Hi all - I already have Global Pass and TSA Pre-check, but now I'm hearing about "Clear". Does anyone have this? Is it necessary/helpful when getting through TSA security? What's the difference? Comments welcome.
CLEAR is a biometric based system that allows registered users to verify their identity (fingerprint or retinal scan) via a kiosk. Once that occurs, you will be escorted to the screening area by an agent, bypassing the pre-check line. It is also not limited to airports, as some sports arenas have the system as well. The time save this allows is the primary attraction of this program. However, there are several drawbacks. First, not all airports are equipped with the kiosks yet, so before enrolling you should make sure your location is covered. Second, it is more expensive. While pre-check is $85-$100 for 5 years (and included if you get Global Entry), CLEAR is $179 per year. That said, there are multiple ways to get a discount on the membership. If you have AMEX platinum, it is free as you get a statement credit each year for the value of the membership. Even the green card gives you a $100 credit. Delta and United also provide a discount if you have elite status and/or have their mileage credit card. Third, you may find yourself waiting for an agent once your identity has been verified, as staffing can be spotty. Bottom line, it seems like it is intended for fairly frequent flyers. The following article from The Points Guy outlines what I have stated above and more. https://thepointsguy.com/guide/clear-expedited-airport-security/
You can also get more information on the CLEAR website here: clearme.com
Just to be "clear" (pun intended )- it is way more expensive than similar TSA Pre-check* which your participating airline may give you for free and is complementary when you get Global Entry, it is not at all US airports (not are RDU our usual departure airport), is a US-only program so not available at overseas airports, and when you are coming home, since it has nothing to do with customs or immigration, it doesn't replace Global Entry.
*Note, though you may have TSA pre-check, it is not guaranteed for all flights, even if it is on your ticket- it is up to the airline and TSA agents- you can be randomly excluded.
We reapplied for Global Entry several weeks ago, mine was approved in less than twenty four hours. My husband has yet to receive his. He thinks it is because he changed his job to retired.
Clear might make sense if your normal departure airport (because, as noted above, it does nothing for you on return) doesn't have an efficient pre program. Ours does. Even pre-pandemic, the difference between the ID-check part of the pre process and the Clear lane next to it was (maybe) a couple of minutes...or less. It made no sense to us as frequent international travelers even with the discounts we'd get due to FF status. YMMV.
I've only had two issues with TSA Pre-check. Once my wife and I were on different bookings- Delta gave me Pre-check, but not my wife. It wasn't a big deal since RDU wasn't busy. The other issue may continue- at RDU people in the Pre-check line went through a metal detector while the normal lines went through the full body scanner. The last time through I had my "new" knee with metal parts. I told them before I entered the metal detector, and they shunted me over to the full body scanner line while my carry-on stuff was being scanned. Luckily for me they put me right into the body scanner so I didn't have to wait. I still had to make my way back over to the Pre-check carry-on scanner conveyor to get my stuff. Maybe RDU will replace the older metal detectors with full body scanners - we'll see in 4 weeks- it will be our first flight since Feb 2020.
Alan, I just had my first time thru security with the new knee. No problems with it in Albuquerque but coming back leaving from Albany we were in the TSA-Pre line with my husband ahead to watch the bags if I got held up. Sure enough the agent asked if he had any metal in his body and he said no but I did. So she said I had to go thru a different scanner. As she was directing me some airline employees needed to jump the line ahead of me. She took care of my bag and I went over to the full body scan. Quickly done and I met my husband at the finish. He'd been worried when my bag didn't come out right after him not knowing about the airline employees between us.
Alan, it's doing well. Not completely healed but range of motion excellent and back to walking. Did some swimming and a lot of walking last week in the Adirondacks -- up to a 3 miler on Sat. Now crossing fingers I can put it to use in Switzerland and France in Sep.
AlanS, I also fly out of RDU. 3 new joints and husband has a pacemaker. Had the same issue as you as a TSA precheck once, but last time they had more full body scanners. We leave 4 weeks from today for France (maybe, still think it may cancel) so we’ll see how it goes; we’re Global Entry now so will still go thru the precheck lines.
Thanks for the additional info! I'm looking forward to checking out the new setup. We are just headed to Boothbay Harbor, ME to spend a week with Tauck traveling friends. RDU is nice, I just wish it was closer- it is a 2 hour drive from Little Washington where we live.
We could drive 45 min. to New Bern but there were only two flights per day- sometimes connections in ATL were OK other times there would be a 7 hr. layover! We only used New Bern once. Now Delta no longer has service there. I wish they would come to Greenville which is only 18 mi. from us.
I know where you are. RDU is great for direct flights to (pre-Covid) LHR, CDG and we’ve done direct to JFK then off to Europe. ILM is getting better with more directs but a bit far for you.
You probably won't see body scanners in the PreCheck line. Since metal detector lines move faster than body scanner lines, having metal detectors in the PreCheck line is one of the perks, like not having to take off your shoes.
Wayside, I just tested this out in the past week with a new knee. Went right thru Precheck in Albuquerque but Albany's Precheck line couldn't handle it and sent me over to one of the types you stand still while it goes around you. Albuquerque, though not a big airport or hub, tends to get the latest TSA tech. Not sure if it's proximity to Sandia National labs i.e. they like to test stuff out here or what.
Claudia - Not sure if it's proximity to Sandia National labs i.e. they like to test stuff out here or what.
The government figures you've all been beamed through and through with testing done at Sandia, Los Alamos, White Sands, etc so they might as well test out their new equipment in New Mexico. After all, what more harm could it do.
