Review: Is it worth it? [2022]

Have you ever wanted to shave off time and avoid those long security lines at airports and stadiums? Well, with CLEAR that is now a possibility. CLEAR is a subscription service that replaces your ID with your fingerprints or iris using technology. It works with both TSA Pre-Check and regular TSA security to allow you to cut in front of every person in the TSA ID check line.

But is CLEAR worth it? In this review, I will tell you everything you need to know about CLEAR and then give my impressions and thoughts after using CLEAR. I’ll also show you which airports and stadiums have CLEAR and how to enroll.

What is CLEAR?

CLEAR uses your biometrics to clear you through ID check at airports and stadiums so that you can avoid the lines to get through security in VIP fashion.

At airports, CLEAR works in conjunction with regular TSA lines and TSA Pre-Check lines. So, if you don’t have Pre-Check, you will go through the regular TSA line. If you have Pre-Check, you go through the pre-check lines.

I recommend getting TSA Pre-Check as it makes security easier and you can easily find credit cards that offer TSA Pre-Check credits.

CLEAR is also available at stadiums. CLEAR at stadiums allow you to bypass the ID check line and go straight to the front.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Image via CLEAR

Which airports have CLEAR?

CLEAR is available at 50+ locations which include the following:

  • Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
  • Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
  • Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
  • Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD)
  • Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
  • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
  • Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
  • John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
  • Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  • William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
  • Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Miami International Airport (MIA)
  • Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
  • Nashville International Airport (BNA)
  • Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
  • LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Westchester County Airport (HPN)
  • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
  • Oakland International Airport (OAK)
  • Ontario International Airport (ONT)
  • Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  • Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
  • Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  • Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
  • Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  • San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
  • San Diego International Airport (SAN)
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
  • St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  • Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Which stadiums have CLEAR?

CLEAR can be found at different stadiums across the country.

This means you can avoid the long ID check lines while entering stadiums and also enter in priority lines for concessions. Nothing is worse than missing part of the game while you wait in a long and winding line for some nachos!

You can find CLEAR at these stadiums (most are baseball venues currently):

  • Arlington/Dallas – Globe Life Park
  • Atlanta – Truist Park (No Longer Available)
  • Austin – Darrell K. Royal Stadium
  • Baltimore – Oriole Park at Camden Yards (No Longer Available)
  • Cleveland – Progressive Field (No Longer Available)
  • Denver – Coors Field
  • Detroit – Comerica Park (No Longer Available)
  • Los Angeles – Dodger Stadium (No Longer Available), Crypto.com Arena formerly Staples Center, and Banc of California Stadium
  • Miami – FTX Arena formerly AmericanAirlines Arena and Marlins Park (No Longer Available)
  • Minneapolis – Target Field
  • New York – Citi Field (No Longer Available), Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium
  • Oakland – Alameda County Coliseum (No Longer Available)
  • San Antonio – AT&T Center
  • San Francisco – Oracle Park formerly AT&T Park
  • San Jose – PayPal Park formerly Avaya Stadium
  • Seattle – T-Mobile Park (No Longer Available) and CenturyLink Field (No Longer Available)
  • Washington DC – Capital One Arena

You can view the specific locations for the CLEAR benefits for each stadium on the CLEAR website. For example, here are the entry points for Yankee Stadium in New York.

Stadium with CLEAR

Babe Ruth Plaza

  • CLEAR Lanes open 1.5 hours before game time
  • Located between Gate 4 and Gate 6

Suite Entrance (ticket holders only)

  • CLEAR Lanes open 1.5 hours before game time
  • Located at Gate 4
Enjoy CLEAR at sporting events.

Cool CLEAR services

CLEAR does offer some unique services that make travel or attending sporting events more enjoyable.

