Apart from flight delays and cancellations, waiting in security lines can be one of the worst experiences at the airport. Lines are often crowded, it can take a lot of time to get through them, and you typically can’t avoid them completely.

With paid programs such as CLEAR, however, you could reduce your airport screening times and get on to your gate and final destination faster. Learn how this new ID platform works and whether it might be right for you.

What is CLEAR?

CLEAR is a secure platform that offers touchless ID verification in dozens of airports and sports and entertainment venues nationwide. The company was founded in 2010 by Caryn Seidman-Becker and Ken Cornick and has more than 1,000 employees and over 5 million members.

You might have already seen CLEAR at the airport close to a TSA security checkpoint. The blue and white kiosks are easily recognizable as are the friendly CLEAR employees standing nearby. The kiosks can help you avoid long airport lines by placing you directly at the physical screening section rather than in the line where you have to wait for a TSA agent to check your documents.

CLEAR offers a quick and touchless process for verifying your boarding documents as part of the standard security screening. Rather than interacting with a person, you use the CLEAR kiosk to verify your identity using biometrics. The kiosk may require an eye, face, or fingerprint scan as well as a scan of your boarding pass. From there, you’ll move on to the physical part of the TSA screening.

Who is eligible for CLEAR?

CLEAR is available to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who are 18 and older and have