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 and Delta 360° elite members and United 1K Premier and Global Services elite members receive complimentary CLEAR membership. 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.

Best Credit Cards for CLEAR Membership in 2023 [Airport Security]

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 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

Card	Welcome Offer and Annual Fee	Benefits
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 80,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)	Up to $189 statement credit per year towards a CLEAR membership 5x points on airfare booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year) 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel Access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass (upon enrollment), Plaza Premium Lounges, and more Complimentary hotel elite status and car rental privileges Statement credits on select purchases with your card Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Top-notch travel insurance No preset spending limit
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)	Up to $189 statement credit per year towards a CLEAR membership 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel 1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies) Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline Statement credits on select purchases with your card 35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year) Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program
American Express® Green Card	Earn 30,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in your first 3 months. Annual fee of $150	Up to $189 statement credit per year towards a CLEAR membership 3x points at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases Up to $100 statement credit per year on LoungeBuddy purchases
Centurion® Card from American Express.	No welcome offer Annual fee of $5,000, and a initiation fee of $10,000	Up to $189 annual statement credit for complimentary CLEAR membership
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	Earn 70,000 miles after spending $2,000 in purchases in your first 6 months. Annual fee of $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 (rates and fees)	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases Free checked bag, priority boarding, 20% inflight food/beverage purchase statement credit, Pay with Miles benefit
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card	Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Offer Ends 3/29/23. Annual fee of $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. (rates and fees)	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases Free checked bag, priority boarding, 20% inflight food/beverage purchase statement credit, Pay with Miles benefit
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card	Earn 90,000 miles after spending $4,000 in purchases in your first 6 months. Annual fee of $250 (rates and fees)	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases Free checked bag, priority boarding, 20% inflight food/beverage purchase statement credit, Pay with Miles benefit Annual companion certificate
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card	Limited Time Offer: Earn 95,000 miles after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Offer Ends 3/29/23. Annual fee of $250 (rates and fees)	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases Free checked bag, priority boarding, 20% inflight food/beverage purchase statement credit, Pay with Miles benefit Annual companion certificate
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card	Earn 90,000 miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months. Annual fee of $550 (rates and fees)	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases Free checked bag, priority boarding, 20% inflight food/beverage purchase statement credit, Pay with Miles benefit Annual companion certificate Complimentary Delta Sky Club for cardholder when flying same-day on Delta
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card	Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. Offer ends 3/29/23. Annual fee of $550 (rates and fees)	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases Free checked bag, priority boarding, 20% inflight food/beverage purchase statement credit, Pay with Miles benefit Annual companion certificate Complimentary Delta Sky Club for cardholder when flying same-day on Delta
United Club℠ Infinite Card	Earn 80,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months Annual fee of $525	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 2 free checked bags for you and 1 companion on the same reservation Premier Access benefits Complimentary United Club membership
United Club℠ Business Card	Earn 75,000 bonus miles after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open Annual fee of $450	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 2 free checked bags for you and 1 companion on the same reservation Premier Access benefits Complimentary United Club membership
United℠ Business Card	Earn 75,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months Annual fee of $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 1 free checked bag for you and 1 companion on the same reservation Priority boarding 2 single 1-time use United Club passes each card anniversary year
United℠ Explorer Card	Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95	CLEAR membership discounted price of $149 per year 1 free checked bag for you and 1 companion on the same reservation Priority boarding 2 single 1-time use United Club passes each card anniversary year

What Is CLEAR?

CLEAR is a secure identity platform 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 CLEAR 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.

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 adult family members for an additional $50 each per year. Children under 18 can use the CLEAR lane for free when accompanied by a CLEAR family member.

Fortunately, you’ll rarely have to pay the total 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 free 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.

Airport Locations With CLEAR
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)	Dulles International Airport (IAD)	Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)	Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)	Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)	Miami International Airport (MIA)	Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)	George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)	Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)	Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Boise Airport (BOI)	Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)	Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)	San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)	Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)	Nashville International Airport (BNA)	San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)	Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)	Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)	San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)	John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)	Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)	Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)	John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)	Oakland International Airport (OAK)	St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)	Kansas City International Airport (MCI)	Orlando International Airport (MCO)	Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)	LaGuardia Airport (LGA)	Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)	Westchester County Airport (HPN)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)	Long Beach Airport (LGB)	Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)	Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
Denver International Airport (DEN)	Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)	William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)	Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)	Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

Which Sports Venues Have CLEAR?

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

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

The ONLY Credit Cards That Offer Complimentary CLEAR Membership

At this time, there are 4 cards that offer up to a $189 annual statement credit for complimentary CLEAR membership: The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Green Card, and Centurion® Card from American Express.

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 150,000 points with the Amex Platinum card! (The current public offer is 80,000 points.)

The Centurion card also 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 $149 per year:

You can sign up for a qualifying Delta discounted 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 $149.

Some United branded cards that offer this discount include:

Enroll in CLEAR as a United cardholder online.

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 with Diamond Medallion elite or Delta 360° 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.

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 $149.

United Premier Silver, Gold, and Platinum elite status members can also qualify for the same $149 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 $179 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 $60 per year for up to 4 years if you qualify.

Active Duty Military and Veterans

U.S. active duty military and veterans can receive a CLEAR membership for just $99. Make sure to bring your Veteran ID card or a valid U.S. Military ID to the airport (if your license does not denote it already) to secure the discounted rate.

Government Rate

Federal, State, and local government employees are eligible for a discounted rate. Contact [email protected] for more information.

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.

14 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.
  
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.
  
  - Jp September 29, 2022
    
    Is free 2 months link active? Not working.
    
    - Christine Krzyszton September 29, 2022
      
      Hi Jp. I just tried it and it worked for me. You can also try this other link: https://enroll.clearme.com/enroll/?p=GBREXTRIAL&gclid=CjwKCAjwhNWZBhB_EiwAPzlhNh5CpXL9_PaYVFm_faIzEcf99svhD1o76aKz9Nr3jPUFSivGqhipRhoCLZcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
      
Maggie F October 15, 2022

How much is it to add a family member if you are a student?

- Jarrod West October 21, 2022
  
  Hi Maggie,
  
  You can add up to 3 family members for $60 each.
  
Trisha November 11, 2022

Hi. Do you know how long the process takes to verify at the airport (after you sign-up/create an account)?

- Christine Krzyszton November 11, 2022
  
  Hi Trisha. It’s a quick process. You’ll just approach the CLEAR entrance and tell them you’ve registered online. They’ll take your fingerprints, scan your eyes, verify your identity and you’re on your way. I wouldn’t allow more than 15 extra minutes but it shouldn’t take more than 5-10.
  
- Katie Seemann November 11, 2022
  
  Hi Trisha,
  It’s a quick process at the airport once you’ve created your account. It takes less than 5 minutes in most cases.
  
Kathie Allen January 9, 2023

A couple of weeks ago I was traveling to Hawaii from Houston and the clear representative said they were offering 2 free weeks to try clear. As I was signing up she said oh you get a year free with your Capital One credit card. They couldn’t get my DL to scan properly so she told me to come do it on my next trip. Today my husband attempted to sign up at the same airport and was told he had to pay the $188.

Babblespeak January 22, 2023

Flew out of San Juan on 1/8/23. They have Clear there.

- Keri Stooksbury January 22, 2023
  
  Thanks for reading! We’ve updated the locations and have included a map, as well.

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The Best Credit Cards with CLEAR Membership for Expedited Airport Security [2023]