Here are some services that have been available in the past:

  • Delta Sky Club members could access Sky Clubs using CLEAR for a one-touch solution at all 50 US Sky Club locations.
  • At Citi Field, you could access the stadium without your phone or stub
  • Concession stands at Seattle stadiums used CLEAR for the age verification instead of pulling out your ID to show to the clerk
Sky Club CLEAR fingerprint scanner. Image via Delta

How much does CLEAR cost?

You can obtain CLEAR in different ways with varying prices.

Standard CLEAR subscription

CLEAR uses the yearly subscription model, and the regular price for CLEAR is $189 a year. You can add up to three adult family members for only $50/year each. Also, kids under 18 are free and don’t need to enroll.

Your CLEAR membership automatically renews each year for an additional 12 month period at the annual full member rate.

Delta SkyMiles discount

If you are a Delta SkyMiles member, you can get CLEAR for $119 a year. If you hold Delta Silver, Gold, or Platinum Medallion status, you can get CLEAR for $109 a year. Delta Diamond Medallion members get CLEAR for free. You can access the exclusive CLEAR rate for SkyMiles members here.

United MileagePlus discount 

If you are a United MileagePlus member, you can get CLEAR for $119 a year. If you hold United Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum, or US United Credit Card, you can get CLEAR for $109 a year. Premier 1K members get CLEAR for free. You can access the exclusive CLEAR rate for United members here.

Amex Green Card

The Amex Green Card offers a $100 annual credit for CLEAR memberships.

CLEAR free trial

CLEAR typically runs free trials. If you end up signing up for CLEAR at the airport as I did, you will likely only get a one-month free trial but other times you can find longer trials. For example, I received an offer for a two-month trial via email. 

The nice thing about CLEAR is the ability to cancel and get a refund for the remaining months you have left for that subscription year. 

The CLEAR experience

The CLEAR experience begins by you selecting the right line to enter.

Some CLEAR lines feed into both the standard TSA line and TSA Pre-Check but sometimes there is a dedicated CLEAR line for TSA Pre-Check

You’ll enter the CLEAR lane and then CLEAR ambassadors will guide you to the pod to perform the biometric and boarding pass scans.

You can scan your fingerprints or eyes but I always scan my eyes.

It may take you a few reps to get the hang of it but you’ll need to properly distance yourself from the eye scanner until you see the green light.

Using a CLEAR eye scanner

After the pod verifies it’s you with a valid boarding pass, the ambassador will escort you to the TSA officer where you will be able to jump the line.

Some of the ambassadors are a bit indifferent but others are very pleasant to deal with.

CLEAR TSA Pre-Check lane at LGA Terminal C

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Enrolling in CLEAR

There are two different ways to enroll in CLEAR. You can enroll in CLEAR online or at the airport/stadium.

Enrolling via the website

The best way to enroll is via their own website, and the other way is with a recruiter. When you signup for CLEAR online you can use referral codes or get super long free trials that last more than 3-months.

Enrolling online is easy and you can do so here.

Simply follow that link, and input some of your basic personal information such as your name and birthdate. Then, you will be prompted to input your payment information and just like that you will have completed the first step of enrolling.

Once you enroll online, you will mention to the ambassador that you completed the online enrollment and just have to finish the verification process. Once the verification process is done, you will be cleared to go through security.

Image via CLEAR

Enrolling at the airport or stadium

You can also enroll for CLEAR at airports or stadiums.

I ended up signing up for CLEAR through a recruiter at the airport for a month free trial, which is not ideal. However, I was running late for my flight, and the TSA Pre-Check line was too long. Within 2 minutes I enrolled. After enrollment, I went through security. I then later got matched for a 3-month free trial by emailing CLEAR.

In rare cases, CLEAR ambassadors trying to recruit members can be a little too pushy and annoying. I have nothing against them, but I have encountered about two recruiters at DTW that kept pushing the sale on people that said no.

Enrolling for CLEAR at a stadium is similar. You will usually see big banners for CLEAR and recruiters will help you through the enrollment process. Once you are done, you are on your way to grab some drinks, snacks, and relax before the game or event.

