The CLEAR trusted traveler program is expanding to four more airports. (Image: CLEAR)
CLEAR, the members-only organization that lets you bypass those long security lines and go right into screening, will soon be available in four more major airports.
In an email to members, company said that it plans to open new CLEAR lanes at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, Los Angeles International, New York LaGuardia and New York JFK. It did not say exactly when it would appear in those airports – just that “We will be sharing launch dates in the coming weeks.” What’s also not clear (couldn’t help myself!) is whether CLEAR will only operate at Delta terminals at LAX and NYC or if it will be in multiple terminals as at SFO.
CLEAR already has airport lanes at Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, San Antonio, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and both Washington D.C. airports. You can look up exact CLEAR locations here.
CLEAR’s new logo
Earlier this year, Delta acquired an equity stake in CLEAR, and since then the company has been expected to open new facilities at the carrier’s primary airports – and the four new ones certainly fill that bill.
Standard membership in CLEAR costs $179 a year, but Delta’s involvement in the company has brought discounts for SkyMiles members based on their elite status. Membership is free for Diamond Medallions, and just $79 a year for Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallions. Non-elite SkyMiles members are eligible for a $99 CLEAR annual membership.
CLEAR gives members biometric-based IDs that let them access priority lanes for security screening. That gets them quickly into the regular screening process — or even into PreCheck for eligible flights, if they are a member of that TSA trusted traveler program. With regular PreCheck lines getting longer at some airports as TSA continues to push for greatly expanded traveler participation in that program, CLEAR might be a better way to go if it’s available at your preferred airports. (It’s definitely save me a few hundred dollars in flight change fees when I’ve been late to the airport, or been surprised by super-long lines.)
Have you used CLEAR or do you plan to now that it’s hitting critical mass in terms of key airports? Please leave your comments below.
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Hmmm. Maybe Delta sees this as a way to beat competitors in certain markets if it’s only in DL terminals. Exclusivity coulda been part of the investment deal, but who knows?
It’s one thing to prioritize Delta hubs such as ATL when picking airports, but if they ignore non-Delta terminals at their new expansion locations their early members would riot. I’ve been a Clear member for years, but most of my domestic flying is on UA and B6.
Clear has saved me from missing flights when I was running behind. I’ve used it at Denver, and has taken hour long security lines and turned them into 5 minutes, and that is without pre-check. To me they really go hand in hand, as Clear is your express pass for the ID check line, and Pre-Check is the express pass for the screening itself.
You’ll love it more when it’s in JFK… question is whether or not you’ll get it in non-Delta terminals there. Or if you’ll switch to Delta, Scott!
I got asked by an SFO Clear agent if I wanted a free trial and, bless her heart, she whisked me through the enrollment process. I let the 30 day trial auto renew. So far it hasn’t saved me any time, but with nearly weekly travel the enrollment is well worth the consistent peace of mind they provide.
I have CLEAR for 9 months now. I am based in LAX and I have the $99 membership via Delta. I am crossing my fingers that the CLEAR station is at AA terminal and not just Delta Terminal. I primarily use it in Las Vegas and Orlando. It is not necessarily worth $179 but under $99 I would renew it.