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CLEAR

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Shamon30

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If you're planning to be at an airport anytime soon, expect to be herded over to the side before going through security. This happened to me last month. An organization called CLEAR basically lets you skip the line and go straight to scanning and they tell you it's free. A few weeks later, you get hit with a charge of $209. If you cancel within 14 days of the charge, you get a full refund. Thank God I check my accounts daily. Don't fall for their scam.
 
Shamon30 said:
If you're planning to be at an airport anytime soon, expect to be herded over to the side before going through security. This happened to me last month. An organization called CLEAR basically lets you skip the line and go straight to scanning and they tell you it's free. A few weeks later, you get hit with a charge of $209. If you cancel within 14 days of the charge, you get a full refund. Thank God I check my accounts daily. Don't fall for their scam.
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How would they know how to charge you?
 
Shamon30 said:
If you're planning to be at an airport anytime soon, expect to be herded over to the side before going through security. This happened to me last month. An organization called CLEAR basically lets you skip the line and go straight to scanning and they tell you it's free. A few weeks later, you get hit with a charge of $209. If you cancel within 14 days of the charge, you get a full refund. Thank God I check my accounts daily. Don't fall for their scam.
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I pay for this. It’s pretty convenient.
 
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Poe said:
Free with Amex platinum
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$895 Amex Platinum Yearly Fee > $209 Clear Yearly Fee

mr burns GIF
 
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Fishy said:
Honestly, if you don’t forget to use the perks, it pays for itself.
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Totally. I have an Amex Platinum too. The Mr. Burns reference and the fees was about the decision you make when paying the $895. It's so attractive, but like you said, I don't even know most of the perks aside from lounge access so definitely not getting the most of it.

EDIT: Oddly enough I've always been fiercely loyal to my 1st credit card. A Discover card I somehow obtained at the Sears in Buckland Hills Mall in 1990. I was a Sophomore at UConn, piss poor and went to the mall with buddies when it was first open. Got a free tshirt for filling out an application and thought nothing of it. When that card showed up in my dorm mailbox a month later and I found out you could get $500 cash advances at Sears, it changed my entire college life. Ruined my credit for a good 9 years but totally worth it.
 
Last edited:
formerlurker said:
Totally. I have an Amex Platinum too. The Mr. Burns reference and the fees was about the decision you make when paying the $895. It's so attractive, but like you said, I don't even know most of the perks aside from lounge access so definitely not getting the most of it.
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There’s a lot.

Just the Resy, Uber and streaming statement credits are worth over $900
 
Fishy said:
How would they know how to charge you?
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I bought tickets through Southwest this week and was offered free two month trial of CLEAR. When i tried to get the free trial I was forced to enter credit card info. I stopped the process at that point since I don’t trust deals like that. I only travel 4-6 times a year so it’s not worth it to me since I rarely wait at BDL.
 
I think I have it as an option with my Delta Skymiles benefits but I choose Delta Sky Club lounge access and free upgrades for annual benefits.

95%+ of my domestic travel originates at smaller airports and I never wait more than 5 minutes with TSA.

I remember one time at Reagan and once at San Diego where CLEAR seemed like a viable option.
 
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I asked ChatGPT to explain CLEAR to me (I haven't flown in 20 years and I never even heard of it)

For those interested:

CLEAR is basically a paid “line-skipping” service for identity verification at airport security.

Instead of waiting to show your ID to a TSA officer, CLEAR uses biometrics (eyes or fingerprints) to confirm who you are — and then escorts you to the front of the line.


🔄 Step-by-step: what happens at the airport

  1. Go to the CLEAR lane
    It’s separate from the regular TSA line.
  2. Verify your identity at a kiosk
    • Scan your eyes or fingerprint
    • No need to pull out your ID most of the time
  3. CLEAR agent walks you forward
    They physically escort you past the ID-check line
  4. You still go through TSA screening
    • Bag scan
    • Metal detector or body scanner

👉 Important: CLEAR does NOT skip security screening, just the ID + line part
 
I have an AMEX Platinum SkyMiles card which allows you to get a full credit for Global Entry. You get all of the TSA benefits plus you can speed through Customs. Helped me a lot coming back from Europe. I went to the front of the line at JFK which probably saved me an hour. My brother and I traveled to Ireland and Scotland last fall. On our return trip, I was able to go through U.S. Customs in Dublin! Very short lines.
 