Image via CLEAR

Is CLEAR worth it?

CLEAR is worth it for frequent fliers.

However, for others it may not be worth the fee.

When I am in the US, I fly an average of one or two times domestically a month, but I cannot justify the $109 a year fee since I am a medallion member.

I travel with my partner who isn’t a US citizen or a permanent resident so they can’t use CLEAR. (One has to be a US citizen or permanent resident for CLEAR membership.)

CLEAR is also rather limited to which airports services on an international level. CLEAR is a domestic product and isn’t available outside of the US. For me, I cannot see paying the $109 yearly fee for just me and only usable within the US.

CLEAR FAQ

How much does CLEAR cost?

The annual subscription price is $189. You can add up to three adult family members for only $50 a year each.

How can I get a discount on CLEAR?

You can get a $100 annual credit with the Amex Green Card.

You can also get discounts when you have elite status with other airlines such as Delta and United.

How do I enroll in CLEAR?

You can enroll at the airport or online. Enrolling online is easy and you can do so here.

Does CLEAR work with TSA Pre-Check?

Yes, you can skip ahead to the TSA Pre-Check line when you have CLEAR.

Final word

When CLEAR works, it’s an excellent service. I love the ambassadors working at the pods. It’s a VIP experience for cutting the line.

Moreover, when CLEAR doesn’t work, it’s a little disappointing. It’s a service that you pay, but you cannot use properly because of inaccurate biometric scanners on the pods that aren’t as good as other biometric scanners on other kiosks.

This article was originally published by Steve Smith.

Fenway Park: Parking, CLEAR, and a Rowdy Atmosphere

Fenway Park is the most beloved and legendary park in all of baseball and possibly even sports as a whole.

We recently experienced an ALCS game at Fenway Park versus MLB’s darlings, the Houston Astros, and it was quite the night out.

In this article, I’ll talk about how we found parking, used CLEAR, and what the atmosphere was like for a visiting Astros fan at Fenway Park during the ALCS.

Getting to the game

There are multiple ways to get to Fenway including using the “T” (Boston’s subway system). If relying on the T, you can take it to Kenmore and Fenway stations via the Green Line. 

As for us, because we were coming from Salem, we chose to just drive to the park, which wasn’t a bad drive at all and took about 35 minutes for us tops.

Fenway parking tips

We did some research on Fenway Park and found that one of the easiest ways to park for cheap would be to reserve a spot at one of the various parking garages in the area.

If you’re willing to make a short walk of 20 or 30 minutes you can find some very reasonable rates at around $25 or lower.

It sounds like finding parking is only a major issue for day games when all the workers are still occupying parking garages.

Our game was at night but because this was a playoff game we wanted to make sure we had parking so we used the app ParkWhiz to make our reservation.

Using the app, you can look up your game and select your parking which makes things really easy. Or you can simply select a specific duration of hours (the average MLB game is three hours, 10 minutes).

We ended up reserving a spot at 220 Huntington Ave – The Midtown Hotel Garage.

The price was $25 and required us to walk 20 minutes to Fenway Park but that was all.

We did have an issue checking out, though.

I think it was because the pass was technically only valid until 10:08pm (4 hours after the first pitch) and this game lasted close to midnight.

We couldn’t get out of the garage but the attendant just ended up manually putting us through.

So it wasn’t a huge deal but it something you may want to look into before leaving the garage.

Some of the other parking options you might want to look into on the app include:

  • 50 Dalton St
  • 35 Westland Ave
  • 220 Huntington Ave

If you are willing to shell out more money like $40 to $50 then you can look into these spots:

  • 549 Commonwealth Avenue
  • 771 Beacon St
  • 13 Burlington Ave

You can also find close but pricey options here.

Parking garage used for Fenway Park

Our unique parking situation

We were coming from Salem where we stayed at the Hampton Inn Salem and checked out Salem Witch Trial sites and Hocus Pocus filming locations.

