You can sign up for a Clear membership at select Rimowa stores
If there's one thing all travelers can agree on, it's that we'd all like to spend less time in airport security lines. There are a few hacks to help expedite your process through check-in and security, from priority check-in lanes thanks to elite status to expedited screening programs like TSA PreCheck and Clear. And for New York City and San Francisco residents, signing up for a Clear membership just got a bit easier.
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For those of you who are unfamiliar, Clear uses biometrics to verify your ID at the airport to help you get through security faster with dedicated lanes. While it isn't a replacement for TSA PreCheck (you'll still have to go through the TSA lines), it can reduce the amount of time you spend waiting in line at security checkpoints when you travel through one of the 39 U.S. airports that have Clear lanes. Clear has also been expanding to offer expedited security at large-scale events such as major sports competitions, so your membership could be useful beyond saving time at the airport.
While you can start the enrollment process online, you still have to head to a Clear kiosk to get your biometrics added into the system with the help of a Clear ambassador. Typically, that means spending some extra time (and potentially waiting in another line) at a busy airport terminal before your flight. But thanks to a new partnership between Clear and luxury luggage line Rimowa, you can now sign up in two select stores in New York City and San Francisco.
"This holiday season, we are excited to bring Clear's groundbreaking technology into our Rimowa stores as we provide our customers with an even more convenient way to access the Clear membership," said Dezaray Romanelli, general manager of Rimowa North America, in a press release. "Following the success of the Rimowa Passport Studio in Soho, New York, we continue to find new and innovative ways to elevate the entire travel experience from start to finish."

While this partnership is launching as a test in two specific stores — the Madison Avenue location in New York and the Grant Avenue location in San Francisco — a spokesperson from Rimowa did tell TPG that there's a potential for this to become a more permanent option for Rimowa shoppers at a broader selection of stores in the future.
At the Madison Avenue store in New York, Rimowa and Clear gifted me with a complimentary one-year Clear membership so that I could test out the process of signing up in the store. Overall, it was a great experience. The Rimowa store is much quieter and less hectic than any airport terminal I've ever been in, and the process for getting signed up was quick and painless.
When you enter the store, there's a Clear kiosk located on the left-hand side. During Clear's staffing hours, which are listed at the end of the article, a Clear ambassador will be present to walk you through the process.

Signing up was easy. You'll need to bring an ID (I used my passport) and your preferred card for your membership dues.
There are a few cards that give you either a credit for your Clear membership or a discounted rate, so make sure you're bringing the right card with you when you sign up. Our guide to Clear walks through the ways you can use elite status, loyalty programs and credit cards to save money on your Clear membership.

You'll go through a retina scan, thumbprint scans and larger four-finger scans to get your biometrics recorded. The Clear ambassador helps you through the process to make sure your hands are situated correctly, you have your eyes open wide enough for the scan, etc.

Then, you'll give your ID to scan. I used my U.S. passport since that's what I use at the airport, but you can also use the following forms of ID: driver's license, U.S. passport card, U.S.-issued permanent resident card, state-issued ID or Global Entry card.
From there, you verify your information (full name, current address, email address and phone number) and put a card on file for the cost of the membership.

After, you'll see a screen welcoming you to Clear with a QR code you can scan to download the app. I perused the store for a bit before heading out — I've been debating whether I should give in and buy the Rimowa Never Still black backpack I've been eyeing as a Christmas gift to myself — but the actual process to sign up for Clear took less than 15 minutes.
If you live in one of the outer boroughs of New York City or in a suburb of San Francisco, trekking into the city to sign up for Clear at a Rimowa store may be more trouble than it's worth. But for those who live near one of the stores or who are planning a shopping trip for some new luggage, it may be worth taking advantage of these added locations where you can sign up for Clear.
I've been considering signing up for months, but I'm always in a rush when I get to the airport. Taking a break from work on a Monday afternoon to sign up at a store in Manhattan was less of a hassle, plus I got to check out some of the newer Rimowa products in person (I do most of my shopping online these days, so in-person shopping is a welcome rarity).
Here are the Clear staffing hours for each location where you can sign up.
New York City — Madison Avenue store:
- Monday: 2-6 p.m.
- Tuesday: 2-6 p.m.
- Wednesday: 2-6 p.m.
- Thursday: 3-7 p.m.
- Friday: 3-7 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon-5 p.m.
San Francisco — Grant Avenue store:
- Monday-Friday: 2-6 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon-6 p.m.
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- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
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- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
- Top rated mobile app