SoFla Steve said:
I have an AMEX Platinum SkyMiles card which allows you to get a full credit for Global Entry. You get all of the TSA benefits plus you can speed through Customs. Helped me a lot coming back from Europe. I went to the front of the line at JFK which probably saved me an hour. My brother and I traveled to Ireland and Scotland last fall. On our return trip, I was able to go through U.S. Customs in Dublin! Very short lines.
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Love me Global Entry, which includes TSA Pre-check.
 
SoFla Steve said:
I have an AMEX Platinum SkyMiles card which allows you to get a full credit for Global Entry. You get all of the TSA benefits plus you can speed through Customs. Helped me a lot coming back from Europe. I went to the front of the line at JFK which probably saved me an hour. My brother and I traveled to Ireland and Scotland last fall. On our return trip, I was able to go through U.S. Customs in Dublin! Very short lines.
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Chin Diesel said:
Love me Global Entry, which includes TSA Pre-check.
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Never heard of CLEAR before but completely agree on Global Entry. It makes traveling internationally, especially with kids, so easy and less painstaking.
 
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temery said:
I asked ChatGPT to explain CLEAR to me (I haven't flown in 20 years and I never even heard of it)

For those interested:

CLEAR is basically a paid “line-skipping” service for identity verification at airport security.

Instead of waiting to show your ID to a TSA officer, CLEAR uses biometrics (eyes or fingerprints) to confirm who you are — and then escorts you to the front of the line.


🔄 Step-by-step: what happens at the airport

  1. Go to the CLEAR lane
    It’s separate from the regular TSA line.
  2. Verify your identity at a kiosk
    • Scan your eyes or fingerprint
    • No need to pull out your ID most of the time
  3. CLEAR agent walks you forward
    They physically escort you past the ID-check line
  4. You still go through TSA screening
    • Bag scan
    • Metal detector or body scanner

👉 Important: CLEAR does NOT skip security screening, just the ID + line part
Expand ...
So pretty useless then. I don't spend more than about 4-5 minutes waiting to go through the TSA pre screening. The photo ID process makes it faster now.
 
Fishy said:
There’s a lot.

Just the Resy, Uber and streaming statement credits are worth over $900
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Don't forget Lulu Lemon and Saks (being replaced with something else now that Saks is gone) credits. Another good one is a $12.95 per month credit for Walmart+ (free shipping and delivery and more streaming services).

We have also used Delta and Platinum Lounges which is worth a hundreds just in the food costs we've saved at airports.
 
The travel perks really depend on what airports and airline y use. It’s basically useless from Newark as that’s all United and there is no Amex lounge.

But on another travel related topic. We are booking a trip to Hi for 20th Anniversary. Was about to pull the trigger on tickets on American but realized I would be missing out on major points. So applied for American ccard (first year free). Will get 50k points plus the 2x bonus on the charge plus the miles

Will have wife apply for another card to use on trip so will get over 120k points for free

It really is a game with these cards. I just need to remember to cancel before I get charged for the second year
 
Chuck said:
Don't forget Lulu Lemon and Saks (being replaced with something else now that Saks is gone) credits. Another good one is a $12.95 per month credit for Walmart+ (free shipping and delivery and more streaming services).

We have also used Delta and Platinum Lounges which is worth a hundreds just in the food costs we've saved at airports.
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Without wanting to take this off-topic topic off-topic, Walmart+ is a great deal too. Just the 10 cents off a gallon of gas can pay for the $99 annual membership. Throw in free shipping, and free delivery from a store if you live close enough, and it pays for itself several times over.

I'm heading east across the pond today. I'll be using the Delta Sky Lounge in Atlanta and I know it'll save me and Mrs. Diesel at least $75 in food and drink. Plus, it's hella more relaxing than sitting at a terminal.
 
Chin Diesel said:
Without wanting to take this off-topic topic off-topic, Walmart+ is a great deal too. Just the 10 cents off a gallon of gas can pay for the $99 annual membership. Throw in free shipping, and free delivery from a store if you live close enough, and it pays for itself several times over
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And free Peacock, which gets a lot of UConn games.

I also like the real time update updates on deliveries in the ability to call or chat with the driver. I've never used it, but it seems like there'll be times that would be handy.
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