Clear membership costs $189 per year, or about $15 per month if you pay monthly
Clear is a biometric identity verification service that lets you skip the ID-checking line at airport security. You enroll by providing your fingerprints and iris scan, then use those biometrics instead of showing your driver's license or passport at TSA checkpoints. The annual membership is $189, though the monthly option runs $15 per month (which adds up to $180 per year if you pay for all twelve months).
The service operates at major U.S. airports and some sports venues and concert halls. It does not replace your ID — TSA still requires you to show identification, but Clear members use a separate, faster lane where an agent verifies your biometrics match your enrollment record before you move to the standard security screening.
Clear is owned by Idemia, a French biometric technology company. It is not a government program, and TSA does not run it, though TSA agents work the Clear lanes at airports.
Key Takeaways
- Clear costs $189 per year or $15 per month, and you must enroll in person at a participating airport with your driver's license or passport.
- The service uses your fingerprints and iris scan to verify your identity at airport security, letting you use a dedicated lane instead of the standard line.
- Clear is available at major U.S. airports but not all of them, so check whether your home airport participates before you join.
- You still need a valid ID and a boarding pass — Clear only speeds up the identity verification step, not the full security screening.
- Some credit cards and employer benefits programs include Clear membership at no extra cost, so check your benefits before paying out of pocket.
What Clear actually does at security
Clear does not get you through TSA screening faster overall. It gets you through the ID-checking step faster. You still remove your shoes, belt, and liquids, and you still go through the metal detector or body scanner like everyone else. The time you save is the time you would have spent in the main line waiting to show your ID to an agent.
At a busy airport during peak hours, that can be 10 to 30 minutes. At an empty airport on a Tuesday morning, it might be two minutes. Clear's value depends entirely on when and where you fly.
You enroll once, in person, at a Clear kiosk located in the security area of a participating airport. You bring your driver's license or passport, and an agent scans your fingerprints and takes an iris scan (a photo of your eye). The whole process takes about five minutes. After that, you use the same biometrics every time you fly.
Which airports have Clear, and which do not
Clear operates at most major U.S. airports, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark), Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, and Boston. It is not available at every airport — smaller regional airports often do not have Clear lanes. Before you pay for membership, check the Clear website or app to confirm your home airport and any airports you fly to regularly are on the list.
Clear also operates at some sports venues (including stadiums for NFL, NBA, and MLB teams) and concert halls, where it speeds up entry rather than security screening. The membership covers all locations where Clear operates.
How Clear compares to TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck is a separate program that costs $78 to $85 for five years (roughly $16 per year). It lets you keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on during screening, and you can leave laptops and liquids in your bag. You still wait in the standard security line, but the screening itself is faster because you remove fewer items.
Clear and TSA PreCheck do different things. Clear skips the ID line; PreCheck speeds up the screening line. Many frequent flyers use both — you enroll in PreCheck, then use Clear to skip the ID check, then go through PreCheck screening. Some people find PreCheck alone is enough if they fly infrequently or at quiet airports. Others find Clear alone is worth it if they fly during peak hours.
The choice depends on your airport, your flight times, and how much time you value. There is no rule that you need both.
Getting Clear through your credit card or employer
Some premium credit cards include Clear membership as a cardholder benefit. The American Express Platinum Card, for example, covers the annual Clear membership cost for the cardholder (though not for family members). A few other premium cards offer the same benefit. If you already have one of these cards, you can add Clear at no extra cost.
Some employers also offer Clear membership as part of their benefits package, particularly companies with many employees who travel frequently. Check your employee benefits portal or ask your HR department whether Clear is included.
If you are considering a premium credit card partly for the Clear benefit, do the math: the card itself usually costs $550 to $695 per year in annual fees. The Clear membership is only one of many benefits, so make sure the other benefits (travel credits, lounge access, points multipliers) are worth the total cost to you.
Privacy and biometric data
Clear collects your fingerprints and iris scan and stores them in a database. The company says it uses encryption and does not sell your biometric data to third parties. Your data is used only to verify your identity at Clear locations.
If you cancel your membership, you can request that Clear delete your biometric data. The company says it will delete the data within 30 days of your request, though you should follow up in writing to confirm.
Some people are uncomfortable storing biometric data with a private company. Others see it as no different from the fingerprints and photos already in your passport or driver's license. The choice is personal and depends on your own comfort level with biometric collection.
When Clear is worth the cost
Clear makes the most sense if you fly multiple times per month from a busy airport during peak hours (early morning or evening). If you fly once or twice a year, or if you fly from a small airport, the time savings probably do not justify the cost. If your employer or credit card covers it, the calculation changes — there is no reason not to use it if you are not paying extra.
You can also try Clear for one month ($15) to see whether the time savings matter to you before committing to the annual fee. Many people find that the convenience of not carrying their ID through security is worth the cost even if the time savings are modest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need to show my ID if I have Clear?
Yes. Clear verifies your biometrics match your enrollment record, but TSA still requires you to show a valid government ID (driver's license, passport, or military ID) along with your boarding pass. Clear only skips the line where you show your ID — it does not replace the ID requirement.
Can I use Clear for international flights?
Clear works for domestic U.S. flights and for international flights departing from the U.S. It does not work at airports outside the United States, and it does not help with customs or immigration screening when you arrive in another country.
What happens if my fingerprints or iris scan do not match at the airport?
If your biometrics do not match your enrollment record, the Clear agent will ask you to try again or will direct you to the standard security line. This can happen if your fingers are very dry, if you are wearing certain types of contact lenses, or if the scanner is not reading clearly. You can re-enroll if your biometrics change significantly.
Can I add family members to my Clear membership?
No. Each person needs their own membership and must enroll separately. Family members cannot share one account. Some credit cards that offer Clear as a benefit cover only the primary cardholder, not spouses or children.
Can I get a refund if I do not use Clear?
Clear offers a 30-day money-back may provide if you are not satisfied. After 30 days, the membership is non-refundable. If you pay monthly, you can cancel anytime, but you do not get a refund for months you have already paid.