Clear

[Cornell]

Does anyone have any actual experience with Clear (biometric ID)?

I.HATE.LINES.

I have TSA pre-check but as this gets more & more popular, the lines get longer & longer.

I think that Clear is going to pop up at more & more venues so I'm thinking I might take the $149 plunge but wondering if it's worth it.

More stadiums need it -- getting into an NFL game , for example, is VERY time-intensive.

 

[sjsharkie]

Yes, I do. I get it free as 1K.

My experience is: not worth $149 unless you are a frequent flier. It is rare when I save more than 15 minutes by cutting the line. I already have Nexus which provides me access to Pre-check lanes -- and only on rare occasions does it save me more than 15 minutes overall.

Plus if you are using it just for stadiums... my understanding it is free as long as you complete enrollment at a stadium/game location. (You can't complete at an airport unless you use the paid service). I've only used once at a stadium location (Avaya Soccer Stadium) and the regular line was negligible though I can see this helping at larger stadiums. YMMV.

-ryan

 

[bnoble]

I also have it; I get it at a discount via status on Delta, but I can't remember what I pay. Whether or not it is helpful depends a lot on the airport. In DTW (my home airport) it might save 5 minutes on a typical day, and probably not even that vs. the regular precheck ID check. (That line may also be only for pax with status. I am not sure). Some airports it is a godsend: SFO and SEA both come to mind. I remember thinking it was helpful at MCO and DEN too, but there a little less so. And, even if it doesn't save you time, the Clear agents are always pleasant, while TSA agents...aren't.

The most useful example was at SFO. I forgot to empty my hydroflask, and realized it just as my bag went into the scanner. The TSA agent told me either I'd have to leave it behind or go out of the line, dump it, and go back to the end of the line and go through again. With Clear, it was a no-brainer, and took maybe an extra minute or two.

All told, I put it in the "little luxury" category. It's not nearly as useful as PreCheck/Global Entry, but it makes the airport slightly more pleasant and I don't really miss the enrollment fee.

 

[Cornell]

@bnoble -- TSA was hoping you'd leave that hydroflask behind!

 

[Seaport104]

If you are a United Mileage member, there is a reduced rate. Since I am silver, we paid $109 for me and additional $50 for my husband. We already have TSA Pre-check with Global entry but the TSA pre-check lines in Newark are still 30 minutes just to get to the scanner. With Clear, it was 5 minutes to get to the scanners. The $159 annual fee for 2 people is well worth it for me. We fly about 5 times a year out of Newark.

 

[billymach4]

Not worth it.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I have been a Clear customer/user for many year, i think going to back to year they launched.

Overall i think i get pretty good value from the service. But of course everyone's experience may vary based on their travel and entertainment patterns.

For me, Clear operates at both of my local airports, San Francisco and San Jose. They usually save me time there, though honestly the TSA has gotten faster over the years... But still i usually get thought the lines faster, and i like that.

Outside of air travel, Clear operates a security line for the SF Giants baseball games, and i have used a clear line for concerts a few times.