We had already done quite a bit of walking that day so we decided to utilize two separate parking garages while in Boston.

First, we would park in a garage that would allow us to explore a little bit of Boston before the game.

Then, to preserve time, we would later hop to a garage that was closer to Fenway.

We first parked at the Boston Common Garage for $12 — no reservations were needed but the area was very busy.

This allowed us to check out the iconic cobblestoned Acorn Street.

After taking that step back in time, we walked to the North End of Boston which was a beautiful fall evening walk during sunset.

Once there, we were figuring things out as we went and decided to try out a restaurant on a whim.

So we got some Italian grub from Trattoria Il Panino. It’s a nice restaurant offering outdoor dining that served up tasty Ravioli di Ricotta on a sauce pan. It did not disappoint.

Trattoria Il Panino

Then it was time to try out the legendary cannolis from Mike’s Pastry.

These things were so good that a few weeks later we had some delivered to our house in Arizona via GoldBelly.

Cannoli box in hand, we walked back to our car at Boston Common and then drove to the parking garage that was closer to Fenway.

On the ride over, I decided it was an opportune time to eat one of the cannolis so that I would be super-charged for the game.

Turns out the cannolis were a lot bigger than I thought they were and a lot more filling.

I was ready to burst on the 15-minute walk to Fenway.

I’m not sure our parking strategy was the best plan because we didn’t really save that much walking time.

But there were two perks.

  • We were cutting things very close due to eating that spur of the moment dinner so we needed every second we could get.
  • We spent less time walking through unfamiliar streets at midnight.

CLEAR at Fenway Park

Fenway Park is one of the select stadiums that offers CLEAR, which is a biometric service that allows you to bypass security lines at airports and stadiums.

Based on the CLEAR website it seems that this may only be available for the MLB postseason but that could’ve also just been the first experiment with CLEAR.

CLEAR might be standard in the future for not just all baseball games but other events as well.

Fenway Park CLEAR

I’ve used CLEAR at the airport before but I had never used it at a stadium so I was really interested to see how it would work.

We initially approached Fenway from the Gate D area where there was an extremely long line about 30 minutes prior to the game.

We really wanted to try CLEAR so, after learning Jersey Street is not open for through traffic on game days, we made the circuitous journey around the park on Van Ness St until we got to Gate E on Lansdowne St.

Here, there was no line for CLEAR and so we were able to get up to the kiosk quickly. (The hardest part was just making it through the throngs of people.)

The agent asked if we had added Fenway Park to our profiles and we previously added all stadiums so we were good to go. (It only takes a couple of seconds to add a stadium in the CLEAR app.)

The CLEAR kiosks did not seem to be as responsive as the machines used in airports.

There was a huge lag in the camera recognition software and it almost felt like these were knock off machines.

We were still able to get through security quickly and show tickets without having to wait in any kind of line so from that perspective it was a success.

The good and bad seats at Fenway Park

We spent $746.50 (inclusive of all fees) on two tickets from StubHub.

Luckily, we had a special offer on our Citi Premier card which allowed us to save $50 so the total price really came out to: $696.50 for two ALCS tickets, which wasn’t that bad considering the bucket list venue of Fenway.

I did want to shed some light on the seats at Fenway.

If you’re sitting in the Grandstand there are a lot of columns that will obstruct your view.

If you’re in one of the upper rows there are TV monitors on the columns you can rely on for when you can’t see what’s going on.

But if you’re up close to the columns you won’t be able to see those TVs without enduring the worlds biggest neck cramp.

I did some specific research on seats that were not obstructed and found this website which broke down Grandstand 27 which is where we were.

Unfortunately, I’m not sure what standard they use for “obstructed” but Row 1, Seat 2 was NOT listed as a seat with an obstructed view even though it was very much obstructed by a huge column.

I thought I had done my research so it was disappointing to see that seat was not so great.

