The wait is over: Clear will open at United terminals in Houston next week
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Having both TSA PreCheck and Clear can help you dramatically reduce the amount of time spent waiting around at an airport before your flight. Used either independently or together, both speed up the security process. You don't need to take out your ID, take off your shoes, or remove your toiletries or electronics.
But a limiting factor has been that Clear (an expedited security program that helps you breeze through airport and stadium security with biometrics) isn't at all airport terminals — it's not even at all major U.S. airports.
At United's media event in Chicago on Friday, Luc Bondar, head of United MileagePlus, announced that Clear would finally be opening on Oct. 30 at 10:30 a.m. in United terminals at Houston (IAH).
Here, Terminal A has had Clear for some time, but the United terminals — Terminals B, C and E — haven't yet offered Clear services to travelers.
When United announced over the summer it was partnering (and investing) with Clear, the airline also confirmed that the program would be coming to all its hub airports in the U.S.
Clear is already available to passengers traveling through United's hubs in Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington Dulles (IAD), but now we have an opening date for Clear in the United terminals in Houston (IAH).
Clear's website now has Terminal B listed with operating hours of 5:00 a.m. to 9:05 p.m., while Clear at Terminal E will be available from 4:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.
TPG has reached out to Clear about whether Terminal C, a workhorse for United mainline flights, would also get Clear in the near future.
Bondar didn't have a specific opening date for Clear at the United hubs of Newark (EWR) and Chicago (ORD), other than to say they are coming "very soon" — and neither of those airports are listed on the Clear website at this time.
If you're tempted by the prospect of even faster airport security, check out our full guide to Clear. Know that United and Delta frequent flyer program members get access to discounted Clear memberships (from $119 per year), while elites enjoy even deeper discounts (from $109 per year). Free memberships may be available to top tier members.
Get a 2-month free trial of Clear using code TPG2M
Families should also know that children under 18 can use Clear for free with an approved adult. Additional adults can also be added to the primary Clear plan for just $50 per year.
And now, for the first time, travelers with the American Express® Green Card can enjoy an up to $100 statement credit when they use the recently-refreshed card to purchase a Clear membership.
The information for the Amex Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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