CLEAR-ing security (with discounts)

GeneralAirports
Written By Marion

As TSA PreCheck Lines Grow, Is It Time to Try CLEAR?

Over the past few years, TSA PreCheck has been a game-changer for frequent travelers. Shorter lines, fewer hassles, and the ability to keep your shoes on? Yes, please. But as PreCheck membership has grown, so have the lines—and what was once a near-instant shortcut can now feel more like the regular security queue with slightly fewer bins.

Enter CLEAR, a service that’s rapidly gaining popularity among seasoned travelers looking for a faster, more predictable experience.

What Is CLEAR?

CLEAR is a biometric identity verification service that uses your fingerprints and/or iris scan to confirm your identity. Rather than showing a physical ID, you check in at a CLEAR kiosk with your biometrics, and a CLEAR ambassador escorts you directly to the front of the security line—either standard or PreCheck, depending on your status.

Think of it as skipping the ID check, not the security screening itself. That’s why CLEAR works best in combinationwith TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Together, they provide the smoothest, fastest experience currently available at most U.S. airports.

How Much Does CLEAR Cost?

As of mid-2025, a standard CLEAR Plus membership is $189 per year, but many people pay far less:

  • Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus members can get discounted rates, sometimes as low as $119 or $149/year.

  • American Express Platinum cardholders can receive up to $189/year in statement credits for CLEAR.

  • Family plans allow you to add up to 3 adults for just $70 each per year. Children under 18 can accompany a parent or guardian with CLEAR for free—no membership required.

  • Veterans pay $119 per year

  • The College Student rate is $50 per year

Where Can You Use It?

CLEAR Airport Locations and Terminals (as of 2025)

  • Atlanta (ATL): North & South Domestic Terminals

  • Austin (AUS): Checkpoints 1 & 2

  • Baltimore (BWI): Checkpoints A, B, C, D & E

  • Birmingham (BHM): Main Terminal

  • Boise (BOI): Main Terminal

  • Boston (BOS): Terminal A

  • Buffalo (BUF): Main Terminal

  • Chicago Midway (MDW): Main Terminal

  • Chicago O'Hare (ORD): Terminals 1, 2 & 5

  • Cincinnati (CVG): Main Terminal

  • Cleveland (CLE): Center & South Checkpoints

  • Columbus (CMH): Main Terminal

  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): Terminal E

  • Dallas Love Field (DAL): Terminal 1

  • Denver (DEN): North & South Entrances

  • Detroit (DTW): McNamara & Evans Terminals

  • Fort Lauderdale (FLL): Terminals 1 & 2

  • Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP): Main Terminal

  • Hartford (BDL): Terminal A

  • Houston Intercontinental (IAH): Terminals A, B, C & E

  • Houston Hobby (HOU): Main Terminal

  • Kansas City (MCI): Main Terminal

  • Las Vegas (LAS): Terminals 1 & 3

  • Long Beach (LGB): Main Terminal

  • Los Angeles (LAX): Terminals 1–7

  • Miami (MIA): Checkpoints E & H

  • Milwaukee (MKE): Main Terminal

  • Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP): Terminal 1

  • Nashville (BNA): Central Checkpoint

  • New Orleans (MSY): Concourse D

  • New York JFK (JFK): Terminals 2 & 4

  • New York LaGuardia (LGA): Terminals C & D

  • Newark (EWR): Terminal C

  • Oakland (OAK): Terminal 2

  • Oklahoma City (OKC): Main Terminal

  • Ontario (ONT): Terminals 2 & 4

  • Orlando (MCO): East & West Security

  • Palm Beach (PBI): Terminals A/B & C

  • Palm Springs (PSP): Main Terminal

  • Phoenix (PHX): Terminals 3 & 4

  • Pittsburgh (PIT): Main Terminal

  • Providence (PVD): Main Terminal

  • Raleigh-Durham (RDU): Terminals 1 & 2

  • Sacramento (SMF): Terminals A & B

  • Salt Lake City (SLC): Terminals 1 & 2

  • San Antonio (SAT): Terminals A & B

  • San Diego (SAN): Terminal 2

  • San Francisco (SFO): Terminals 1–3, International Terminals A & G

  • San Jose (SJC): Terminals A & B

  • San Juan (SJU): Terminals A, B & C

  • Seattle-Tacoma (SEA): Checkpoints 1–5

  • St. Louis (STL): Terminal 2

  • Tulsa (TUL): Main Terminal

  • Washington Dulles (IAD): Main Terminal & East Security Checkpoint

  • Washington Reagan (DCA): Terminals A, B & C

  • Westchester County (HPN): Main Terminal

In addition to airports, CLEAR is also being rolled out at sports stadiums and concert venues, making it easier to breeze through event entry as well.

Is CLEAR Worth It?

Whether or not CLEAR is worth it depends on how often you travel and how valuable your time is. If you:

  • Travel frequently through busy airports

  • Already have PreCheck or Global Entry

  • Frequently cut it close with boarding times

  • Travel with kids or others who slow down the line

…then CLEAR can be a game-changer.

But if you only fly once or twice a year through smaller airports, the cost might not be justified—especially if your local airport doesn’t support it.

Bottom Line

CLEAR isn’t a replacement for TSA PreCheck—it’s a complement to it. And as PreCheck lines get longer, pairing both services is becoming the new gold standard for travelers who value time, predictability, and a little less stress at the airport.

If you’re ready to make your airport routine smoother, it might be time to give CLEAR a try. LINK

Note: this is NOT an affiliate link, I have no relationship with CLEAR and receive no compensation for discussing this topic and no commission if you sign up.

Marion
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