Skip to content

Clear's JFK Terminal 7 lanes shuttered just weeks after opening

Nov. 06, 2022
3 min read
jfk t7 clear
Clear's JFK Terminal 7 lanes shuttered just weeks after opening
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.

Just weeks after bringing its expedited verification lanes to Terminal 7 inside New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Clear has halted its service inside that terminal.

It was just over a month ago that Clear brought its ultra-fast security experience to Terminal 7 which meant it was operating in three JFK terminals at the time.

Now, though, Clear has "temporarily closed" its Terminal 7 operation, a company spokesperson confirmed with TPG. Clear's website showing its JFK locations displays the closure as well.

clear jfk
CLEARME.COM

Company officials did not share specifics about the reason for the change. However, the move comes at a time when JFK's Terminal 7 is seeing rapid change when it comes to the airlines it serves.

Notably, the shuttering of Clear's service came right as United Airlines wound down its service in Terminal 7 — and at JFK as a whole — at the end of October, ending its daily transcontinental flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). United is a Clear partner.

November and December will see even more movement from Terminal 7. Starting in mid-November, British Airways will begin its transition to Terminal 8, where it's relocating to join its Oneworld partner American Airlines; it's a move expected to be completed in December.

Meanwhile, Clear's other major airline partner — Delta Air Lines — operates out of Terminals 2 and 4 at JFK, which are the two JFK terminals in which Clear's kiosks remain in operation. Clear is available in Terminal 2 from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for TSA PreCheck-eligible travelers, and in Terminal 4 from 4:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day for both TSA PreCheck members and other travelers.

For now, despite the halting of Clear's service in Terminal 7, the kiosks are still in place there, as TPG managing editor for news Clint Henderson noticed when passing through Saturday morning for a flight aboard the only remaining domestic carrier in Terminal 7 — Alaska Airlines.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
The wait for security at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 7. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

In case you were wondering, Henderson noted that the TSA PreCheck lanes did remain open.

Again, Clear is calling this a "temporary" closure. To that end, United also is calling its move away from JFK "temporary," so we'll be sure to keep an eye on the company's plans for its JFK service going forward.

In the meantime, you can still use Clear at more than 60 other airport and stadium locations nationwide, including in New York at LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium.

Memberships cost up to $199 annually but you can get the service for free with a variety of cards like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, which currently has a hefty introductory bonus of 150,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership and up to $199 in annual statement credits for Clear.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.