TSA Pre-Check vs Clear
Discussion
I have finally got a definitive answer on which is better.
I went to the Clear queue and the guy told me to go to TSA pre-check as it is better. I asked why and he said Clear skips the queue to the normal security whereas TSA Pre-Check is its own security with its own rules. Those include not having to take out laptops or taking shoes off.
I only signed up for clear because it was free and they gave me Uber credits.
I went to the Clear queue and the guy told me to go to TSA pre-check as it is better. I asked why and he said Clear skips the queue to the normal security whereas TSA Pre-Check is its own security with its own rules. Those include not having to take out laptops or taking shoes off.
I only signed up for clear because it was free and they gave me Uber credits.
Just back from my first Global Entry trip which includes TSA Pre
So good and so worth it - I flew into LAX and the Global Entry line had no one where normal (my colleague had to go through) was about 1 1/4 hour wait. A few planes had landed pretty close together.
All I had to do was look at the terminal camera - no passport needed.
On the way home the TSA Pre only had one person - no laptops out belt stayed on, shoes stayed on - again through in seconds - I was a good way through my beer and ready for my second when my colleague arrived
3 more USA trips this year and 9 next year so far - so will be much much nicer
So good and so worth it - I flew into LAX and the Global Entry line had no one where normal (my colleague had to go through) was about 1 1/4 hour wait. A few planes had landed pretty close together.
All I had to do was look at the terminal camera - no passport needed.
On the way home the TSA Pre only had one person - no laptops out belt stayed on, shoes stayed on - again through in seconds - I was a good way through my beer and ready for my second when my colleague arrived
3 more USA trips this year and 9 next year so far - so will be much much nicer
OP is US-based so comparing with Global Entry is not as relevant.
In my experience Clear was great back in the day, but only applied to a handful of airports (my local MCO being one). With time it has been so heavily subscribed that its value has eroded to nothing.
TSA Pre-Check (TSA KTN, for on-line booking) has gone the same way, in my experience. So many people now use it, that Pre-Check security lines are now just as long as regular security.
That said, at MCO there is a combined Clear/Pre-Check line, which sometimes is advantageous to use. I'm traveling less these days (thankfully), but the value of either facility has diminished significantly in recent years.
In my experience Clear was great back in the day, but only applied to a handful of airports (my local MCO being one). With time it has been so heavily subscribed that its value has eroded to nothing.
TSA Pre-Check (TSA KTN, for on-line booking) has gone the same way, in my experience. So many people now use it, that Pre-Check security lines are now just as long as regular security.
That said, at MCO there is a combined Clear/Pre-Check line, which sometimes is advantageous to use. I'm traveling less these days (thankfully), but the value of either facility has diminished significantly in recent years.
My issue with Clear is that they still need an agent. In Newark they will have 10+ booths but only two agents. That means only two booths can be used.
The four of us in my family have Global entry because we found ourselves in the normal line with the kids.
I agree with the notion that these services get diluted as their subscriptions go up. It’s the same for premier access and even the lounges.
The best example is the groups to get on a plane. For United, they have two levels above group one and then military and disabled and those with kids. That means 5 groups board before group one. One of the groups is “secret” as it is invite only. It’s Global access which is above 1k.
They haven’t put queues in place so the first five groups hang around at the desk. Others then join due to the nature of being human.
My family and I boarded a plane recently and got abuse from those in the queues because “we thought we were special”.
The four of us in my family have Global entry because we found ourselves in the normal line with the kids.
I agree with the notion that these services get diluted as their subscriptions go up. It’s the same for premier access and even the lounges.
The best example is the groups to get on a plane. For United, they have two levels above group one and then military and disabled and those with kids. That means 5 groups board before group one. One of the groups is “secret” as it is invite only. It’s Global access which is above 1k.
They haven’t put queues in place so the first five groups hang around at the desk. Others then join due to the nature of being human.
My family and I boarded a plane recently and got abuse from those in the queues because “we thought we were special”.
Clear has been great when I have been able to use it.
The problem is, it has more restricted hours of operation because it requires an agent to verify then escort.
I didn't renew mine, as out of the 8 times I've tried to use it, it's been closed for five of them, another two of those times (at different airports too!) it was feeding into the regular line because they were doing some ridiculous testing of a new dog based sniffer lane where you have to walk past a dog and a fan in pairs (thankfully not holding hands).
One time it was noticeably slower than the priority line, so I ducked under the barrier and got through faster, and the last two times it worked great and actually saved loads of time and worked as intended, one of which was on labor day weekend when it was packed. Not worth $200 though.
The problem is, it has more restricted hours of operation because it requires an agent to verify then escort.
I didn't renew mine, as out of the 8 times I've tried to use it, it's been closed for five of them, another two of those times (at different airports too!) it was feeding into the regular line because they were doing some ridiculous testing of a new dog based sniffer lane where you have to walk past a dog and a fan in pairs (thankfully not holding hands).
One time it was noticeably slower than the priority line, so I ducked under the barrier and got through faster, and the last two times it worked great and actually saved loads of time and worked as intended, one of which was on labor day weekend when it was packed. Not worth $200 though.
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