[Updated 2025.10] Sign up for Clear now and get an extra 5,000 UA miles. If you can stack this with a credit card reimbursement/credit, it can be essentially free. If you still have an unused Clear reimbursement benefit, this is a good chance to use it. Based on past experience, you may only need to register to receive the bonus, even if you do not go in for the enrollment interview.

What Is Clear?

At U.S. airport security checkpoints, premium-cabin passengers (first/business class) and top-tier airline elites often have access to a priority line. But many of us travel without those perks. In that case, an expedited security option can be very helpful. The most well-known example is TSA PreCheck, and many premium credit cards include that benefit, but if you do not have a green card or are not a U.S. citizen, you may not be able to enroll. Another common fast-track option is Clear, which is the focus of this article.

Clear was founded in 2010. It is a private biometric screening company, not a government agency. It uses fingerprints and iris scans to verify identity, and markets itself as “the only service that can get users through airport security quickly and seamlessly” (though similar technology has long been quite mature in mainland China). Clear’s investors include Delta Air Lines, the former CEO of Priceline, and United Airlines. Delta even offers Clear devices in some Sky Club lounges so eligible members can enter faster. Clear also partners with Hertz and multiple sports stadiums across the U.S. Going forward, Clear may continue expanding to help users move through standard security procedures more quickly.

Where Clear Is Available

Clear now offers expedited access at a growing number of U.S. airports, stadiums, and Hertz rental locations. For the full list, see:

Using New York as an example, there are currently 6 places where you can use Clear, including airports and some stadiums:

Restrictions

Disclaimer: This blog only shares purchasing and cashback/rebate testing results, and does not provide any other guidance or recommendations. Please decide for yourself whether you need the Clear service and whether you are comfortable with any potential risks.

Clear officially states that the service is only available to U.S. citizens and green card holders age 18+ with a valid photo ID.

CLEAR is currently only available to US citizens and legal permanent residents 18 and older with a valid photo ID

Because Clear is a fast-growing private company, its official policy is restrictive, but in practice, whether you are buying a membership or using the expedited security lane, you may only need a valid U.S. driver’s license (as of the publication date). Clear does not appear to verify whether you are actually a U.S. citizen or green card holder. In other words, many people in various visa categories may theoretically be able to use the service as long as they have a valid U.S. driver’s license (again, as of publication). Of course, you can also choose to buy it and never use it; getting the reimbursement and rebate is generally not restricted. If you buy it and never use it, then let it expire without doing the biometric scan, you can just treat it as forgotten and still come out ahead a little, which is not unreasonable.

  • Purchase: Done online, with no identity requirement.
  • Fingerprint and iris scan at the airport: You need a real US photo ID (such as a driver’s license). According to reader illusionwing, some locations may also ask for an SSN, such as SFO. Of course, if you only register online and never go use it, then whether you have a driver’s license or SSN is beside the point.

Cost

Like many U.S. companies, the pricing structure can be a bit complicated, and the standard price is relatively high. But there are multiple ways to lower the cost. The regular membership price is $179/year. You may be able to save through the following channels:

Student discount

The student rate is $50/year, and it lasts for four years. Having one AMEX Green is enough to cover many years of Clear service for you and your partner.

You need to fill in your information when registering, and the system will automatically check whether you qualify. In practice, email addresses ending in .edu usually work.

If automatic verification fails, you can request a manual review, which usually just requires uploading documents that prove student status. Many people on J visas may also qualify as students. (If manual review is required, your information will be recorded after approval. At that point, you can go back through a cashback portal link and purchase the membership again to directly register for the $50 version, and the cashback portal should still track the order. Thanks to reader Black Mamba.)

Delta partnership discount

Delta is one of Clear’s major backers, so its partner pricing is fairly strong. Based on the description, Clear members who link a Delta account may even be able to use it to access the Sky Club lounge more quickly (it is unclear whether lounge access itself is free; the wording makes it sound like it might be, though see the clarification below).

  • Diamond Medallion® Members: complimentary Clear
  • Other Delta elite members except base-level members, and Delta co-branded cardholders: $109/year
  • Base-level Delta members: $119/year

This flow chart seems to imply that you can use it to get into the Sky Club for food and drinks. Below is the official FAQ about accessing the Sky Club. It did not make clear whether there was any charge... (You still need to already be eligible to enter; this only speeds up entry. H/T: reader Pipo.)

Can I use CLEAR to access the Delta Sky Club®?

Yes! Delta Sky Club members with a CLEAR membership can use their fingerprints to enter all 50 U.S. Delta Sky Club locations thanks to Delta Biometrics powered by CLEAR.

