by Fred Fuld III
If you haven’t already, you are probably planning your summer travel. However, there is something else you should plan on, one or more of the services available to travelers to help them get though security faster.
There are a few options available to you. One service, that gets to you the front of the security line is called CLEAR. This service has been around since 2010 and is available in more than two dozen airports, everywhere from Atlanta and Austin to Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York and Washington DC.
In addition to being escorted to the front of the line by a CLEAR representative, the company utilizes another feature to speed things up. Biometrics, such as your fingerprints and eyes are used to check your identity, so you don’t have to fumble around with a card.
I have used CLEAR and became an affiliate as it has saved me a ton of time at the airport. CLEAR has one other big advantage. It can be used at stadiums and other venues, such as Oracle Park, Madison Square Garden, and Yankee Stadium.
The cost of CLEAR is $179 per year, and if you have kids under 18, they can accompany you for free. You can add a spouse for only $50.
An additional option is TSA PreCheck which is available in most airports across the United States. This allows you to avoid taking off your shoes and your jacket, and you don’t have to take your laptop out of your bag. The service is primarily for domestic’s flights.
The cost for PreCheck is $85 for five years. Children 12 and under are free if traveling with you, but kids 13 to 18 will require a separate registration. Some airline will PreCheck you for free; check with your airline.
For international travelers, the Global Entry program is available, with includes the same benefits as PreCheck but also allows you to return to the US through customs much faster. The price is $100 and children need their own pass The service is available in about a third of the PreCheck airports.
Happy travels!