CLEAR Increases Membership Fee to $199 [Get It Free or Cheap!]

Updated: August 31, 2024, 10:02am CDT

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What Is CLEAR?
How To Get Complimentary CLEAR
Final Thoughts

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In May 2022, the popular airport screening service CLEAR increased its annual subscription fee for the first time since it was introduced to the market over a decade ago. Now, it has increased the price again for both individual and family memberships.

Luckily, though, there are numerous ways to get a CLEAR membership for (nearly) free.

Let’s take a look at the details of the changes and consider ways to pay less — or nothing at all — for your membership.

What Is CLEAR?

If you’re not already familiar, CLEAR connects your biometric information with your identity. In other words, instead of presenting your standard ID and your boarding pass, you can scan your eyes or fingerprints.

This allows you to bypass the general (or TSA PreCheck) identity check lines and head right into the TSA screening line ahead of most other passengers.

Hot Tip:

If you want to learn more about this service and what it can offer to you as a traveler, read our thorough guide covering everything you need to know about CLEAR.

Starting August 1, 2024, the cost of CLEAR has increased for both individual and family memberships:

Individual: $199 (from $189)
Family: $199 + $119 per person (from $189 + $99 per person)

As you can see, it’s just a jump of $10 for individuals, but family memberships are being hit hard. In addition to the $10 jump for the base member, additional family members are now $20 more per person.

How To Get Complimentary CLEAR

There are a few cards that can help you get a complimentary CLEAR membership.

Namely, if you hold The Platinum Card^® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, American Express^® Green Card*, or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*, you’ll receive a credit of up to $199 for CLEAR Plus each year (upon enrollment) your card remains active.

*All information about this card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

To correspond with the increased membership fee, American Express has updated the information on these cards, and a spokesperson for American Express confirmed that the benefit maximum for CLEAR has been updated to $199.

Hot Tip:

Delta Diamond Medallion and 360º members and United Global Services and Premier 1K members will continue to receive a free membership upon enrollment.

Final Thoughts

CLEAR is an excellent service that is now available at 50+ airports and 15+ stadiums throughout the U.S., and it can help you get through security in a flash. While consumers never want to see discounts dissipate, those with select credit cards or airline elite status can continue to benefit from statement credits and reduced fees.

The information regarding the American Express^® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire 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.