Jump to content
Required Reading for any Longhorn ×

Tell me about "Clear Travel" biometric check-in

Parliament

By Parliament
in Food and Travel

 Share

Recommended Posts

PsychMike

PsychMike 1,552

Posted
Posted

They take you right to the front of the line after you're ID and Boarding Pass are confirmed at the kiosk. That's pretty damned good. Especially when some of the airports have a shitload of people in the TSA Pre-Check line. You're right they don't have enough locations, but in my case they make up more than half of the airports I use.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mack Tripper

Mack Tripper 696

Posted
Posted

Here is a pro tip for using Clear at IAH. They have it at Terminal B but not C. If your flight is leaving from the north part of Terminal C (Gates C1-C15), you can go to use the Terminal B Clear and then there's a connector to Terminal C North near gate B85.  For the rest of the C gates, this is quite a long walk, but for C1-15 it works quite well. I've also used this little shortcut to hit up Whataburger in Terminal B when I'm in that part of Terminal C. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Landomatic

Landomatic 3,813

Posted
Posted

Got Clear somewhat by force.  Was headed to Turks and Caicos and the security line was by far the longest we'd ever seen.  There was no possible way we were making that flight if we waited in that line.  A Clear agent came walking by working the line saying she could sign us up in about 10 mins and we could skip the line.  So, we said fuck it as it was either that or miss the flight and ruin the trip.  I think it was technically a free trial that we could have canceled, but we ended up keeping it as it was pretty kick ass.  It breaks down to be about $15 a month which isn't that much.  And I think maybe you can add kids for free?  Had it about 6 months now and I can only remember one airport not having it but I can't remember which one.  According to their website...

Quote

CLEAR is already available at 40+ airports, stadiums, and other venues around the country, with new locations added all the time.

Here's a link to all the locations...

https://www.clearme.com/where-we-are

tl;dr - would definitely recommend

Link to comment
Share on other sites
HenryJames

HenryJames 66,183

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Parliament said:

https://www.clearme.com/

 

Looks like you pay $179/year for the privilege of being able to go through TSA with a fingerprint and/or iris scan?  Only a few airports so far (including Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston).

Do I understand this right?  

I biometrically checked into your mom last night.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
AustinMT

AustinMT 952

Posted
Posted

Had it for about a year.  Between that and recheck it’s almost like the old days as far as when you have to get to the airport (at the ones where they have Clear)

Sometimes it’s not a time saver because there are no lines. We live in Austin, so at peak times it’s really nice. If you don’t have recheck, it puts you at the front of the non-precheck line, which can save a lot of time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AustinMT

AustinMT 952

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Mack Tripper said:

Here is a pro tip for using Clear at IAH. They have it at Terminal B but not C. If your flight is leaving from the north part of Terminal C (Gates C1-C15), you can go to use the Terminal B Clear and then there's a connector to Terminal C North near gate B85.  For the rest of the C gates, this is quite a long walk, but for C1-15 it works quite well. I've also used this little shortcut to hit up Whataburger in Terminal B when I'm in that part of Terminal C. 

IAH has Clear at B?  Just flew out of there last week (don’t live in Houston).  Site just says it is at A, and we went through B and didn’t see it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mach 1

Mach 1 1,677

Posted
Posted

Travelling through any high traffic airport,  it's a lifeline if you're running late.  I'll use TSA 9O% of the time, but if the the line is too long I'll jump over to Clear.  There's always a bored Clear employee waiting to help get you scanned and usher you to the front of the line.  You don't even have to show your ID or boarding pass again, it's just a "Hey, he's with me" and boom, you're in.  If you travel alot $15/month is cheap insurance to get in fast when necessary.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AustinMT

AustinMT 952

Posted
Posted
37 minutes ago, Parliament said:

So I did it.  I enrolled and gave them my credit card info.  What happens next?  I assume I'll hafta go get fingerprinted somewhere?

You just go to the Clear station at the airport and they will do the fingerprints and facial recognition. Takes 5 minutes

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AustinMT

AustinMT 952

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, EuroHorn said:

I travel every week. I honestly haven’t seen the benefits of Clear.  It might save you 30 seconds over the basic TSA precheck

It’s a crapshoot.  At Austin, for example, there are times at which there is no line.  I’ve also hit it where the TSA line is backed up almost all the way to the entrance to the terminal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Spankytoes

Spankytoes 1,743

Posted
Posted
16 hours ago, EuroHorn said:

I travel every week. I honestly haven’t seen the benefits of Clear.  It might save you 30 seconds over the basic TSA precheck

This. Unless you fly Delta, and you're a daisy if you do, it's not worth the price. I think I've only been in one Pre-check line longer than 8 people in the past 3 years that I've had it...and my home airports are LGA and JFK. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Both Tacos

Both Tacos 1,806

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, baboso said:

Don't you have to be flying Delta to use it at the AP?

