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Clear is offering 2 free months.
I haven’t pulled the trigger on Clear up until this point, and I have to give my girlfriend props for giving it a go. She was the impetus behind signing us up for a free trial, and I’m glad she did. Can’t hurt to try something out for a couple months and see how it fits. I was passing through LAX yesterday and needed to finish the process ( scan my fingerprints and retinas as well as verify my identity with an ID). Ultimately, my ID wouldn’t scan properly so I need to come back ( bummer), but I got a feel for how it all works. After that…it would cost $99 – if you’re paying more than that you shouldn’t – I’ll explain.
Step 1 – Sign up?
First you need to sign up…you can get your free two months here. You can sign up at the airport too, unsure about the 2 free months there, tho…
Step 2 – Get Verified at the airport – you’ll find a few of these machines
You must register at the one of these stations. I had trouble getting my license to scan in and will have to return at a later date with my passport to finish my profile. Normally you’d just need your license or passport and they would scan it along with your fingerprints and a retinal scan. Then once you come back the next time, you’d quickly move through the line with either or those two scans to verify you. I saw multiple people fly thought the process.
Step 3 – Cut in front of everyone
Once you’re “cleared” you basically cut in front of TSA or in my case TSA Pre. Effectively I was expediting, expedited security with all the same TSA Pre benefits. Shoes on, laptop in bag, etc. Today wasn’t really a big deal, there were maybe 3 people in line for TSA Pre when I was escorted in front of them, but I’ve seen the TSA Pre line BACKED UP, and this would be great if you were cutting it close. If you don’t have Pre it would work the same way, but you’d have to go through normal TSA.
I needed to be “manually verified” which basically meant a Clear Rep needed to check my boarding pass and ID and then escort me to TSA Pre and cut me in front of everyone waiting.
Where can you use Clear?
It’s growing and growing. I personally used it at LAX Terminal 4.
I love it – I want to get it for $99, not $15 a month or $179 a year. How do I do it. Tell me, tell me.
Delta members get a big discount. Diamonds get it completely free, but basic members get it almost half off.
- $79 is avail to Amex Delta Gold, Platinum, Reserve basic members, not additional cardmembers. Both Biz and Personal versions.
- $99 is avail to ALL general members
Is it worth it?
I’ll let you know. Obviously if you are a Diamond Medallion you should get it, but is it worth $99 a year? Each situation is different. If you’re constantly getting stuck in a log jam, it may be. If you’re flying at off peak times…maybe not. One thing I’d like to see happen is Clear become a perk of Premium Credit Cards across the market. Right now, we get our Global Entry refunded on a bevy of cards, but that lasts 5 years. In the interim it’d be nice to see perks like Clear become a reimbursed expense in addition to the various travel credits offered across the premium card space…similar to Priority Pass.
I was also skeptical if this was truly worth $99 a year with a Delta account. Although after a month of use, it’s very handy. Flying out of SEA helps. I found it very handy at ATL where PreCheck can be a long wait in the morning. Since Delta owns 5% of Clear, you’ll find Clear in most Delta heavy airports.
I got 4 free months under TripIt Pro. Plan to cancel, then sign up under Delta $99 deal.
One free month seems to be their standard deal, so two free months is gives their deal more legs.