Clear costs $189 a year and speeds up airport security lines by 10 to 15 minutes on average

Clear is a subscription service that lets you skip the main security line at airports by using biometric scanning — your eyes and fingerprints — instead of waiting in the regular queue. You pay $189 annually (or $15 monthly), walk to a dedicated Clear lane, scan your face or finger, and move straight to the TSA checkpoint. It does not get you through TSA screening itself — that still happens — but it removes the wait before it.

Whether it is worth the cost depends on how often you fly, how much you value your time, and whether you already have TSA PreCheck. Many people find it useful only if they fly more than four times a year from busy airports. If you fly once a year from a small regional airport, the math does not work.

Key Takeaways

  • Clear costs $189 per year and saves roughly 10 to 15 minutes at airport security by letting you skip the main line, but only at participating airports.
  • The service uses facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, so you need to enroll in person at an airport kiosk before your first use.
  • Clear works best if you fly four or more times per year from major airports; one or two annual trips rarely justify the cost.
  • TSA PreCheck ($78 to $85 for five years) is cheaper and covers more airports, though it does not skip the line the way Clear does.
  • Some credit cards and airline loyalty programs include Clear membership, which can eliminate the cost if you already have those benefits.

How Clear actually works at the airport

When you arrive at security, you head to the Clear lane instead of the standard TSA line. A Clear employee scans your face using a camera or asks you to place your finger on a scanner. The system matches your biometric data to your identity, and you move forward to the TSA agent. From there, the normal TSA PreCheck or standard screening process happens — you still remove shoes, open your bag, and go through the metal detector or body scanner.

Clear is available at 53 U.S. airports, mostly major hubs like Los Angeles, New York (JFK and LaGuardia), Chicago, Atlanta, and Denver. If you fly through smaller airports, Clear may not be available at all. Before paying, check whether your home airport and your frequent destinations are on the list.

You must enroll in person at an airport kiosk before you can use the service. The enrollment takes about five minutes and requires a valid government ID. You cannot sign up online and use it when ready — you have to do the biometric registration first.

When Clear saves you the most time

Clear saves the most time during peak travel hours: early morning (5 a.m. to 8 a.m.), midday (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), and evening (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.). On a busy Monday morning at a major airport, the regular security line might be 30 to 45 minutes long while the Clear lane is 5 to 10 minutes. On a quiet Tuesday afternoon, the regular line might be 10 minutes anyway, so Clear saves you almost nothing.

If you travel frequently from one of the busiest airports — Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York — you will see consistent time savings. If you fly occasionally from a mid-size airport, the benefit is smaller and less predictable.

Clear versus TSA PreCheck: which one to choose

TSA PreCheck costs $78 to $85 for five years and is available at over 200 U.S. airports. It does not skip the line; instead, it lets you keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on, leave your laptop in your bag, and move through screening faster. The time savings are typically 5 to 10 minutes because you spend less time removing and replacing items.

Clear and TSA PreCheck do different things. Clear skips the wait before screening. TSA PreCheck speeds up the screening itself. Many frequent travelers use both: Clear gets you to the front, and PreCheck makes the actual screening faster. If you can only afford one, PreCheck covers more airports and costs less over five years. If you fly four or more times yearly from major airports, adding Clear on top of PreCheck makes sense.

Some premium credit cards (American Express Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve) and airline loyalty programs (United, Delta, American) include Clear membership as a benefit. If you already have one of these cards or status, you may have Clear included at no extra cost — check your benefits before paying separately.

The real cost per trip

At $189 per year, Clear costs $15.75 per month. If you fly four times a year, that is roughly $47 per trip. If you fly eight times a year, it drops to about $24 per trip. If you fly twice a year, it costs $95 per trip — which is hard to justify for a 10-minute time savings.

Factor in whether you are flying for business or leisure. Business travelers often expense the cost and value time more highly. Leisure travelers taking a family vacation once a year usually find it not worth the money. The break-even point for most people is around four to six trips annually.

What Clear does not do

Clear does not get you through TSA screening faster — it only skips the line before it. You still go through the metal detector, body scanner, or pat-down. You still have to follow all TSA rules about liquids, electronics, and what you can carry. Clear does not work for international flights (only domestic U.S. airports). It does not help you at the gate, baggage claim, or anywhere else in the airport.

Clear also does not may provide you will not wait. If the TSA checkpoint itself is backed up — which happens during extreme peak times — you may still wait even after skipping the line. The service is only as fast as the TSA agents processing people.

Alternatives to paying for Clear

If you fly infrequently, skip Clear and use TSA PreCheck instead. If you fly very frequently, check whether your credit card or airline status includes Clear before paying. Some people use Clear only during peak travel seasons (holidays, summer) and cancel the rest of the year, though the annual subscription does not break into monthly chunks — you pay the full year upfront or go month-to-month at $15.

Another option is to straightforward arrive earlier. If you normally arrive 90 minutes before a domestic flight, arriving 105 minutes early eliminates the security line problem without paying anything. This works if you have the flexibility and do not mind spending extra time at the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Clear if I do not have TSA PreCheck?

Yes. Clear skips the line, and then you go through standard TSA screening. You do not need PreCheck to use Clear, though having both saves the most time overall. Many people use Clear alone if they fly frequently but have not enrolled in PreCheck yet.

Does Clear work for international flights?

No. Clear is only for domestic U.S. flights. For international travel, you go through the regular security line like everyone else, though TSA PreCheck still applies if you have it.

What happens if my biometric data does not scan?

If the scanner cannot read your face or fingerprint, a Clear employee will manually verify your identity using your ID, and you move forward. Scanning failures are rare, but the system has a backup process so you do not get stuck.

Can I get a refund if I do not use Clear much?

Clear offers a 30-day money-back may provide if you are not satisfied. After that, the annual subscription is non-refundable. If you realize you do not fly enough to justify it, you can cancel and stop paying for the next year.

Does Clear work at all U.S. airports?

No. Clear is available at 53 major U.S. airports. Check the Clear website to confirm your home airport and frequent destinations are included before you pay. If you mostly fly through smaller regional airports, Clear may not be available to you.