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What are the benefits of CLEAR vs TSA?

Here are a few more advantages to having both TSA PreCheck and Clear: TSA PreCheck only allows you to expedite your airport security experience, but Clear can speed up your entry into airports, stadiums and venues.



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Clear and Global Entry are very different programs because Clear saves you time going through security screenings, while Global Entry saves you time at customs and immigration upon arrival in the U.S. after traveling internationally.

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If you regularly travel to or from airports that offer Clear lanes, paying $189 per year for a Clear membership could be worth it. The time you'll save moving through long security lines could help reduce your risk of missing a flight and cut down your time spent in the airport overall.

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Clear is not necessarily better than Global Entry, as both programs improve the experience of two very different parts of travel. Clear saves you time going through security screenings ahead of travel, while Global Entry saves you time at customs when reentering the U.S. after international travel.

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Which credit cards offer CLEAR for free? Currently, the credit cards that offer a complimentary annual CLEAR Plus membership are the Amex Platinum card, Amex Business Platinum card, American Express® Green Card, and Centurion® Card from American Express. Is CLEAR the same as TSA PreCheck?

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Does CLEAR actually save time? CLEAR Plus typically saves you time at the airport, especially if you also have a TSA PreCheck membership. Having both often helps you get to the front of the line, including getting ahead of travelers in the TSA PreCheck line depending on the airport and how busy it is.

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Clear is a private program that lets you breeze through security clearance at airports and some other venues while Global Entry is a government program that speeds you through U.S. customs formalities upon arrival into the U.S.

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Apply for Global Entry
Global Entry is everything that TSA PreCheck is and more. If you have Global Entry, you'll automatically also get TSA PreCheck and all of its benefits. On top of that, you'll get to avoid the general customs line when returning to the U.S. from abroad.

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TSA estimates that 95% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than five minutes in the security line. This is a small amount of time separating you from the back of the security line to the terminal, meaning the most useful benefit is, of course, saving time.

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Clear does not include the membership features of TSA PreCheck, however. After passing through a Clear kiosk, if you have PreCheck, you can go directly to the PreCheck lane (ahead of other passengers waiting in line); if not, you must use the regular screening line (also ahead of other passengers waiting in line).

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Cons: Because of the program's popularity, TSA PreCheck lanes can sometimes be longer than the normal security ones. However, an extra few minutes of waiting here and there might be worth it to avoid having to strip down and assume the position in a scanner every time you fly.

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TSA PreCheck® provides expedited security screening benefits for flights departing from U.S. Airports. Global Entry provides expedited U.S. customs screening for international air travelers when entering the United States. Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck® benefits as part of their membership.

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TSA PreCheck is offered through the government at more than 200 airports, whereas CLEAR is a private company that operates at more than 50 airports, stadiums, and other venues nationwide. TSA PreCheck membership costs $85 and lasts for five years, while CLEAR requires an annual membership fee of $189.

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