Clear Airport Security: When "Fast" Became a Memory
I've been a Clear member since the early days, back when it actually felt like a superpower. You'd stroll up to a pod, scan your eyes, and a friendly ambassador would whisk you straight to the front of security while everyone else was still fumbling with laptops and belts. It was glorious.
Now, in 2025? The magic has quietly evaporated. Clear has aggressively grown its membership over the years, which is great for business, but they've failed to scale the one thing that matters: operations. Inadequate stations, same (or fewer) staff at many airports, and procedures that haven't evolved to handle the crowds.
The result is almost comical if it weren't so frustrating: the Clear line regularly takes 2-4 times longer than the regular TSA line. I've stood there watching the standard queue move steadily while Clear members shuffle forward in a sad, snaking herd, waiting.
I only still have Clear because it's a free perk with my credit card. Otherwise, I'd have canceled long ago. These days, I'm seriously considering just walking past the Clear lanes altogether and using regular TSA Pre-Check, because at least that line actually moves.
Here's hoping they reinvest some of those membership dollars into actual speed someday. Until then, "Clear" feels like a very expensive misnomer.
Photo shows the super long and stagnant Clear lane...with only one TSA Agent/lane and a single "Ambassador." Next to the TSA Pre-Check with 4-5 TSA Agents and lines. read more