Clear Airport Security: How Does It Work?

CLEAR is a subscription service that stores a user’s biometric data, including fingerprints and iris scans, to verify their identity and boarding documents. This allows users to bypass regular TSA security lines and head straight to the security metal detectors and bag scanners. Once a user has signed up online, they complete their enrollment at a CLEAR lane at the airport, where they will have their eyes and fingerprints scanned for the database. On subsequent visits, they can scan their eyes or fingerprints, along with their boarding pass, and a CLEAR agent will escort them directly to the TSA ID check through a dedicated lane.

CLEAR is a subscription service that stores a user's biometric data

CLEAR taps into biometric scanning technology to let travellers skip tedious airport security and identification procedures and the lines leading up to them. Instead of fumbling for your ID, you can use your fingerprints, iris, or face image scans to confirm your identity, and head straight to the security metal detectors and bag scanners without waiting.

The service isn't completely flawless, but it can be a valuable time-saver for many travellers, particularly at airports with notoriously long security lines.

The service allows users to bypass the regular TSA lines

CLEAR is a subscription service that stores a user’s biometric data, including images of their eyes and fingerprints. This data is used to verify a user's identity and boarding document, allowing them to bypass regular TSA lines. Once a user has signed up online, they complete their enrolment at a CLEAR lane at the airport, where they will have their picture taken and their eyes and fingerprints scanned for the database. On future visits, they can scan their eyes or fingerprints, along with their boarding pass, and a CLEAR agent will escort them directly to the TSA ID check through a dedicated lane.

CLEAR Plus is an upgraded membership that cuts down the time spent in security lines at the airport. It does not perform any background checks, storing only biometric data, so the enrolment process is faster. TSA PreCheck, on the other hand, assesses a traveller's risk profile using a background check, so the enrolment process takes longer.

The service isn't completely flawless, but it can be a valuable time-saver for many travellers, especially at airports with notoriously long security lines.

CLEAR Plus cuts down the time spent in security lines

CLEAR is a subscription service that stores a user's biometric data. Using images of a user's eyes and fingerprints, CLEAR can verify their identity and their boarding document, allowing them to bypass the regular TSA lines. Once a user signs up with CLEAR online, they'll complete their enrolment at a CLEAR lane at the airport. They'll have a picture taken and scan their eyes and fingerprints for the database. On subsequent visits, they'll scan their eyes or fingerprints, along with their boarding pass, and a CLEAR agent will escort them directly to the TSA ID check through a dedicated lane. The CLEAR agent shows the TSA officer their ID and tells them they've been cleared.

CLEAR Plus does not perform any background checks, which means the enrolment process is faster. TSA PreCheck, for example, assesses a traveller's risk profile using a background check in exchange for relaxed security screening, so the enrolment process takes longer.

CLEAR uses biometric scanning technology to let travellers skip airport security and identification procedures

CLEAR is a subscription service that uses biometric scanning technology to let travellers skip airport security and identification procedures. It stores a user's biometric data, including images of their eyes and fingerprints, to verify their identity and boarding document. This allows users to bypass the regular TSA lines.

Users can sign up with CLEAR online and then complete their enrolment at a CLEAR lane at the airport. They will have their picture taken and their eyes and fingerprints scanned for the database. On subsequent visits, they can scan their eyes or fingerprints, along with their boarding pass, and a CLEAR agent will escort them directly to the TSA ID check through a dedicated lane.

CLEAR Plus does not perform any background checks; it stores biometric data only, so the enrolment process is faster. TSA PreCheck, on the other hand, assesses a traveller's risk profile using a background check in exchange for relaxed security screening, so the enrolment process takes longer.

While the service is not completely flawless, it can be a valuable time-saver for many travellers, particularly at airports with notoriously long security lines.

The service isn't completely flawless but can be a valuable time-saver

CLEAR is a subscription service that stores a user's biometric data, including fingerprints, iris and face image scans. This allows users to bypass the regular TSA lines and skip tedious airport security and identification procedures.

The service isn't completely flawless, but it can be a valuable time-saver for many travellers, particularly at airports with notoriously long security lines. Once a user signs up with CLEAR online, they'll complete their enrolment at a CLEAR lane at the airport. They'll have a picture taken and scan their eyes and fingerprints for the database. On subsequent visits, they'll scan their eyes or fingerprints, along with their boarding pass, and a CLEAR agent will escort them directly to the TSA ID check through a dedicated lane.

CLEAR Plus does not perform any background checks, so the enrolment process is faster. However, it's important to note that CLEAR is a private contractor, and the TSA still has the authority to perform the ID verification portion of the security screening process. This means that, while CLEAR can sometimes expedite processing, it is not guaranteed.

Frequently asked questions