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Why your family may want to get Clear before your next flight

Summer Hull
Summer Hull
Director of content
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
and
Caroline Tanner
Caroline Tanner
News reporter
A classically trained journalist, Caroline Tanner covers news and travel for TPG. She is a dual-journalism graduate of Mizzou and Northwestern.
Nov. 15, 2023
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8 min read
CLEAR Family
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Editor's Note

This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

As you may have noticed at the airport, TSA PreCheck isn't always the only way to skip the traditional security line. Another service that will expedite your airport security experience in 54 airports and counting is Clear.

After deeming it unnecessary or duplicative to PreCheck for a period of time, my family first used Clear to get through security quickly in 2018; on this particular day, all the other lines were so long we may have missed our flight if we waited.

Now, it feels more important than ever to have Clear so we can all get through security as quickly and painlessly as possible. This is especially true as PreCheck is becoming crowded or may not always be available.

Since I've used Clear for a few years at this point, I know it doesn't replace PreCheck — it can actually be used in conjunction with PreCheck. Clear is a paid service, so it may not make sense for people who fly only once a year or so. However, there are ways to make it more affordable, and since children under 18 can tag along with a parent with a membership, it can be a relatively family-friendly service.

How Clear works

Instead of using traditional documents checked by the U.S. Transporation and Security Administration screeners, Clear uses biometrics — such as your eyes and face — verified by machines. You don't need to touch anything or have anyone handle your ID when using Clear. However, Clear users, like all registered travelers, remain subject to random ID checks by TSA.

Even before the pandemic, avoiding the prospect of digging your ID out of your bag is pretty fantastic.

When you bring your kids with you while using Clear, they don't have their biometrics scanned or checked. They'll instead get their boarding passes checked.

While kids can only piggyback with you in PreCheck until they turn 13, they can accompany you for free through Clear until age 18.

I have seen a bit of a line for Clear before in places like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). However, I'm usually through Clear and escorted past the TSA lane by a cheery Clear staff member in under two minutes.

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Not only do you get to keep your ID in place when using Clear, but you can also still take advantage of all the normal PreCheck offerings; you can keep your shoes on and your tablet or laptop packed away. If you don't have PreCheck — or you just don't get it on that particular flight — you can still use your Clear membership.

For example, when my family was leaving Orlando International Airport (MCO), we randomly didn't get PreCheck. We would have had to wait 30 minutes in the security line, but we were able to zip right through the process thanks to Clear.

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

How much does Clear cost?

Clear isn't free, which is its biggest downside for some, but it is also why the lines to use it are generally shorter. The longest lines I've seen for Clear are in places where the largest number of travelers who get it for free reside. For example, at ATL there are many Delta Diamonds who can get Clear without charge.

The retail price for Clear is $189 per year per person, but you don't need to pay that much.

To start, Clear has partnered with Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines to offer special membership rates for their frequent flyers:

Delta SkyMiles discounts

United MileagePlus discounts

To take advantage of these rates, enter your SkyMiles or MileagePlus number during enrollment or link your SkyMiles or MileagePlus account after enrolling. Since it's free to join Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus, any U.S.-based passenger can access the discounted membership rates by linking their SkyMiles or MileagePlus account to their Clear account.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan discounts

  • MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K members will receive 1,500 bonus miles when they sign up for Clear, plus an additional 1,250 miles each year they renew
  • General Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members: $179 annually

Credit cards that cover Clear fees

The following credit cards will reimburse you for up to $189 per year in Clear Plus membership costs:

The information for the Centurion, Green and Hilton Aspire cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Be on the lookout for targeted Amex offers covering the cost of Clear Plus membership for those with different American Express cards.

Saving on Clear for family members

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Once you are a Clear member, you can log in to your account on Clear's website and add up to three family members for $99 each per year. Remember that children under 18 can use the lane for free when accompanied by a Clear member and aren't eligible to enroll in Clear themselves.

Free Clear trial

If you want to try Clear before committing, use this TPG code for a free two-month trial.

Bottom line

I joined Clear years ago on a day when the regular security lines were beyond insane.

Luckily, I could pop over to the Clear machine, register with a Clear employee and start using it on the spot. At the time, I had no idea how much I would appreciate having Clear.

As we head into the holiday season, it's a service I'm frequently immensely grateful for — especially with my kids along for the ride at no extra charge.

Related reading:

Featured image by CLEAR
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.