If you have a vacation coming up or are already making travel plans to visit family during the fast-approaching holiday season, you could benefit from the new CLEAR Plus deal — especially if you hate crowds and value convenience. You can now score two months of CLEAR Plus for free, letting you avoid standard TSA checkpoints and move faster through airport security.
How does CLEAR work? Travelers enter the CLEAR Lane at the security checkpoint, where an ambassador verifies their identity by scanning their eyes or fingerprints. Once verified, travelers go to the front of the TSA screening line. The service is available at 58 airports nationwide, as well as at participating sports stadiums, rental car locations and other venues.
Here's what you need to know about enrolling in a two-month CLEAR Plus trial.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Two-month CLEAR Plus free trial
Usually, a CLEAR Plus membership costs $199 per year — and that is the amount you'll be charged after your free trial period. But you can cancel your membership at any time for no cost. So if you don’t travel often enough to justify the hefty annual fee, but don’t want to deal with long airport security lines on your upcoming trip, it may be worth it to sign up for the free two-month trial, as long as you remember to cancel it before you’re charged for the full member annual rate.
You can start the sign-up process for a free trial online, but you’ll need to complete your enrollment in person before using the CLEAR lanes, which you can do in the airport at one of the CLEAR enrollment centers. You'll need to bring a form of photo identification, like a passport or driver’s license, and have your eyes and/or fingerprints scanned to complete the enrollment process.
To cancel your membership, you must do so in your CLEAR customer account, which you can register for or access at www.clearme.com. You may also contact customer service at memberservices@clearme.com or 1-855-CLEARME (253-2763) to cancel.
You may also be able to score a free or discounted CLEAR Plus membership depending on what travel credit card you have. For example, the Platinum Card from American Express and the American Express Green Card both offer a $199 CLEAR Plus credit.
Additional Ways to Save
There are several additional ways to save on a CLEAR Plus membership.
Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion members receive a free annual CLEAR Plus membership. Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion members, as well as Delta SkyMiles American Express Card members receive $40 off and pay $159 for an annual membership. General SkyMiles members receive $10 off and pay $189 for an annual membership.
United Airlines MileagePlus Premier 1K or Global Services members receive a free CLEAR subscription until May 1, 2025. After May 1, Premier 1K members will no longer receive a free membership, but can purchase a membership at a discounted rate of $129. Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and United U.S. Credit cardmembers can buy a CLEAR membership for $159 per year. MileagePlus members can purchase a CLEAR membership for $189.
The American Express Platinum Card and Green Card can receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you use your card to buy a CLEAR Plus membership. The credits you receive cover the cost of the CLEAR Plus membership.
Related Content
-
Why Does the Fed Prefer PCE Over CPI?Inflation has been top of mind for lots of folks in recent years. Most of Wall Street follows the CPI but the Fed favors the PCE. Here's why.
-
Five Great Places to Live in WyomingWhether you prefer the buzzy affluence of Jackson Hole, rodeo towns or mountain towns, Wyoming should be on any nature lover’s list.
-
Trump's Tariffs Could Make Your Favorite Clothing Brands More ExpensivePresident Donald Trump announced tariffs on imported goods from a litany of countries. See how these tariffs will impact your favorite clothing line.
-
GameStop Is Closing More Stores — Here’s Where to Shop InsteadAs GameStop closes more locations, here’s how to score similar deals on games, consoles and collectibles at other major retailers.
-
Retirees: Is Your Local Bank Closing? Four Ways to CopeBank branches are closing across the country. If you are among the retirees who prefer to bank in person, you have some options.
-
What Amex's Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) Program Gets You at Hotels In Sydney, Vegas and LisbonThree examples of hotel stays in Sydney, Vegas and Lisbon show what you get through American Express' Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program.
-
Why I'd Put My Tax Refund in a Money Market AccountA money market account offers you the benefits of having access to your money when you need it, while earning a rate outpacing inflation.
-
How to Use Your Cell Phone on a CruiseAvoid surprise charges and stay connected at sea with these expert tips on how to use a cell phone on a cruise.
-
How Much You Could Save on Gas with Costco, Walmart and Other MembershipsGas prices jumped 10 cents this week. Compare gas savings perks and see how much you’d save with Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s, Walmart Plus and Amazon Prime.
-
How to Balance Your Insurance Expectations vs the RealityJust because you have an insurance policy doesn't mean that you're totally covered in the event something bad happens.
