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Clear+ Hits $219: How Frequent Flyers Still Get It Free

Clear raised the price of its Clear+ biometric airport security program to $219 per year effective July 1, 2026 — a $10 increase from the previous $209 annual fee. According to The Points Guy, this marks the second straight year of a $10 increase; Thrifty Traveler puts it more bluntly — the fourth price hike in four years.

Clear+ lets members bypass the main TSA document-check line at dozens of major U.S. airports using biometric identity verification — iris scan or fingerprint — before proceeding to the screening belt. The fee hike applies to the standard retail price; add-on family members remain at $125 for up to three adults, per The Points Guy.

The discount map has not changed — but the math has

The path to paying less than $219 — or nothing — remains intact. American Express confirmed it will raise its annual Clear+ statement credit to match the new price on eligible cards — the Amex Platinum, Business Platinum, Green Card, and Hilton Honors Aspire, per Upgraded Points. Cardholders who relied on Amex to zero out their Clear+ bill will continue to do so at no additional net cost.

Airline elite status holders receive structured discounts. According to Thrifty Traveler's breakdown, Delta 360° and United Global Services members receive Clear+ at no charge; Delta Diamond and United Premier 1K members pay $129 per year; Delta Platinum, Gold, and Silver members — along with United Premier Silver, Gold, and Platinum members and eligible U.S. carrier cardholders — pay $179 per year. Standard SkyMiles and MileagePlus members pay $209 per year — still a $10 discount off the full $219 retail rate.

For comparison, TSA PreCheck is a separate program, and the two are not direct substitutes: Clear+ handles the ID check faster but routes members into a standard or PreCheck lane afterward; PreCheck covers the physical screening step. Many frequent flyers stack both.

What this means for remote workers and nomads

For those spending significant time in airports — working across time zones, hopping between client cities, or living out of a carry-on — the cost calculus on Clear+ depends heavily on which programs you already carry.

Reviewing the numbers, we find the group actually absorbing new costs is narrower than headlines suggest. Amex matched the new price, so cardholders see no change. Delta and United mid-tier status holders still pay $129 or $179 — unchanged. The people taking the full $10 hit are those paying out of pocket with no card or airline coverage.

The bigger question for location-independent travelers is program stacking. For someone flying 20 or more times per year through supported airports, carrying both programs typically makes sense; for fewer than 10 annual flights, TSA PreCheck alone — or a card that covers Clear+ — is likely the smarter default. Our digital nomad starter kit guide covers how to weigh these recurring travel costs alongside gear and connectivity.

Four price hikes in four years signal that Clear is treating its retail price as a floor to raise, not a fixed rate. Anyone paying out of pocket with no coverage should weigh whether their flight frequency justifies the new $219 price before renewing.