Nope. Delta flyer program comes with Clear for free, but if you have Clear you can use it at any airport that has it set up. I fly out of Love a lot and the pre-check line can get pretty long (to the entrance) and the Clear Pre-Check is wide open. Just another business expense and worth it. Saved my ass in Atlanta a few weeks ago on Valentine's Day.

If you don't fly a lot then just pre-check is good enough, but if you are a frequent flyer and don't like lines even in the pre-check then it is worth every penny.

Someone asked about kids. Yes, just like pre-check your kids can be added to your account at no extra cost.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
justhookit

justhookit 4,191

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Mack Tripper said:

I have the worst luck with wait times for the train. Either way, it is faster to get to Terminal C north by going down the connecting hallway at B85

I’ve heard a lot of complaints about IAH. Wait times for the train is a new one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
EuroHorn

EuroHorn 3,268

Posted
Posted
17 minutes ago, Both Tacos said:

Nope. Delta flyer program comes with Clear for free, but if you have Clear you can use it at any airport that has it set up. I fly out of Love a lot and the pre-check line can get pretty long (to the entrance) and the Clear Pre-Check is wide open. Just another business expense and worth it. Saved my ass in Atlanta a few weeks ago on Valentine's Day.

If you don't fly a lot then just pre-check is good enough, but if you are a frequent flyer and don't like lines even in the pre-check then it is worth every penny.

Someone asked about kids. Yes, just like pre-check your kids can be added to your account at no extra cost.

I believe it’s free to Diamond status members only. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 4 months later...
midtown

midtown 3,348

Posted
Posted (edited)

I've had it for a year.  Will agree half the time it doesn't really save you more than 15 mins tops.. I have a Delta Plat card so I only pay $79 a year.   If you fly once a year its not worth it but IMO its just another tool to get me from the curb to the gate with as little hassle as possible.   Knowing that I dont have to even deal with the Pre line when headed to the airport is nice  Also you can take younger kids with you.   Half the time I use it just because I paid for it and feel like I should use it as much as possible

 

Edited by midtown
Link to comment
Share on other sites
midtown

midtown 3,348

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, Surly Bevo said:

security theater are creating cottage industries to separate all of us from our money

$180 for Clear for a year and $100 for 5 years of GE/Pre.  Considering what people at the airport are spending on their trip seems like a pretty low cost extra IMO

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 4 weeks later...
PsychMike

PsychMike 1,552

Posted
Posted

It's game time, Longhorns!

Big news for college football fans: CLEAR is ready to help you beat the crowds and get into games faster at DKR – Texas Memorial Stadium. 

Since you're already a member, you're all set to use CLEAR at the entrance. It's the same speedy service as the airport.

More game time, less wait time

7ae3f3db-7c74-4b34-8c58-2e2d4a5e6fa3.png

We'll help you tackle long lines at Gate 25.

1f67fb19-49d0-461a-9e94-96c01e3dd576.png

With 20+ sports partners, enjoy CLEAR in sports and entertainment venues across the country.

6344620e-7cbc-4957-bd2c-0eed85429114.png

Going with a friend? You can bring one adult with you through the CLEAR Lane. Kids under 18 can also tag along for free!

SEE YOU THERE
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
BillyBadAss

BillyBadAss 189

Posted
Posted

In my travels I haven't seen a need to get Clear over TSA Precheck. 

Even if the TSA line is long, it goes 2x-3x faster than the normal line since people don't have to take shit out of their bags or take off shoes. Plus, generally no olds or kids.

The longest I can recall being in a TSA Precheck line is maybe 5 minutes, so guess it would save you a few minutes here and there, but wouldn't be worth the premium for me (so far).

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AustinMT

AustinMT 952

Posted
Posted
32 minutes ago, BillyBadAss said:

In my travels I haven't seen a need to get Clear over TSA Precheck. 

Even if the TSA line is long, it goes 2x-3x faster than the normal line since people don't have to take shit out of their bags or take off shoes. Plus, generally no olds or kids.

The longest I can recall being in a TSA Precheck line is maybe 5 minutes, so guess it would save you a few minutes here and there, but wouldn't be worth the premium for me (so far).

 

I have it, and it generally does not save a lot of time.  On the other hand, it has been very nice a few times in Austin early in the morning when the TSA line is stretched back to the Southwest counter, and a few times in other cities.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chewbacca

Chewbacca 7,787

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 9/17/2019 at 3:44 PM, Mack Tripper said:

There are a few airports that Clear will absolutely save you from missing a flight - Atlanta and Denver are probably the top two. 

I don't fly all that much, but the Precheck line in Denver is never all that bad.  And it moves fast.

Edited by Chewbacca
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


Football ... Basketball ... Baseball ... Other Sports ... Futbol ... 🤫995🤫 ... Gambling ... Movies & TV ... Music ... Hobbies ... Lulz ... Food & Travel ... Daily Texan ... Business and Markets ... Cloak Room ... Help ... For Sale ... Board Discussion ... Subscribe!... Donate!... Advertise... COOKIE MONSTER!

×
×
  • Create New...