The Clear trusted traveler program will be expanding to more airports. (Image: Clear)
Longer PreCheck lines and a big new investor are breathing new life into Clear, the biometric-based trusted traveler membership program that lets travelers go directly into the TSA screening process.
Once TSA revved up its PreCheck expedited screening program, things didn’t look good for Clear, which costs more to join ($179 a year for a standard membership vs. PreCheck’s $85 for five years) and was only available in a handful of airports (13, vs. 160 for PreCheck). But now Clear’s fortunes appear to be changing, according to The Wall Street Journal (paywall).
It notes that Clear’s membership roster has tripled over the past 12 months, and now totals half a million. PreCheck has also been growing, leading to longer lines at its airport checkpoints as the number of travelers continues to surge and TSA implements more stringent security procedures following terrorist attacks in Europe.
Nonetheless, Clear handles only a tiny fraction of the traffic at airport security– for example, the WSJ reported that it handled only about about 10,000 out of the 2 million passengers at Las Vegas McCarran in March. At SFO, Clear entry points usually look like the one pictured below.
Clear entry points at SFO rarely appear to have much business (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
But Clear members, who check in with biometric identifiers, are are escorted straight into the front of the screening lines (although they don’t qualify for PreCheck screening unless they join that program separately). What’s more, some PreCheck members have complained that TSA doesn’t always keep those expedited checkpoints open even at airports where they exist.
And Clear recently got a big vote of confidence from Delta Air Lines, which bought a 5 percent stake in the company and plans to hand out memberships to its top SkyMiles elites.
The new investment from Delta is expected to speed up Clear’s expansion to more airports – especially those where Delta has a major presence. For example, Clear is expected to debut at Seattle-Tacoma next month, the Journal noted, adding that Clear expects to be in 24 airports by year’s end.
Readers: Do you use Clear, or did you use it in the past? Tell us about your experience with it, and whether you might use it again in the future.
NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers | First class phase out coming soon
Do you follow us on Twitter? It’s a great way to keep up with the latest news!
Please join the 125,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!
So this is news to me! Chris, is the ultimate goals of CLEARS to also expedite secure entrance at sporting events? This may make CLEARS very worthy of “closer inspection” (wah wah) for investment purposes.
Yes, it jumps you to the very head of the PreCheck line if you’re a PreCheck member.
I know that CLEAR feeling, Spenser! It’s kind of like the “walk of shame”
Love Clear!! Home airport is SFO and I’ve been a member ever since it came out. Am planning to get Global Entry this summer as I will be traveling more overseas now for business. Didn’t know I could have joined Pre-Check to get the jump on that line as well. I’m all in. But I will say I feel a little awkward at time when the Clear agent escorts me to the front of the line during busy times at SFO. All eyes on me… Good thing I know the routine as I immediately start taking off shoes and my belt and unpack computer. People still tend to keep looking to see if I’m a celebrity or something… LOL
Chris, from your blog it looks like if you have TSA PreCheck and CLEAR clear will jump you to the head of the poorly managed PreCheck line. Is that what you are implying or do we know. I had CLEAR when it first came out and liked it but think it’s a waste now unless I can jump to the front of PreCheck ahead of the people who did NOT buy I and don’t know what they are doing.
I have Clear as well as TSA Precheck. The only time I’ve ever actually used my Clear membership is when I enrolled in the program. While I’ve gone through security at airports where the service is offered, it didn’t happen to be offered at the terminal I was clearing security at or that actual security entrance was closed. I won a free year membership as part of contest but would never recommend anybody spend their money on the service unless they offer it at your home airport. The service is terribly expensive to use a few times a year.
Hi Chris! I have Clear and I am generally pleased with it. Having it at my home airport of SFO just helps things move quicker and promptly when traveling. I would hope they make some improvements in their technology because about 20 percent of the time, it takes longer than usual to read my bio and we progressively go through my fingers, thumbs, eyes, and despite having re-done my prints and retina, it still often has difficulty “reading” me. Nevertheless, it is still a great time saver, especially during the morning security lane crushes, and I’m keeping it!