Luckily, we had empty seats to the left of us so we were able to scoot and have a nice few for the most part.

Fenway Park Grandstand 27 row 1 view

Being a visiting fan at Fenway

We booked a trip back in June hitting up 13 different states in the Northeast region in about eight days.

We were running around DC, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, and then Massachusetts.

It just so happened that the Astros were playing at Fenway on one of the two nights that we were in the Boston area.

It felt like it was a sign that we had to go to the game so we decided to grab a ticket last minute.

That meant that we did not have Astros gear with us.

It would’ve been nice to rep the Astros but also I wasn’t sure how hostile the environment would be so it was kind of nice to be a little under cover.

I had heard stories of opposing fans getting constantly pelted with peanuts and even had beers thrown at them so I was still a little bit undecided on if I would have even worn my Astros gear if I had it with me.

Astros gear or not, it really didn’t matter because after we refused the first round of high fives from surrounding Boston fans they realized we had penetrated enemy lines.

Everyone was still cool with us though.

I also did not see any Houston fans getting harassed in Astros gear.

It seem like as long as you are not talking a lot of smack to other Red Sox fans, you should probably be okay.

The “Fenway feeling”

There’s something I’m calling the “Fenway feeling.”

I’m not even a diehard baseball fan but I am an overall pretty big sports fan. I’m also a huge fan of history.

That’s probably why it felt sort of sublime as the game began.

Thinking about the history of the park and all of the amazing athletes that have played at this field was something special.

And on top of that there is just the bucket-list aspect of attending a game at Fenway.

I didn’t get the same feeling at Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium.

To be fair, the Astros were not the opposing team (and not playing in the ALCS) when I visited those stadiums, so I wasn’t nearly as invested in those games.

But still, maybe it is fact that Fenway is the oldest stadium. Maybe it was the full moon. But something just felt a bit spellbinding watching the game from the grandstand.

Food

I thought about ordering some clam chowder but it felt sort of like a noob move.

Plus, I was pretty much still stuffed from the Italian food from the North End plus the cannoli.

Later on, I heard people talking about how good the chowder was and so I sort of regretted not trying it out.

We did however try out the Fenway Dog which from everything I could tell was just a regular hot dog. It didn’t quite measure up to eating a Chicago dog at Wrigley but it was still pretty good.

Atmosphere during the game

The atmosphere at Fenway was intense, fun, and a little brutal.

I’d never been a visiting fan to any stadium for any sport before, so this was quite the way to get my first visiting fan experience.

As one would expect, there was no shortage of obscene remarks directed towards the Astros.

The boos weren’t your normal boos, either — there was something extra salient about them. You could just feel the hate raining down.

Then there were endless cheers and random shouts of “f**k Altuve!” even when he wasn’t up to bat.

“It’s all a part of baseball,” I kept telling myself.

One of the heckles that stuck out the most was a stadium-wide taunt directed at Astros’ pitcher Zack Greinke.

As he got up on the mound, the entire stands joined together for a chorus of mind games shouting:

“Greinkeeee, Greinkeeee, Greinkeeee….”

A second later, a Boston player ripped a homer over the Green Monster to Lansdowne Street. The venue went into a frenzy.

Meanwhile, I was quietly dying on the inside.

As an opposing fan, I couldn’t believe how intense the atmosphere felt.

What started off as an almost zen-like experience transitioned into what felt like an all-out assault on my home-town tribe.

I started to realize that watching your team in a high-stakes game behind enemy lines comes with its costs.

Normally, I watch big playoff and championship games solo — it’s just easier that way.

Also, if I’m watching in my living room and my team starts sucking, I can just change the channel and then come back a little while later.

But when you’re at an opposing stadium, with tens of thousands of crazy fans, there’s no mute button.

I was getting so into the game my Apple Watch sent me notifications about my heart jumping out of my chest.

To help deal with the intensity of the game, and to appease our curiosity, we made some rounds through the stadium to check out other sections.