Comments
CLEAR is a biometric based system that allows registered users to verify their identity (fingerprint or retinal scan) via a kiosk. Once that occurs, you will be escorted to the screening area by an agent, bypassing the pre-check line. It is also not limited to airports, as some sports arenas have the system as well. The time save this allows is the primary attraction of this program. However, there are several drawbacks. First, not all airports are equipped with the kiosks yet, so before enrolling you should make sure your location is covered. Second, it is more expensive. While pre-check is $85-$100 for 5 years (and included if you get Global Entry), CLEAR is $179 per year. That said, there are multiple ways to get a discount on the membership. If you have AMEX platinum, it is free as you get a statement credit each year for the value of the membership. Even the green card gives you a $100 credit. Delta and United also provide a discount if you have elite status and/or have their mileage credit card. Third, you may find yourself waiting for an agent once your identity has been verified, as staffing can be spotty. Bottom line, it seems like it is intended for fairly frequent flyers. The following article from The Points Guy outlines what I have stated above and more. https://thepointsguy.com/guide/clear-expedited-airport-security/
You can also get more information on the CLEAR website here: clearme.com
Just to be "clear" (pun intended
)- it is way more expensive than similar TSA Pre-check* which your participating airline may give you for free and is complementary when you get Global Entry, it is not at all US airports (not are RDU our usual departure airport), is a US-only program so not available at overseas airports, and when you are coming home, since it has nothing to do with customs or immigration, it doesn't replace Global Entry.
*Note, though you may have TSA pre-check, it is not guaranteed for all flights, even if it is on your ticket- it is up to the airline and TSA agents- you can be randomly excluded.
We reapplied for Global Entry several weeks ago, mine was approved in less than twenty four hours. My husband has yet to receive his. He thinks it is because he changed his job to retired.
Clear might make sense if your normal departure airport (because, as noted above, it does nothing for you on return) doesn't have an efficient pre program. Ours does. Even pre-pandemic, the difference between the ID-check part of the pre process and the Clear lane next to it was (maybe) a couple of minutes...or less. It made no sense to us as frequent international travelers even with the discounts we'd get due to FF status. YMMV.
I've only had two issues with TSA Pre-check. Once my wife and I were on different bookings- Delta gave me Pre-check, but not my wife. It wasn't a big deal since RDU wasn't busy. The other issue may continue- at RDU people in the Pre-check line went through a metal detector while the normal lines went through the full body scanner. The last time through I had my "new" knee with metal parts. I told them before I entered the metal detector, and they shunted me over to the full body scanner line while my carry-on stuff was being scanned. Luckily for me they put me right into the body scanner so I didn't have to wait. I still had to make my way back over to the Pre-check carry-on scanner conveyor to get my stuff. Maybe RDU will replace the older metal detectors with full body scanners - we'll see in 4 weeks- it will be our first flight since Feb 2020.
Alan, I just had my first time thru security with the new knee. No problems with it in Albuquerque but coming back leaving from Albany we were in the TSA-Pre line with my husband ahead to watch the bags if I got held up. Sure enough the agent asked if he had any metal in his body and he said no but I did. So she said I had to go thru a different scanner. As she was directing me some airline employees needed to jump the line ahead of me. She took care of my bag and I went over to the full body scan. Quickly done and I met my husband at the finish. He'd been worried when my bag didn't come out right after him not knowing about the airline employees between us.
How is your "new" knee doing, by the way? Mine is great, no problems!
Alan, it's doing well. Not completely healed but range of motion excellent and back to walking. Did some swimming and a lot of walking last week in the Adirondacks -- up to a 3 miler on Sat. Now crossing fingers I can put it to use in Switzerland and France in Sep.
AlanS, I also fly out of RDU. 3 new joints and husband has a pacemaker. Had the same issue as you as a TSA precheck once, but last time they had more full body scanners. We leave 4 weeks from today for France (maybe, still think it may cancel) so we’ll see how it goes; we’re Global Entry now so will still go thru the precheck lines.
Thanks for the additional info! I'm looking forward to checking out the new setup. We are just headed to Boothbay Harbor, ME to spend a week with Tauck traveling friends. RDU is nice, I just wish it was closer- it is a 2 hour drive from Little Washington where we live.
Alan, it’s about 90 minutes from where we live in Wallace. Better choice for us than Wilmington.
We could drive 45 min. to New Bern but there were only two flights per day- sometimes connections in ATL were OK other times there would be a 7 hr. layover! We only used New Bern once. Now Delta no longer has service there. I wish they would come to Greenville which is only 18 mi. from us.
I know where you are. RDU is great for direct flights to (pre-Covid) LHR, CDG and we’ve done direct to JFK then off to Europe. ILM is getting better with more directs but a bit far for you.
You probably won't see body scanners in the PreCheck line. Since metal detector lines move faster than body scanner lines, having metal detectors in the PreCheck line is one of the perks, like not having to take off your shoes.
Perk? Except for those of us who have been taken apart and put back together with spare parts made from metal.
Wayside, I just tested this out in the past week with a new knee. Went right thru Precheck in Albuquerque but Albany's Precheck line couldn't handle it and sent me over to one of the types you stand still while it goes around you. Albuquerque, though not a big airport or hub, tends to get the latest TSA tech. Not sure if it's proximity to Sandia National labs i.e. they like to test stuff out here or what.
The government figures you've all been beamed through and through with testing done at Sandia, Los Alamos, White Sands, etc so they might as well test out their new equipment in New Mexico. After all, what more harm could it do.