Get CLEAR to reduce stress and add luxury to family travel

We travel not only because we love to discover new cultures and destinations, but because it’s one of our favorite ways to relieve stress. However, the actual process of traveling is in fact very stressful! Until we decided to get CLEAR our family vacations with 2 young kids almost always started on a hectic note.

Traveling before we chose to get CLEAR

Here’s our typical travel routine. We wake up extra early to get fussy kids ready for our 6:25AM flight, rush to the airport hoping there is no traffic, park the car, shuffle our luggage while simultaneously trying to carry sleepy kids to the airline counter, check our bags and then head to the security lines.

Our kids are likely whining at this point because they are tired or hungry. God forbid we forget someone’s ID (yes, I somehow managed to do this for our honeymoon but thankfully my mom rushed it to me). As we make our way to the front of the security line, it’s time for sorting out liquids, taking off shoes and jackets, emptying our pockets, and laying anything else we’re carrying on the conveyor belt (like that soft cuddly blankie or teddy bear our preschooler is holding). By this point, it’s a miracle if we’ve made it through without a full-blown tantrum in the middle of the security checkpoint.

If you’ve ever traveled with young children, you know exactly what we’re talking about. No matter how many times we travel and how much of a routine it becomes, the process of getting to our destination is hectic and stressful. The airport experience can be a nightmare, especially if running late and trying not to miss our flight. We’ve been that Home Alone family, running through the airport to catch our flight and praying that no one got left behind. Sometimes we feel like we need a vacation after our vacation, since the actual process of traveling (especially with kids) is so exhausting.

TSA Pre-check vs CLEAR

Then came TSA pre-check, which you can read more about in our post explaining how TSA Pre-check and Global Entry make traveling easier. It was extremely helpful in the beginning, however the TSA Pre-check lines are sometimes longer than the regular security lines at our hometown airport BWI. Sure, not having to take off our shoes is nice and all, but waiting in security lines for identity verification gets old when you travel as often as we do.

CLEAR Membership

We had been seeing CLEAR around the security lines for the airports we frequented the most and decided to give it a try. ClearMe was having a promotion offering 2 Months Free, which is still being offered so why not give it a try?  Bertaut signed up for the free trial since he travels even more than we do for business. He signed up for the family membership after his free trial ended because it made his airport experience much easier, faster, and smoother.

We’ve had our family CLEAR membership for a year now,  and traveling as a family with CLEAR has been a game-changer. CLEAR membership takes some of the stress out of the process of traveling and adds in a bit of luxury, making you feel like a VIP. For families with young children, it makes the process of getting through the security checkpoint lines a breeze, and that is priceless.

So first of all, what is CLEAR?

CLEAR is an identity verification program at over 50 locations throughout the United States. CLEAR uses your biometrics for identification purposes instead of your ID card. CLEAR representatives scan your boarding pass, check your fingerprints or do an eye scan at CLEAR kiosks, and then escort you to the front of the TSA security lines. This allows you to bypass the line of people waiting for TSA agents to check their identification and scribble on their boarding pass. You still have to go through the security checkpoint, but you get there much faster. With CLEAR, you breeze through the airport identity screening line like a VIP. Combine CLEAR with TSA Pre-check and you’ll get through security faster than ever. We’ve saved so much time since we chose to get CLEAR and have never looked back!

CLEAR Customer Service

Besides being able to breeze through the TSA security line, another thing we love about CLEAR membership is the great customer service from CLEAR agents. Since we’re usually slightly (or highly) frazzled by the time we make it to the TSA Security Line, it’s nice to be greeted by a smiling CLEAR ambassador. It kind of feels like being greeted by the chauffeurs who are holding up a sign with your name when you leave the airport. CLEAR agents have been quick to help us with our carry-on luggage, rolling our suitcases right up to the checkpoint for us. When traveling with little kids, this is a huge help.

How to enroll in CLEAR travel program

CLEAR is incredibly easy and fast to join and can be done at any CLEARME location. You don’t need an appointment and it only takes 5 minutes. In order to enroll in CLEAR Me, you must have one of the following forms of photo identification: US Driver’s License, US Passport, US Passport Card, US-issued Permanent Resident Card, State Issued ID, or US Military ID. All forms of identification must be valid, unexpired, not amended, and have a photo. Children under 18 can use the CLEAR Lane for free when accompanied by a CLEAR family member. No enrollment is required for children.

CLEAR Biometrics

The CLEAR company uses your fingerprints or iris scan to verify your identity at CLEAR kiosks. CLEAR transforms your biometrics into an encrypted code of 0’s and 1’s unique to you. CLEAR matches your fingerprints and irises to this code every time you check in to verify your identity. So your fingerprints and eyes become your CLEAR ID. Gone are the days of looking for your ID as you shuffle along with your carry-on suitcases and fussy children. Better yet, you’ll never have to frantically call a relative to rush to the airport with your ID because you forgot it. Isn’t technology amazing!

CLEAR Locations

CLEAR is available at 50+ Locations currently, including 30 ClearMe airports, 19 stadiums, and 8 Hertz Fastlanes with new locations being added all the time. The current CLEAR airport list includes:

• Atlanta (ATL)
• Austin (AUS)
• Baltimore (BWI)
• Birmingham (BHM)
• Boston (BOS)
• Cincinnati (CVG)
• Cleveland (CLE)
• Dallas Love Field (DAL)
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
• Denver (DEN)
• Detroit (DTW)
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Houston Hobby (HOU)
• Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH)
• Las Vegas (LAS)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Miami (MIA)
• Minneapolis (MSP)
• New Orleans (MSY)
• New York (JFK)
• New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Phoenix (PHX)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• San Antonio (SAT)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• San Jose (SJC)
• Seattle (SEA)
• Washington D.C. Reagan National Airport (DCA)
• Washington Dulles (IAD)
• Westchester, New York (HPN)

CLEAR Cost

So you must be wondering, how much does CLEAR cost? CLEAR membership costs $179/year per adult which breaks down to less than $15/month. Considering that time is money, it is worth the cost if you travel often. You want to make sure that CLEAR is available at your most frequented airports or it may not be worth the expense. We are based out of Baltimore and luckily BWI is a CLEAR airport. We also have multiple CLEAR airport locations nearby that we fly in and out of frequently, including Washington Dulles and Raegan National.

Since Bertaut travels very often for his “real job”, CLEAR is absolutely worth the cost for him. I (Alexis) don’t travel as much, but having experienced how we cruise through security with CLEAR, it is worth every dollar. CLEAR members can add up to 3 family members for only $50/year,  which breaks down to just over $4/month. So we pay $229/year for our family of four since children under 18 are free, which is worth every dollar considering how much easier our airport experience is with CLEAR.

Downside of CLEAR

Just a word of warning, having CLEAR may mean you’ll hear some grumbling from other travelers who are waiting in line. Tell them to get CLEAR and make your way to the gate with plenty of time to spare. Better yet, grab a free glass of wine at the lounge with your Priority Pass lounge access. Stick with us and we’ll show you how to reduce the stress and put a little more luxury into your travel experiences! 😉

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