Clear Plus is a paid membership that speeds up airport security screening

Clear Plus is a subscription service that lets you skip the regular security line at U.S. airports. Instead of waiting in the standard queue, you use a separate, faster lane where a Clear employee verifies your identity using fingerprints or facial recognition, then sends you straight to the TSA checkpoint. The service costs around $189 per year, though the price varies by region and changes periodically.

The key difference between Clear Plus and the standard Clear membership is that Clear Plus includes TSA PreCheck, which is a separate government program that also speeds up security. With PreCheck, you keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on, leave your laptop and liquids in your bag, and go through a dedicated PreCheck line. Clear Plus bundles both services into one membership, so you get the identity verification speed of Clear plus the streamlined screening of PreCheck.

Clear Plus does not may provide you will never wait. On very busy travel days, even the Clear lane can have a line. The service also only works at participating airports — most major U.S. airports accept it, but some smaller regional airports do not. You should check the Clear website to confirm your home airport and any airports where you travel frequently are included.

Key Takeaways

  • Clear Plus is a paid membership that uses fingerprint or facial recognition to verify your identity and move you to a faster security lane at airports.
  • The membership includes both Clear's identity verification service and TSA PreCheck, which allows you to keep shoes and electronics in your bag during screening.
  • Clear Plus works only at participating U.S. airports, so you should verify that your home airport and frequent travel destinations are included before purchasing.
  • The annual cost is approximately $189, though pricing varies by region and can change, and the service does not may provide zero wait times during peak travel periods.
  • You will still go through standard TSA screening after Clear verifies your identity — the service only speeds up the identity verification step.

How Clear Plus actually works at the airport

When you arrive at the airport with a Clear Plus membership, you look for the Clear lane, which is usually marked with signage near the main security entrance. You scan your membership card or phone app at the Clear kiosk, then a Clear employee asks you to provide a fingerprint or allow a facial scan to confirm you are who you say you are. This takes about 30 seconds to two minutes depending on how busy the lane is.

Once Clear verifies your identity, they send you to the TSA PreCheck lane. At that point, you are in the hands of TSA, not Clear. You go through the standard PreCheck screening, which means you do not have to remove your shoes, belt, or light jacket, and you can leave your laptop and liquids in your carry-on bag. This is where most of the time savings happen — PreCheck lines move faster because screeners do not have to check as many items.

If you do not have TSA PreCheck as part of your Clear Plus membership, you would go through the regular security line after Clear verifies your identity, which defeats much of the purpose. That is why Clear Plus bundles the two services — Clear gets you through identity verification quickly, and PreCheck gets you through the actual screening quickly.

Clear Plus versus standard Clear and TSA PreCheck alone

Clear and Clear Plus are the same service with one difference: Clear Plus includes TSA PreCheck, while standard Clear does not. If you buy standard Clear without PreCheck, you still skip the identity verification line, but then you go through regular TSA screening, which is slower. Most people find this combination less useful because you save time on identity verification but lose it again in the regular screening line.

TSA PreCheck alone costs around $78 to $85 for five years, which works out to roughly $16 per year. Clear Plus costs about $189 per year. If you travel frequently — more than a few times per year — the combined cost of Clear Plus is often worth it compared to buying PreCheck and Clear separately. If you travel rarely, PreCheck alone may be enough.

The main advantage of Clear Plus over buying the services separately is convenience: one membership, one app, one renewal date. You do not have to manage two different programs or remember which one is expiring when.

What Clear Plus does not cover

Clear Plus only works for domestic U.S. flights. If you are traveling internationally, you will need to go through standard security screening even with Clear Plus, though you can use the PreCheck portion of your membership if you are flying out of a U.S. airport.

Clear Plus also does not cover anyone traveling with you. If you are flying with family or colleagues, they will need their own memberships to use the Clear lane. Children under 18 can sometimes be added to a parent's account at a reduced cost, but you should check the current rules on the Clear website.

The service does not may provide a specific wait time or promise that you will never wait. On extremely busy travel days, even the Clear lane can develop a line. Clear also does not work at all U.S. airports — some smaller regional airports have not adopted the service. Before purchasing, confirm that your home airport and the airports where you travel most often are on the Clear network.

How to know if Clear Plus makes sense for you

Clear Plus is most useful if you fly out of the same airport regularly and travel at least four or five times per year. At that frequency, the time savings add up enough to justify the annual cost. If you travel once or twice a year, standard TSA PreCheck alone is probably sufficient and costs much less.

Your airport matters too. Clear Plus works best at busy airports where security lines are normally long — places like Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, or New York. At smaller airports where security lines are typically short, you may not see much benefit even if you travel frequently.

If you travel during peak times — early morning, late afternoon, or holidays — you will see more benefit from Clear Plus than if you travel during off-peak hours. Off-peak security lines are often short enough that the time savings are minimal.

How to sign up for Clear Plus

You sign up for Clear Plus through the Clear website or mobile app. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, and government-issued ID information. Clear runs a background check as part of the signup process — this is standard for airport security programs. The background check usually takes a few days to a week.

Once your background check clears, you will be asked to complete your biometric enrollment, which means providing your fingerprints or allowing a facial scan. You can do this at a Clear kiosk at a participating airport, or at some locations you can complete it during your first airport visit. After enrollment is complete, your membership is active and you can use the Clear lane when ready.

Clear Plus memberships renew automatically each year on your renewal date. You can cancel anytime through the app or website, and you will not be charged for the next year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Clear Plus at every U.S. airport?

No. Clear Plus works at most major U.S. airports, but not all. Before purchasing, check the Clear website to see which airports in your area participate. If your home airport does not have Clear, the membership will not be useful for you.

Do I still have to go through TSA screening if I have Clear Plus?

Yes. Clear Plus only speeds up the identity verification step. You still go through standard TSA screening afterward, though the PreCheck portion of your membership means you can keep shoes and electronics in your bag, which speeds up that part.

What happens if I forget my Clear Plus membership card?

You can use the Clear mobile app instead. The app has a digital membership card that you can scan at the Clear kiosk. If you do not have your phone or the app, you can still provide your ID and the Clear employee can look up your membership manually, though this takes longer.

Is Clear Plus worth it if I only travel once or twice a year?

Probably not. TSA PreCheck alone costs much less and covers most of the time savings. Clear Plus makes more financial sense if you fly four or more times per year from the same airport.

Can my family members use my Clear Plus membership?

No. Each person needs their own membership to use the Clear lane. Children under 18 can sometimes be added to a parent's account at a reduced rate, but you should check the current pricing and rules on the Clear website.