The Best Credit Cards for the CLEAR Expedited Airport Security Program [2022]

- UPDATED: June 29, 2022 |

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One of the downsides of travel can be navigating through airport security. The process often involves waiting in long lines to have your ID checked, removing items from your luggage, taking items off your body, and reassembling yourself and your belongings when you’re done.

With Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, entering and departing the airport has become faster and less stressful. The addition of CLEAR expedited airport security membership can also help you bypass airport and other prominent venue security lines.

While the service can be expensive, CLEAR can be a real time-saver for the frequent traveler.

It would be beneficial if travelers could secure such a valuable service for free or at a discount — but is that even possible? Yes! Let’s explore how to get CLEAR membership complimentary or at a discounted price.

Table of contents

What Is CLEAR?
Best Credit Cards for Complimentary CLEAR Membership
The Best Credit Cards for Discounted CLEAR Membership
Additional Ways To Secure Complimentary or Discounted CLEAR Membership
- Complimentary CLEAR Membership
- Discounted CLEAR Membership
Final Thoughts

Table of Contents

What Is CLEAR?
Best Credit Cards for Complimentary CLEAR Membership
The Best Credit Cards for Discounted CLEAR Membership
Additional Ways To Secure Complimentary or Discounted CLEAR Membership
- Complimentary CLEAR Membership
- Discounted CLEAR Membership
Final Thoughts

What Is CLEAR?

The CLEAR Program

The CLEAR program is a security clearance process available to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents 18 years or older. CLEAR membership expedites security screening by accessing your pre-stored personal biometric information, allowing you to bypass regular TSA security and even TSA PreCheck lines.

The primary function of the CLEAR program is to expedite you through the ID process at airport security. You do not get to skip TSA security entirely — the service expedites the ID portion of security screening and eliminates waiting in those lines.

Additional uses are added regularly, including using CLEAR to access sports stadiums for events, enter airport lounges, make alcohol purchases, and fast-track rental car pickups without waiting in line.

Bottom Line: CLEAR does not come with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. For the best possible travel experience, check out the best cards that offer complimentary Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, then enroll in CLEAR separately.

The Cost of CLEAR

A full annual CLEAR membership, which includes expedited airport security, is $189 per year. You can add up to 3 family members for an additional $50 each per year.

Fortunately, you’ll rarely have to pay full price for CLEAR membership. We’ll cover several options to secure discounted and even complimentary CLEAR memberships later in this article.

There is no cost for an annual CLEAR Sports membership, which gives you access to select stadiums throughout the country.

Hot Tip: A CLEAR Sports member can also bring 1 guest through the CLEAR lane at stadiums.

Where Can I Use CLEAR?

CLEAR is available at more than 50 airports, stadiums, and public venues across the U.S.

You’ll find CLEAR currently in the following cities:

Atlanta
Austin
Baltimore
Birmingham
Boston
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Columbus
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Fort Lauderdale
Greenville-Spartanburg
Houston
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Miami
Minneapolis
Nashville
New Orleans
New York
Newark
Oakland
Ontario
Orlando
Palm Beach
Palm Springs
Phoenix
Sacramento
Salt Lake City
San Antonio
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose
Seattle
St. Louis
White Plains
Washington, D.C.

To find a CLEAR location near you or one that you can utilize during your travels, use this CLEAR locator link.

There are over 50 CLEAR locations across the U.S., including airport security locations and public event venues.

CLEAR membership line staff — CLEAR membership eliminates having to stand in long TSA security lines. Image Credit: CLEAR

Best Credit Cards for Complimentary CLEAR Membership

At this time, there are 3 cards with the promise of complimentary CLEAR membership:

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a $189 annual statement credit for CLEAR membership. To further improve your travel experience, this is also the best card for airport lounge access.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers a $189 annual statement credit for CLEAR membership.
Centurion® Card from American Express offers a CLEAR membership to cardholders and a limited number of their family members (this is an invitation-only credit card and is extremely difficult to obtain).

The Best Credit Cards for Discounted CLEAR Membership

There are several ways to avoid paying the full $189 annual CLEAR membership fee.

Let’s start by looking at which credit cards offer a discount on the cost of CLEAR membership.

Delta Air Lines-Branded Credit Cards

Delta has created a strong partnership with CLEAR and offers discounted memberships through its Delta-branded credit cards.

Usually, CLEAR membership costs $189 per year. However, cardholders of any of these Delta-branded credit cards will pay a discounted price of $109 per year:

You can sign up for a qualifying Delta discounted CLEAR membership.

American Express® Green Card

If you hold the Amex Green card, you can receive a $100 statement credit each calendar year when you use the card to pay for your CLEAR membership.

