Clear costs $189 a year and saves you 10 to 15 minutes at airport security — but only if you fly often enough to use it

Clear is a membership program that lets you skip the regular security line at U.S. airports and use a dedicated lane instead. You pay $189 per year (or $15 per month), show your membership on your phone or card, and go straight to a biometric scanner that checks your fingerprints or eyes. The whole process takes about 5 to 10 minutes instead of 30 to 60 minutes in a normal line.

Whether it is worth buying depends almost entirely on how often you fly and how much you value your time. If you fly fewer than four times a year, you will probably not save enough time to justify the cost. If you fly monthly or more, or if you travel during peak times like holidays, Clear can be genuinely useful. The math is simple: divide $189 by the number of trips you take per year, and decide if that per-trip cost feels reasonable for skipping security.

Key Takeaways

  • Clear costs $189 yearly and works only at U.S. airports where the program operates — not all airports have it, and not all airlines participate.
  • You still go through the same TSA screening (metal detector, bag scan, pat-down if flagged), so Clear only skips the waiting part, not the actual security checks.
  • The time you save depends on when you fly — peak travel times like early morning or holidays save you more time than off-peak flights.
  • Clear works best for frequent business travelers or people who fly monthly; occasional flyers usually do not save enough to justify the annual cost.
  • TSA PreCheck ($78 to $85 for five years) is a cheaper alternative that also speeds up security, though not as much as Clear does.

How Clear actually works at the airport

When you arrive at the airport, you find the Clear lane near the main security entrance. You scan your phone or membership card, then step up to a biometric kiosk where you place your finger on a scanner or look into a camera. The system verifies your identity in seconds, and an agent waves you through to a dedicated security line that is usually much shorter than the regular line.

Once you reach the TSA checkpoint itself, you go through the exact same screening as everyone else — you remove your shoes and belt, put your bag on the conveyor, and walk through the metal detector. If you are flagged for additional screening, you still have to do it. Clear only eliminates the wait to reach the checkpoint, not the checkpoint itself. That is why people with TSA PreCheck often get more value from Clear — PreCheck lets you keep your shoes on and leave your laptop in your bag, so you move faster through the actual screening too.

Clear is not available everywhere

Clear operates at about 55 U.S. airports, mostly major hubs like Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Miami. If you live near a small regional airport, Clear may not be an option at all. You can check the full list on Clear's website before you buy.

Even at airports where Clear operates, not every terminal has it. At some larger airports, Clear is only in certain terminals or only for certain airlines. Call ahead or check the airport's website if you are flying from an unfamiliar airport.

When Clear saves you the most time

Clear saves the most time during peak travel periods — early morning flights (5 a.m. to 8 a.m.), evening rush (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.), and holiday weeks. During these times, regular security lines can stretch 45 minutes to over an hour, so skipping to a dedicated lane genuinely saves you 30 to 45 minutes.

On a Tuesday afternoon flight in September, the regular line might only be 10 minutes long. Clear still gets you through in 5 minutes, but you have only saved 5 minutes — not worth $189 a year. The real value of Clear is that it protects you from the worst-case scenario. If you fly during unpredictable times or during peak seasons, Clear guarantees you will not be caught in a 90-minute security line.

Clear versus TSA PreCheck and other options

TSA PreCheck costs $78 to $85 for five years and is available at all U.S. airports. With PreCheck, you go through a shorter security line and do not have to remove your shoes, belt, or light jacket, or take out your laptop and liquids. You still wait in line, but the line moves faster because screening is less thorough. PreCheck saves you 5 to 15 minutes on average.

Clear and PreCheck work well together — many frequent travelers buy both. Clear gets you to the front of the line, and PreCheck speeds you through the actual screening. Buying both costs $267 per year (or $189 for Clear plus $15.60 per year for PreCheck if you renew it during a sale). If you fly more than 12 times a year and value your time highly, this combination makes sense. If you fly fewer than 8 times a year, PreCheck alone is usually enough.

Some credit cards offer TSA PreCheck or Clear as a cardholder benefit. The American Express Platinum card, for example, includes a $189 Clear credit each year, which means you get Clear free if you pay the $695 annual fee for the card. If you already have this card for other reasons, the Clear benefit is essentially free. Check your credit card benefits before you buy Clear separately.

The real cost of Clear over time

Clear costs $189 per year, or about $15.75 per month. If you fly four times a year, that is $47 per trip. If you fly 12 times a year, that is $16 per trip. If you fly 24 times a year, that is $8 per trip.

The question is whether skipping security is worth that per-trip cost to you. For a business traveler who flies weekly, $8 per trip for 10 to 15 minutes of saved time is often worth it. For someone who flies twice a year for vacation, $95 per trip is hard to justify. There is no universal answer — it depends on your schedule and how much you value your time.

Downsides and limitations

Clear only works in the United States. If you fly internationally, you will not use it on your outbound flight (you go through international security, which is different) or on flights from other countries. This limits its value for people who travel abroad frequently.

Clear also does not work if you do not have a valid ID that matches your membership. If you lose your ID or forget it at home, you go through regular security. The biometric system occasionally fails or is slow, especially during very busy times, so Clear is not a may provide — it is a strong probability.

The membership is tied to you personally and cannot be transferred or shared. If you buy it for yourself, your spouse or travel companion cannot use your membership. They would need their own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Clear work for international flights?

Clear only works for domestic U.S. flights. On international flights departing the U.S., you go through a different security process that Clear does not cover. If you are flying internationally, you would use Clear only for your domestic connection or your return flight within the U.S.

Can I use Clear if I have TSA PreCheck?

Yes. Clear and PreCheck serve different purposes — Clear skips the line, and PreCheck speeds up the screening itself. Many frequent travelers use both. If you have PreCheck, Clear adds extra value because you will move through the actual checkpoint faster too.

What happens if I forget my ID on the day I fly?

You cannot use Clear without a valid ID that matches your membership. You would go through regular security instead. Clear does not refund you for individual trips you miss, so forgetting your ID means you lose the benefit for that flight.

Does Clear work at every terminal in a large airport?

Not always. At some large airports, Clear is only in certain terminals or only for certain airlines. Check the airport's website or call ahead before you fly to confirm Clear is available at your specific terminal.

Can I cancel Clear if I do not use it?

Yes. Clear allows month-to-month cancellation if you pay monthly ($15 per month), or you can let your annual membership expire without renewing. There are no cancellation fees, but you do not get a refund for unused months if you cancel mid-year.