CLEAR+ is Raising Prices … Once Again

CLEAR+ bills itself as the ultimate travel time-saver – helping travelers bypass long security lines at many airports across the country – but it comes at a cost. And that cost keeps going up … at least for those paying out of pocket. 

Many existing members received emails on Thursday, informing them that the annual price for CLEAR+ is set to increase from $209 to $219 upon their next renewal. It’s the fourth price hike for the service in the last four years. 

CLEAR’s website still lists a price of $209, so it’s unclear exactly when the higher price will take effect. But if history is any indication, it could be July 1. That’s the same day CLEAR raised the price to $209 just last year. 

Fortunately, there are still a handful of ways for flyers with Alaska Airlines, Delta, Hawaiian, and United to save. Unfortunately, those savings also won’t go quite as far as they used to: 

• Anyone with a (free) frequent flyer account or co-branded credit card with all four airlines can sign up for CLEAR+ for $209 a year – up from the current $199 rate
• If you’ve got status on Delta or United (or even certain Delta SkyMiles credit cards), you’ll pay $179 per year – up from $169
• Travelers with top-tier status from Delta or United can knock that down to as low as $129 a year – a significant change from the free memberships they used to receive
• Meanwhile, Alaska/Hawaiian’s Atmos elites don’t get a further discount … but they do earn bonus points for signing up or renewing
• Flyers with invite-only Delta 360° and United Global Services status still get CLEAR+ for free

If there’s one saving grace for the countless American Express members getting complimentary CLEAR+ with cards like the *amex platinum* and the *Hilton Aspire*, you should still be covered. As of publication, American Express hadn’t responded to a request for comment on whether the CLEAR+ credit will increase, but the email CLEAR sent out indicates it will.

But for the rest of you, paying $200-plus a year for an inconsistent experience at airports could be a tough sell … especially compared to the $78 price tag to get TSA PreCheck … oh, and that lasts for five full years.

Once a darling of the travel world that promised to cut you to the front of the line and get you through airport security in minutes, CLEAR’s track record is shaky at best as it’s expanded rapidly to more airports and increased in price, too. Whether you get through CLEAR lanes in moments or get stuck in a long line as passengers with PreCheck alone pass you by has started to feel like a coin flip.

CLEAR’s new face-scanning pods and eGates have no doubt sped up the process, but it’s still an extra step and not always a shorter line. It can be particularly bad in airports like Atlanta (ATL) and Denver (DEN), where bloated rolls of flyers with Delta or United status get discounts on CLEAR+ or have top-dollar Amex travel cards in their wallet that cover the cost of enrollment altogether. Worse yet, CLEAR members have been increasingly subjected to random ID checks over the last year or so. 

With Real ID now in effect, those random ID checks could lead to even bigger delays for travelers who aren’t carrying a compliant ID. 

Read more: What Went Wrong with CLEAR (& When Will It Get Better)?

Bottom Line

CLEAR+ can be worth the money for some and practically worthless for others. Either way, you’ll soon pay more for it. For the fourth time in four years, prices for an annual CLEAR+ membership are increasing to $219 a year, while cutting free memberships for top-tier airline elites altogether. 

If there’s one silver lining, travelers getting CLEAR+ for free with cards like *amex platinum* can continue to do so, as the annual credits on those cards have increased to cover the higher cost.