Delta Sky Club members without a CLEAR membership who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents can access Delta Sky Clubs with just a touch by enrolling in select Delta Sky Club locations across the country. Click HERE for a list of all CLEAR locations, including Delta Sky Club locations with CLEAR.


When registering, you need to enter your Delta frequent flyer account, and the system will automatically determine your final price.

United partnership discount

United is also one of Clear’s major backers. Aside from not including the lounge-related functionality, its partnership model is otherwise basically the same as Delta’s.

  • UA 1K members get Clear for free
  • Other non-general members and UA co-branded cardholders: $109/year
  • UA general members: $119/year

Family member fee

Clear lets you add family members and helps them enroll in Clear. Each family member costs $60/year, and you can add up to three family members per account. To add them, you must first choose an auto-renewing membership (auto-renew is turned on by default after purchase, but you can disable it at any time if you do not want it).

Referral bonus

Clear offers referral bonuses. For each person you refer, both parties get 2 months of free membership. However, at checkout it takes you to the $179 pricing page, so this is the least recommended option.

How to buy

  • After going to the Clear official website, scroll down to the bottom of the page and choose the purchase method you want.
  • Open the link you need, such as Delta or UA, and then just follow the instructions. It is very simple.
  • At checkout, just use your own AMEX Green credit card. After the purchase goes through, you will see the following.
  • Clear will send you an email. At that point, you should also change your password and register your account (necessary! Otherwise you will not be able to cancel auto-renewal).
  • Decide whether to keep auto-renew on or add family members. To add family members, you must first enable auto-renew. Those charges can also trigger the credit/reimbursement, even if billed separately.
  • Later, when you are ready to use it, bring a valid driver’s license to the airport to provide the required information. That process is also quick.

Cancellation and refunds

Clear allows you to cancel your membership. If you have not used it yet, you can cancel directly from the Clear homepage, and it will show an automatic refund (as pictured below). If an automatic refund does not appear, you can try requesting a refund through customer service chat. But do not assume that after you cancel, AMEX will not claw back the credit/reimbursement. Given AMEX’s current tendencies, it still seems to like clawing these back. If you sign up normally and stack the cashback, even if you do not use it, you can still come out ahead by quite a bit, so canceling is not recommended.

The author tried it and found cancellation very easy, and the refund was also quick, returning in 2-3 days.

TopCashback cashback + AMEX Platinum/Green credit

AMEX Green offers a $100 Clear Credit, while the Platinum card offers $179. Right now, TopCashback offers cashback for Clear, but you need to use their coupon code. So in theory, you can only use a Platinum card to buy this $149 option and come out $10 ahead. At the moment, there is no way to come out ahead with the Green.

Cashback and credit timeline (an older Green card data point, for timing reference only)

Note: at that time, TCB’s terms did not require you to use their code in order to earn the cashback, so you could use the student discount. That is no longer possible now. You can only use their code to ensure tracking.

  • 11/27: Bought the $109 version with an AMEX Green credit card
  • 11/28: TCB tracked the cashback and showed $20 pending
  • 11/28: The charge posted
  • The guess was that the credit would post on 12/02 (since there was a weekend in between). End to end, that meant coming out $11 ahead (the author said they would come back later and update the image after the credit posted).
  • If it is a student membership, you can come out $20 ahead each time, buy it twice, and get up to $40 total.

(AMEX credit screenshot still pending)
Clear purchases on AMEX Green, like LoungeBuddy, earn 3X, and the credit/reimbursement counts as -1X.

Reader Qi’s student-version reimbursement data point: if you use it well, you can reliably come out $40 ahead per calendar year.

If you have not yet applied for the AMEX Green credit card, early December is a good time to apply (if you only keep it for one year, you may be able to fit in three calendar-year credits).

Multiple-account situation

Using the same name, date of birth, and zip code, opening two accounts resulted in instant charges and both accounts worked fine. After opening a third account, the third one was placed on hold.

Expired sign-up offers

  • $100 CHOICE rebate voucher for new CLEAR Plus members — June 2024
  • $75 Uber gift card promotion for new CLEAR Plus members — December 2023
  • Three months of a free CLEAR membership after enrolling through Kayak — December 2022
  • Up to 50% off CLEAR enrollment using a targeted AMEX card — August 2022
  • United MileagePlus members get up to 15,000 bonus miles with CLEAR membership — July 2022
  • Free one-year CLEAR membership with $100 United spend — April 2022
  • $100 United TravelBank credit — February 2022
  • 5,000 bonus United miles — November 2021
  • Claim a free six-month CLEAR membership — December 2020

Other promotions

Right now, Clear members who sign up for the public investment platform and transfer in $20 can also get a $100 bonus. If you are interested, you can do this one as well.

If you are interested in using it long term, besides stock trading, the interest on the cash is also pretty good.

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