CLEAR is a technology company that helps with expediting clearing security at select US airports. The company stores the biometric data of members, allowing them to (typically) skip the ID check, and get straight into the security line. Combined with TSA PreCheck, this is the best setup you can have for clearing security in the US.
We’ve seen CLEAR increasingly invest in new technology, and the latest of those initiatives has just been rolled out. This sounds great, though the introduction of this really just reinforces my confusion as to what purpose CLEAR really serves, as the TSA also continues to invest in technology.
In this post:
Basics of new CLEAR eGates for ID verification
Passengers using CLEAR typically go up to one of the company’s machines near a TSA checkpoint, have their biometrics confirmed, and then a CLEAR ambassador directs them to the security line. That process is being streamlined, in what’s being referred to as a pilot program, for the time being.
CLEAR is introducing biometric eGates, building on TSA efforts to modernize and streamline airport security checkpoints. The idea is that CLEAR members will go up to these eGates, which will conduct real time biometric verification, matching a traveler’s facial imagine with their identity documents and boarding pass.
This also allows TSA to retain complete operational control, including triggering gate access, conducting security vetting, and enforcing government security requirements. CLEAR transmits only limited data (live photo, boarding pass, and ID photo used for enrollment), and has no access to watchlists, cannot override TSA gate decisions, and does not manually open gates.
So once identity and clearance are confirmed, passengers can proceed directly to physical screening, bypassing the TSA podium.
As of this month (August 2025), CLEAR is introducing these new eGates in Atlanta (ATL), Seattle (SEA), and Washington National (DCA), and the plan is to roll these out nationwide in the coming months, by next summer, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 games.
Here’s how CLEAR CEO Caryn Seidman Becker describes this:
“We are proud to help make America’s airports great ahead of the World Cup. The U.S. should be leading on security, hospitality, and the travel experience. This partnership with TSA is a powerful example of how public and private sectors can work together to enhance security and improve the aviation ecosystem. CLEAR is investing in this technology at no cost to taxpayers to modernize our checkpoints and ensure America’s airports are ready to meet global expectations. CLEAR’s secure identity platform will help unlock a better, safer, and more frictionless experience for all travelers.”
This is great, but does CLEAR still serve a purpose?
CLEAR’s new biometric eGates are a great initiative, and seem like a win-win. They significantly simplify the process of using CLEAR, and they also eliminate the constant need for TSA agents to randomly check the IDs of CLEAR passengers, since the new eGates are being offered in partnership with the TSA.
But look, here’s my issue — as we continue to see increased use of technology at TSA checkpoints, it just seems like CLEAR doesn’t serve much of a purpose anymore. Essentially what we’re seeing here is that CLEAR will use biometric data similar to how TSA agents do.
Typically when you go up to a TSA checkpoint, you insert your ID into a machine, then a picture is taken, and then you’re sent on your way, and you often don’t even have to show your boarding pass. We’ve even seen the TSA start to roll out Touchless ID, for those who are TSA PreCheck members. That’s a very similar concept.
It seems like what CLEAR is introducing here could also eventually just fully be rolled out by the TSA, and we’re just one step from that becoming a reality, no?
I don’t have anything against CLEAR as a company. I just think that airport security checkpoint real estate is really limited, and I’d rather it be streamlined, rather than much of the space being taken up by for-profit companies that add a questionable amount of value.
I suppose another way to look at this is is that we’re essentially seeing private enterprises cover costs that the TSA would otherwise incur, so maybe the public benefit is there? Perhaps it’s another way that credit card companies (and in particular, Amex) are subsidizing aspects of the air travel experience.
Bottom line
CLEAR is introducing eGates at its airport checkpoints. This is starting in Atlanta, Seattle, and Washington, but the plan is to roll this out on a widespread basis within the next year or so.
The idea is that you’ll simply walk up to one of these eGates, have your face scanned, and you’ll then be able to proceed on your way, straight to the screening line. I’m sure this is something that CLEAR members will appreciate, so I look forward to experiencing this.
That being said, one wonders if we’re not that far off from the TSA just operating machines like this directly, since there’s not much standing in the way of that.
What do you make of CLEAR’s new eGates?
I love clear and it has always been fast for me. Some people cant pass a background check for TSA pre but can do clear instead.
I have had clear for free for the last 5-6 years and there have been only 3 times where it has saved me time. The other times I use Clear I watch who enter tsa pre check or now touchless and they always get thru faster. So unless it’s very clear that the clear line is shorter I skip it. And I watch the people in the clear line wait longer than I do in...
I have had clear for free for the last 5-6 years and there have been only 3 times where it has saved me time. The other times I use Clear I watch who enter tsa pre check or now touchless and they always get thru faster. So unless it’s very clear that the clear line is shorter I skip it. And I watch the people in the clear line wait longer than I do in pre check.
The minute my Amex doesn’t give it to me for free… it’s cancelled! Pre check cost you $85 every 5 years and Clear would cost you $1,045 and they’re sure to raise their prices once or trice in that time period.
Yes, I’m sure there are a very few airports where it consistently saves time, but across a majority of its network TSA is at pace or ahead of what Clear offers. So I really don’t understand where their value proposition is. This is good… but considering the price they charge, FAR too late to pay themselves on the back.
Same here, I have Clear for free, but stopped using it for the same reason (at ORD)
Well, this begs the question, why isnt the TSA doing this by themselves? There is no need for CLEAR.
I have never understand why a private company is allowed to do what Clear does as public airports.