In some of the sections, security staff was strict about allowing you to stand in the back against the wall but in other sections they left you alone. It was nice to be able to recharge in these spots.

One area I had to check out was of course the Green Monster, which is probably the earliest baseball park feature I remember being fascinated by as a kid.

Anybody can get pretty up close to the Green Monster section but you need to have a ticket or some type of wristband/stamp to get you through.

Still, I got one good look from the Green Monstah’.

The “Monster Seats” atop the Monster were added in 2003. Before that, a net hung there for decades to keep home run balls from flying over the fence and damaging the nearby businesses.

And now, these are some of the most popular seats and they look really nice too, especially the seats with the counters.

As you can see, the view from the seats is pretty great although you do miss out on some parts of the outfield. I also read that you are exposed directly to the sun before it sets.

view from the green monster

Did you know? Morse Code can be found in the white lines of the American League scoreboard which represent initials of former owners Thomas A. Yawkey and Jean R. Yawkey.

Eventually, we returned to our section, reclaimed our seats and continued watching the game.

The Astros ended up putting on an offensive clinic late in the game to run away with it.

Actually, it was probably one of the best road games you could attend as an Astros fan.

The Astros getting the W was great but the Fenway experience would have been sweet enough on its own.

Even though the fans showed no mercy to certain Astros players like Altuve and Correra, the thrill of watching Houston play in Fenway for the ALCS is something that I will never forget. I would gladly go back.

Fenway Park FAQ

Where is Fenway Park?

Fenway Park is located in the Fenway–Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is about 2.5 miles from downtown Boston and 30 miles from Gillette Stadium.

How old is Fenway Park?

Fenway Park was built in 1912 but was substantially rebuilt in 1934. This means that in 2022, the park will be 110 years old!

How many seats does Fenway Park have?

The capacity at Fenway park is 37,731. However, record attendance is 47,627.

Is Fenway Park the oldest MLB stadium?

Yes, Fenway Park is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium still in use.

How tall is the Green Monster?

The Green Monster stands an impressive 37.16 feet tall and is the tallest fence in the MLB but the second highest in professional baseball behind PeoplesBank Park in York, Pennsylvania.

When does Fenway Park open?

Fenway Park gates open 90 minutes before game time. If you get there early you should be able to spot the “red seat” in right field.

Final word

Watching a game at Fenway Park is certainly worth it.

As an Astros fan it is a bit chaotic and overly hostile for some of the players. I like thinking that the players get used to that kind of abuse but something tells me that’s not even 100% possible.

Still, despite the craziness I would absolutely go back to Fenway again and at least I would know what to expect.

Amex Platinum $179 CLEAR Credit: Discounts Explained [2021]

The Amex Platinum CLEAR credit is one of the easier credits to use available on the card. But there are some steps that you should take if you would like to maximize this credit, especially if you have a membership with United or Delta and are planning to add family members to your account. In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about the $179 Amex Platinum CLEAR credit.

What is the Amex Platinum CLEAR credit?

The Amex Platinum CLEAR credit is a perk offered by the Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card that allows you to offset the cost of a CLEAR membership by $179 every year.

Tip: Use WalletFlo to help you keep track of all of your credits! It’s free and is one of the best ways to manage all your credit cards and promotions!

What exactly is CLEAR?

CLEAR is a special service available at 50+ airports nationwide that allows you to jump ahead of the line whether you are in the standard TSA security checkpoint line or if you have TSA Pre-Check.

It works by obtaining your biometric data such as scans of your fingerprint, eyes, or facial features and storing them in an encrypted manner. It then verifies your identity by matching your biometrics with its database every time you visit the airport.

It’s one of the best ways to save a lot of time when flying on busy days since even the TSA Pre-Check line can get long. CLEAR also offers expedited entry into select stadiums around the US. You can read more about CLEAR here.

