Important premise: I’m not paid, I don’t get any commission, and I didn’t get free service just to talk about it. I know it’s hard to believe, but on TFC I only talk 99 times out of 100 about things I use regularly, items and services that you see in my videos and reviews.
It happened that, just because I was talking about it, some companies contacted me proposing collaborations, but the rule is always the same: if I don’t use it, don’t like it or don’t like it, I don’t talk about it.
Today I want to talk about CLEAR, a paid service operating at U.S. airports. I do so because I recently discovered that unlike TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, it is also available to us Italians.
Important premise
CLEAR is not a substitute for MPC: It does not work on arrival, only on departure. However, it applies to all flights departing from airports where it is available, whether domestic or international.
What is the CLEAR service
CLEAR is a private service available at several U.S. airports that allows you to skip the line of document control using biometric verification. Basically, instead of showing passport or other document to the TSA officer as everyone else does, you go through a dedicated lane.
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One enters the CLEAR lane, identifies oneself by face and biometrics, and an ambassador then escorts the passenger directly to the security checkpoint.
Warning: CLEAR does not replace TSA PreCheck. The former speeds up identity verification, the latter simplifies the actual security check: shoes, laptop, liquids and light jacket. The best combination, especially for those who fly frequently to the U.S., is to have both, but for us Italians, as mentioned, PreCheck is not available.
How CLEAR works and how much it costs
Registration can be started online or completed directly at the airport, without an appointment, at one of the CLEAR points. You need a valid ID and, most importantly, a few minutes to complete the biometric procedure.
This is the most important point for an Italian reader: the service is not designed for the passing tourist, but for those who repeatedly visit U.S. stopovers or frequently depart from the United States.
The standard cost of CLEAR+ is. 209 dollars per year, with automatic annual renewal. You can add up to three adults to your account by paying $125 per year per person, while family members under the age of 18 can pass free of charge in the CLEAR lane together with the owner.
My experience
Those who travel frequently to the U.S. know very well that fast track, lanes for those with status or traveling in business are very rare commodities, without considering shutdowns and service reductions in recent years.
Since I have activated it, from March 18 to May 12, I have used it 10 times, and I must say that it is an investment that has largely paid for itself. Also because I haven’t paid for it yet: the two-week free trial automatically extended to two months.
In conclusion
If you leave the U.S. often, you should know that CLEAR is now also available to those with Italian passports, without the need for visas or anything else. Registration is immediate and use is super easy. Sure, it’s not cheap, but in my opinion if you take about 20 flights from the U.S. it can be worth the investment, Not to mention that children spend free with the owner.