United Airlines-Branded Credit Cards

United-branded credit cardholders also receive a discounted membership. Instead of the $189 annual membership fee, United cardholders pay just $109.

Some United branded cards that offer this discount include:

Enroll in CLEAR as a United cardholder online.

Hot Tip: United Club Infinite cardholders also receive 10,000 bonus miles for a new CLEAR subscription if they sign-up by June 30, 2022!

Additional Ways To Secure Complimentary or Discounted CLEAR Membership

CLEAR Fingerprint — You should never have to pay full price for CLEAR membership. Image Credit: CLEAR

Complimentary CLEAR Membership

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Medallion Elite Status

CLEAR membership is complimentary for those frequent Delta SkyMiles travelers who have Diamond Medallion elite status.

United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Elite Status

United MileagePlus Premier 1K and Global Services elite status members receive a complimentary CLEAR membership.

Refer a Friend

If you have an existing CLEAR membership, you can refer a friend for a free trial membership and, in return, receive additional free months on your membership.

Even if you have a complimentary membership, you may also receive offers to refer friends to receive as many as 6 free trial months.

Free 2-Month Family Trial

Receive 2 months of CLEAR free for your entire family via this link.

Discounted CLEAR Membership

Frequent Flyer Elite Status

Both Delta and United offer discounted CLEAR membership to their elite members.

Instead of the $189 annual membership, Delta Silver, Gold, and Platinum Medallion members can purchase the same membership for a discounted price of $109.

United Premier Silver, Gold, and Platinum elite status members can also qualify for the same $109 discounted membership.

Frequent Flyer Program Member

Even if you don’t have elite status with a frequent flyer program, you can qualify for discounted CLEAR membership if you are simply a member.

Sign up for a Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus frequent flyer program account, or use your current account number if you’re already a member and pay just $119 per year for CLEAR.

Student Membership

Have a valid school email address and student ID? You can save big on your CLEAR membership. CLEAR student membership costs $50 per year for up to 4 years if you qualify. Remember, CLEAR gets you into stadiums across the country and through airport security.

Combining Discounts and Statement Credits

If you qualify for certain discounted CLEAR membership, such as Delta or United elite status, for example, you could also use your Amex Green card to pay for your membership and receive the $100 statement credit.

This combination would drop the price of your membership to a net $19 each year.

Final Thoughts

Having a CLEAR membership can be a real advantage for helping you get through security quickly. However, you should never have to pay full price for CLEAR membership.

Through credit card discounts, statement credits, frequent flyer programs, referrals, and student discounts, it’s possible to secure CLEAR affordably if it’s a benefit you can utilize to make your travel more efficient.

The information regarding the Centurion® Card from American Express, American Express® Green Card, and United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

Frequently asked questions

What is CLEAR?

CLEAR is an expedited security program that allows you to bypass the lines associated with checking your ID at airports, sporting venues, and other participating facilities where security screening is necessary.

CLEAR stores your personal biometrics and subsequently allows you to be screened using just your eyes or fingerprints. No card ID is necessary.

To use CLEAR, you must be a member.

How much does CLEAR cost?

Full CLEAR membership costs $189 per year but there are several ways to receive a discounted, even complimentary, membership.

There is no cost for a CLEAR Sports membership that gives access to participating stadiums.

How can I get free CLEAR membership?

There are a few ways to receive complimentary CLEAR membership.

Centurion cardholders receive complimentary membership. The Amex Platinum card and Amex Business Platinum card each offer a $189 statement credit for CLEAR membership reimbursement.

Delta Diamond Medallion elite members and United 1K Premier and Global Services elite members receive complimentary CLEAR membership.

You can receive a heavily discounted CLEAR membership by stacking the $100 statement credit that comes with the Amex Green card and joining Delta or United’s frequent flyer program. Members of these programs receive a discounted membership for $119. Use your Amex Green card to pay for the membership and receive CLEAR for a net $19.

You may also receive a free short-term trial CLEAR membership when referred by someone who currently has a CLEAR membership.

Does the Amex Platinum card come with CLEAR?

Yes. The Amex Platinum card comes with a $189 statement credit for CLEAR membership fee reimbursement.

The card also offers a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement.

4 comments

Josh August 17, 2020

The student price is incorrect – it is $50/year for up to 4 years.

Christine Krzyszton August 17, 2020

Hi Josh. Thanks for the heads up. I updated and clarified the verbiage to reflect that information.

Reply

Tk June 6, 2022

Looks like the free 2 months link isn’t working anymore?

Christine Krzyszton June 6, 2022

Thanks, Tk. Just updated it.

Reply