LGA Terminal C CLEAR TSA Pre-Check

How to use the Amex Platinum credit

It’s very easy to utilize your Amex Platinum CLEAR credit. First, you will need to enroll in the CLEAR program. You can do that by using this link right here or one of the partner links below (which I recommend).

If you already have a membership all you need to do is log-in but if you have not created an account you will need to do that. If you are enrolling online, enrollment will be a two-step process.

First, you will fill out all of your basic information online. All you need to input is your contact information and date of birth and then provide the form of payment which in this case needs to be your American Express Platinum Card.

Both the primary cardmember and authorized users can trigger the credit but there is only one $179 credit available across all accounts. Also, keep in mind this credit is issued every calendar year.

Important: If you have a membership with United or Delta then make sure that you sign up through the partner pages (Link for Delta; Link for United) that allow you to input your frequent flyer number. Otherwise, you will not see the discount whenever you proceed to do the registration.

The Platinum clear credit will cover the cost of my membership plus my spouse’s.

After you submit your information you should receive an email asking you to set up your accounts which really just means set a password to your account.

The next major step of enrollment is to visit a CLEAR airport location in order to finalize your enrollment. CLEAR should provide you with the closest location after you submit your contact information. (You do NOT need to set up an appointment at the airport location.)

All you need is your government issued ID in order to complete the process. You can actually use CLEAR as soon as you enroll.

CLEAR memberships automatically renew each year unless canceled, so you want to keep track of your enrollment date. Also, American Express has no control over the application and/or approval process for CLEAR. (If your application is not approved, you will receive a refund for the charges.)

It could take up to 2 to 4 weeks after your CLEAR transaction for your statement credit to post. If you do not see a credit after 4 weeks, call the number on the back of your card.

CLEAR Costs

The standard cost for an annual CLEAR membership is $179 per year. You can also add up to 3 adult family members for $60 each per year. (Children under 18 can simply tag along for free and there is no enrollment needed.)

If you plan on using the credit for more than one person you really need to make sure that you take advantage of any discounts available to you. Just by signing up for the frequent flyer programs of either Delta or United you can save yourself a good amount ($60) so I think everyone should at least look into that.

Below are some of the discounts you may be eligible for.

SkyMiles Members

  • Diamond Medallion® Members: Free
  • Platinum/Gold/Silver Medallion Members: $109
  • Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members: $109
  • General Members: $119

United

  • Premier® 1K® members: Free
  • Premier Platinum/Gold/Silver members: $109
  • United U.S. Credit Cardmembers: $109
  • MileagePlus members: $119

Amex Green Card

It is also worth noting that the American Express Green Card comes with a $100 CLEAR credit.

If you have both the Platinum and the Green card, you could add your second and third family member separately after you sign up with the Platinum and change your payment method to the Green Card if you wanted to maximize the credits for both the Platinum and the Green Card. I have not personally tried this but I think it would work.

Students

Once verified, students can get a membership for $50 per year.

Promos

Promotions for CLEAR memberships are always going out.

Sometimes they are giving away one month for free but other times I have seen free trials for up to six months. In addition, you can get discounts such as two months free for referring your friend. Other discounts may allow you to add family members for a small discount.

Unless you have multiple family members you probably don’t need to wait for a discount because your $179 credit can cover your membership as well as an additional one.

Which airports have CLEAR?

CLEAR is available at 50+ locations which include the following:

  • Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
  • Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
  • Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD)
  • Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
  • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  • Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  • William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
  • McCarran International Airport (LAS)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Miami International Airport (MIA)
  • Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
  • Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
  • LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
  • Nashville International Airport (BNA)
  • Westchester County Airport (HPN)
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  • Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  • San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  • St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  • Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Final word

The combination of CLEAR and TSA Pre-Check is one of the ultimate ways to breeze through an airport even during peak business hours. Now that the Platinum offers a credit that can cover the cost of not only a single membership but also an additional family member’s, it’s easier than ever to get on board with CLEAR.