Catering is private compnies. Lounges are private compnies. Airlines are private companies. Security guards are private companies. Janitorial services are private companies. Renovations and improvements are done by private engineering, architectural, building companies. Where should the line be drawn?
It is only useful if your credit card perk pays for it because some airports it actually makes a difference but not at others.
*at
Remind yourselves.
23andMe.
I'm not a fan of clear. I would never subscribe to it work my own cash. I've done time trials. (I'm that kind of nut), Roughly 60% of the time tsa pre-check is faster because the clear human factor is usually a hindrance. What I noticed is that if pre-check queues are at least 2x longer than clear, clear wins. If their queues are equal pre-check wins every time. Now this is just based on...
I'm not a fan of clear. I would never subscribe to it work my own cash. I've done time trials. (I'm that kind of nut), Roughly 60% of the time tsa pre-check is faster because the clear human factor is usually a hindrance. What I noticed is that if pre-check queues are at least 2x longer than clear, clear wins. If their queues are equal pre-check wins every time. Now this is just based on 2 airports that I use frequently sfo, jfk. I will tell you however, clear wins every time during Thanksgiving and xmas. One thing with clear at airports you're not familiar with, you might end up getting jacked if you didn't notice the clear line is not next to pre-check because you'll end up with the water restrictions, laptops out situation. Ultimately, if I see pre-check lines to be reasonable I'll just go through that. Even if it's not faster it's just marginally slower. I can sacrifice 5min
I personally love Clear. It keeps all the 'new' Amex folk that love to flex how important they are out of the Touchless ID and precheck lanes, which means I have a much faster line. Thank you Clear!!
This article doesn't even mention TSA Touchless.
Ben does mention it. However “ Combined with TSA PreCheck, this is the best setup you can have for clearing security in the US.” is definitely not the best set up. TSA touchless is the best way to clear security. I have hardly seen anyone using it which makes it great. And it takes literally 2 seconds to use it in my experience.
Used this AM at DCA. No one using it. They unclipped the velvet rope and there was a sole TSA officer just waiting for me. Awhile the Clear passengers waited in a line because there were 2 TSA officers doing both Clear and Precheck. Obviously the no lines won't last long.
TSA Precheck Touchless is not the same as TSA Precheck. But Touchless is a better comparison to Clear and these eGates.
Thanks!
When will American Airlines stop fighting clear. They want to be premium, but they make their passengers lives more difficult.
Clear doesn't offer anything more than what you can get with precheck. Would be better if TSA raised their fee and better staffed precheck lanes.
As the airlines and TSA continue to roll out digital ID, CLEAR will become useless at airports. Where they can serve a purpose (and where I currently get the most use out of them) is at stadiums. I could see them expanding in that market and other public venues that require security checks.
Yeah, I think this is correct.
I let my CLEAR membership lapse a couple years ago, and the only time I ever think about it is when I see the wide open CLEAR lanes at certain stadiums.
Clear is a complete scam. I would never actually pay for this if I didn't get it for free. It NEVER actually saves you time.
I get it free with my Amex card.
Agreed, it's a solution looking for a problem at least as far as airport screening goes. Can't say I like the idea of it being used for screening for sports/music/other big events either, but maybe that's just me being old fashioned and thinking that event tickets should just be for the seat without needing to be specifically tied to your identity.
"It NEVER actually saves you time."
Clearly you've never been through security at JFK T4 during the evening bank of international departures. Depending on the airport and timing, Clear can be a godsend.
Agreed and was going to say the same thing for LGA Terminal C at peak times. Last week Clear probably saved me 10 minutes, which I'd rather spend in the (overcrowded) SkyClub.
This is the point. It is very airport and time-of-departure dependent. I've used Clear since the early beta era and have watched it go from amazing to truly pitiful. There are still a very limited number of cases where it adds some value, such as that brief window at JFK T4, but it is otherwise completely useless at this point.
And if history is any guide, Clear's new whizbang eGates will be just as...
This is the point. It is very airport and time-of-departure dependent. I've used Clear since the early beta era and have watched it go from amazing to truly pitiful. There are still a very limited number of cases where it adds some value, such as that brief window at JFK T4, but it is otherwise completely useless at this point.
And if history is any guide, Clear's new whizbang eGates will be just as glitchy as all their other crappy terminals, and the Clear lines will continue to be longer and more cumbersome than PreCheck.
You realize that the US government is ultimately run by corporations.
CLEAR will continue to exist as long as they lobby the government.
In most cases the ID check is not the bottleneck. Baggage screening is the bottleneck. Many times, a line of people pile up at the ID check podium as the TSO holds everybody back because the baggage scanners can't keep up.
At ATL, I've timed myself at 20 minutes from ID check to getting my bag out from the other end of the scanner, even though I had gone through TSA Touchless ID with only one person in front of me.
You are 100% correct. Scanning the ID takes all of 5-10 seconds. The investment should be in AI screening that would be far faster and efficient with humans handling any rejects. But then we'd hear "loss of jobs" and there would go that idea.
George, I work in AI. We as a society are rushing AI into production and it is NOT as production ready as some say it is.
@Most AI is "all hat, no cattle"
If you really work in AI, you would know this has nothing to do with AI.
This. The Analogic machines are painfully slow, as is the process of how the bags go from traveler into the machine. 30-60 seconds through Touchless ID or Clear at ATL, then 5-10 min to have my bags back in my possession.
Isn't CLEAR also used at stadiums and arenas? I think it could still work in those environments.