With the busy holiday travel season just around the corner, CLEAR has announced a number of new features, an upgraded app and what it says is its best deal of the year. But before you rush to sign up, there are a few things you should consider, especially if you already have TSA PreCheck.
I’ve been a CLEAR member for years and although I travel frequently, the biggest reason I have it is because my American Express card reimburses me for the membership fee. If I had to pay the full annual price out of my own pocket, I’m not sure I would renew.
That’s especially true now that TSA has introduced Touchless ID, which I’ve found to be even quicker than CLEAR at some airports. More on that below.
CLEAR’s new travel app
CLEAR has upgraded its app to help travelers navigate their journey from home to their departure gate. The app now has two modes designed to provide relevant information depending on where you are in your trip.
Planning Mode helps travelers determine when to leave for the airport based on traffic conditions and their preferred arrival time. It also allows users to book a ride to the airport.
Once you’re at the airport, Travel Mode helps you locate CLEAR+ lanes, estimate how long it will take to walk to your gate and book CLEAR Concierge services. The app also uses Live Activities to deliver real-time updates directly to your phone’s lock screen.
Some of these features sound useful, although there are already plenty of apps that provide similar information. And regardless of what an app tells you, I would still build in extra time when traveling during the holidays. Between traffic, long security lines and unexpected delays, it’s better to be sitting at your gate with time to spare than sprinting through the terminal.
CLEAR’s new holiday offerings
CLEAR is also introducing several ways for members to share its services with friends and family:
- CLEAR+ gift cards: Travelers can now give someone a CLEAR+ membership as a gift.
- Holiday Guest Passes: Members will be able to share guest passes with up to five friends and family members through the CLEAR app during the holidays.
- CLEAR Concierge: Members can book a personal airport concierge for themselves or someone else to help navigate the airport. The service is currently available at 42 airports, with more locations planned.
The guest passes are probably the most valuable of these offerings since they give travelers an opportunity to try CLEAR before deciding whether it’s worth paying for an annual membership.
CLEAR’s biggest deal of the year
If you’ve been thinking about signing up for CLEAR+, you might want to wait until Travel Tuesday, December 1. For three days only, from December 1 through December 3, new members can sign up for CLEAR+ for $149 instead of the regular $219 annual membership fee. That’s a savings of $70.
New and existing members can also add up to three family members or friends for $79 each, down from the regular $125 price.
The catch? The offer is available exclusively through the CLEAR app and applies only to the first year of membership. The promotion ends at midnight Eastern time on December 3.
Before signing up, check your credit card benefits. Certain American Express cards offer statement credits for CLEAR+ memberships, which could cover some or all of the cost. There’s no reason to pay for something your credit card might already cover.
Is CLEAR still worth it?
CLEAR+ is now available at 63 airports nationwide, including recently added locations at Indianapolis International Airport (IND), Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) and Tampa International Airport (TPA).
CLEAR has also introduced its eGates at 53 airports, which the company says allow members to verify their identities in under five seconds.
But CLEAR isn’t always the fastest way through airport security. I’ve encountered airports where the CLEAR line is longer than the regular TSA PreCheck line. And now there’s another option that I really like: TSA PreCheck Touchless ID.
If you’re eligible and flying on a participating airline through an airport that offers the service, TSA Touchless ID uses facial recognition to verify your identity without requiring you to present your physical ID or boarding pass at the identity verification checkpoint.
In my experience, it’s often faster than CLEAR and there’s no additional charge for eligible TSA PreCheck members.
RELATED: How to Sign Up for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID and Skip Long Airport Security Lines
Remember, CLEAR and TSA PreCheck are two different services. CLEAR helps expedite the identity verification portion of airport security, while TSA PreCheck provides expedited physical screening. Having CLEAR alone doesn’t give you TSA PreCheck benefits.
My advice? If you don’t already have TSA PreCheck, I would prioritize getting that before paying for CLEAR.
When to expect the biggest holiday airport crowds
CLEAR also released its predictions for the busiest travel days this holiday season, based on previous travel patterns. The company expects Sunday, November 29, to be the busiest day of the season for CLEAR+ members, with security lines peaking between 5 and 7 a.m. and remaining heavy until 6 p.m. local time.
American Airlines is also expecting November 29 to be its busiest day since the pandemic, so if you’re flying that day, be prepared for crowds.
For Christmas travel, CLEAR expects Friday, December 18, to be particularly busy, along with Tuesday, December 22 and Wednesday, December 23. Sunday, December 27, is expected to be the busiest day for travelers returning home.
Of course, these are predictions and actual wait times will vary by airport.
My takeaway: CLEAR can be a useful tool for frequent travelers, particularly if you regularly fly through airports where its lanes save you significant time. But I wouldn’t automatically spend $149, let alone $219, on a membership without first checking your credit card benefits and whether your home airport offers TSA Touchless ID.
And no matter which expedited security program you use, give yourself plenty of extra time at the airport this holiday season.
