Do you still go through TSA with Clear?

Zipping Through Security: How CLEAR Expedites Your Airport Experience

The dreaded airport security line: a winding, shuffling queue of travelers anxiously shedding shoes and belts. But what if you could bypass that entire experience? That’s the promise of CLEAR, a privately owned security program that leverages biometric technology to expedite the identity verification process at participating airports.

Contrary to common misconception, CLEAR doesn’t replace TSA screening. Instead, it streamlines the initial identification step. Rather than waiting for a TSA agent to check your ID and boarding pass, you proceed directly to a CLEAR kiosk. There, your identity is confirmed using either iris scanning or fingerprint recognition. Once verified, a CLEAR ambassador escorts you to the front of the physical security checkpoint, effectively skipping the often lengthy document check line.

This doesn’t mean you get to skip the TSA process altogether. You still need to go through standard security screening procedures, including removing shoes, laptops, and liquids, and passing through the body scanner or metal detector. CLEAR simply eliminates the initial bottleneck of waiting for a TSA agent to verify your identity and boarding pass.

The benefit, of course, is time saved. While the standard TSA PreCheck® program expedites the physical screening process, CLEAR tackles the separate, and often equally time-consuming, ID check. This makes CLEAR especially valuable during peak travel times or at notoriously busy airports.

So, do you still go through TSA with CLEAR? The answer is yes, but with a significant advantage. CLEAR isn’t about avoiding security; it’s about optimizing your time and minimizing the hassle traditionally associated with airport security lines. Think of it as a fast-track lane to the TSA checkpoint, letting you focus on what matters most – getting to your destination.