✈ I Threw This TSA Hail Mary (and It Actually Worked), Using a Private Passport Service & More From TPG ✈

March 24, 2026

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$99 to skip TSA chaos? It worked

by Summer Hull, Senior director of content

I cannot believe that a $99 service just saved me four hours in the Transportation Security Administration line. Let’s rewind.

I’m going to share a lesser-known travel tip that I tested out yesterday, because the amount of time it actually saved me in the TSA line blew me away. Now, this is not one I’ll use all the time, as it comes at a cost, but I had a work event I could not miss, so I gave it a shot.

The lines at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) have recently been some of the longest in the country — over 250 minutes in some cases. I have TSA PreCheck, Touchless ID and a Clear+ membership, but, as we have seen, even the TSA PreCheck and Clear lanes can — and did — close.

But I had booked a $99 Clear Concierge appointment to express me through security … and I was absolutely shocked at how well it worked on this particular day, which you can read about here.

There are credit cards that offer a statement credit for Clear+ membership, which you’ll need to book the Clear Concierge add-on service.

It goes without saying that we are all ready for the partial government shutdown to end and for TSA agents to be paid while they are working. But, in the meantime, you can try my travel hack that worked well yesterday. Or, if you’re hoping to avoid the long TSA lines altogether, try these 20 airports.

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