Should I Sign-Up for CLEAR?

There are so many different types of programs out there for expedited access through airport security and immigration that it’s difficult to keep up with. Each of these type of programs offer something unique but often there’s overlap between them so it’s important to do some research on the programs and learn which program would be best for you.

Some of the most popular options to research include:

But there’s another program out there called CLEAR. CLEAR is a privately owned service offered to passengers that allows them to bypass the lines going into airport security, whether you are going into the standard security line or the TSA Pre-Check line. It was originally part of the Registered Traveler program and although CLEAR is privately owned, it still in some ways has to work with governmental organizations, including TSA.

How does CLEAR work?

CLEAR works very simply. You find the CLEAR line leading to security which should have little to no line and then you simply scan your boarding pass and biometric data and then you’re off to the races and able to skip whatever line you would have been waiting on. You don’t even have to show your ID. And again, you’ll be able to jump the line regardless of if you’re headed to the TSA Pre-Check line or the standard security line.

Image via CLEAR.

How much does CLEAR cost?

Out of all of these traveler programs, CLEAR is by far the most expensive. It costs $179 per year.

They do offer different types of promos so you can get that for about $30 cheaper or try CLEAR out for free for a couple of months but in the long-run, it’s gonna cost you $179 each year, which is a lot compared the other programs that are closer to $100 and good for five year.

How do I sign-up for CLEAR?

You can start the registration process online by filling out some personal information and then you can finish the sign-up process by finding a CLEAR location at an airport near you (no appointment necessary).

Completing the registration process at the airport is only supposed to only take a few minutes. It consists of you inputting your details into a kiosk and then allowing them to register your biometric data including iris scan and fingerprints. As soon as you register, you’ll be able to use CLEAR instantly.

What airports have CLEAR?

One drawback to CLEAR is that it’s still growing and therefore you won’t find it at every major airport. As of June 2017, here are the locations that you’ll find CLEAR kiosks at:

Image via CLEAR.

Does CLEAR have any other benefits?

CLEAR also provides you with expedited access to arenas and stadiums, too. For example, there are several sports venues where you can find CLEAR. However, these are limited to just a few like Yankee Stadium, American Airlines Arena, (Miami) AT&T Park (San Francisco), etc. Hopefully we’ll see this list grow.

Is CLEAR worth it?

So the big question is CLEAR worth it?

I think that for some people it’s definitely worth it. If you are a frequent flyer who constantly make their way through airports that have CLEAR kiosks during peak hours in the day when even the TSA Pre-Check line can get backed up then I think that CLEAR could absolutely be worth it. If you combine CLEAR with TSA Pre-Check, your journey through airport security would be an absolute breeze.

However, if you don’t fly a lot or don’t frequent an airport with CLEAR then I think it’d be difficult to justify the $179/year expense. Also, if you’re like me and often fly in the wee hours of the morning then CLEAR may not be necessary.

I regularly fly out of HOU and IAH early in the morning and never have issues with waiting on the TSA Pre-Check line (and even the standard security line is not a problem. Thus, for me CLEAR hasn’t proven to be necessary.

There’s also the security concern of handing over biographical information and biometrics to a private organization. Personally, this doesn’t bother because it’s not like Ive got a safe in my house with $10,000,000 that someone is going to use my iris scan data to access.

Still, I know some people are very conservative when it comes to handing over such data and CLEAR did have some security/bankruptcy issues dating back to 2008 when it was owned by Verified Identity Pass, Inc. It’s now owned by Alclear, LLC and reportedly is on the right track since it’s relaunch in 2010.

Final word

CLEAR is a cool concept that allows you to make your airport experience even less stressful. The biggest issue to me is the price — the fact that I’d have to pay $179 per year means that I’d need to make sure I’m getting my money’s worth and based on my travel patterns right now, it just doesn’t seem necessary. But for others, CLEAR could definitely be worth it.