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- Is CLEAR Worth It?
Is CLEAR Worth It?
Why my answer is “maybe yes”👇🏼

Friends,
I flew Southwest this morning on a classic 737 that was straight out of my childhood. If you grew up near Dallas Love Field, you get it.
I still really like Southwest, and for my material misgivings with their current leadership team — I am grateful to report today’s product was consistent with their brand. Everything was super friendly, efficient, and my flight left on time / arrived early.
Our flight attendants were especially terrific, which is really what Southwest apart (their people and just feeling overall a lot lower friction than other airlines). If that edge is lost, the airline will fall into ruin like Tolkien’s kingdom of Gondor. But I digress.
I am writing this post to discuss CLEAR — the expedited security service that costs $209/yr or is complimentary with Delta Diamond status and the Amex Platinum card. There are plenty of ways to get a discount on it, too.
Thanks to credit cards and my general indulgence of near anything that promises to expedite or make special an airport experience — I have CLEAR and TSA Pre-Check. But is it worth it?
The jury is still out.
At a relatively crowded Dallas-Love this Friday morning, I waited just as long in the CLEAR lane as those in the standard Pre-Check line. Make no mistake: I was through security in five minutes, and CLEAR feels cool. But in this case, it was not any faster.
Do I think it is worth paying for? It depends — it has saved me and my family substantial time at airports like MSP, DEN, and for sure at Love Field (on other trips). So it really comes down to the airports you frequent.
And if you travel less than twice per month, TSA Pre-Check (directly or via Global Entry) will likely do the trick. As a sidebar, I see Pre-Check as something of a non-negotiable for travel in the USA. YMMV.
We’ll see how I do with CLEAR at JFK tomorrow. I will report back.
Fly well.
NEWS
Passenger tries to open emergency exit on a SkyWest flight from Omaha to Detroit — they diverted to Cedar Rapids where he was arrested.
United’s Q2 earnings call highlights.
DEALS
It was a slow Friday in the world of travel and points deals. Check back tomorrow!

Fly well.