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Imagine getting to the airport and breezing right through security by skipping to the front of the line. With Reserve powered by Clear, you can do just that at participating airports. The service is completely free and does not require membership with Clear, meaning all travelers can take advantage of the program. Passengers simply reserve a timeslot for going through security, receive a QR code, and use it to check in before entering the Reserve Lane.
As passengers miss flights due to airport chaos in the U.S. and abroad, taking advantage of every opportunity to smooth the airport experience is in travelers' best interest. For flying out of airports with Clear Reserve Lanes, taking advantage of the reserved security check time could be the difference between a pleasant walk to the terminal and missing a flight in the event of clogged security lines.
Currently, Clear Reserve Lanes are available at the following airports:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (JFK)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona (PHX)
- Calgary International Airport in Canada (YYC)
- Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey (EWR)
- Orlando International Airport in Florida (MCO)
- Los Angeles International Airport in California (LAX)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington (SEA)
To use the service, travelers can head to Clear's website, click on the airport they are departing from, enter their flight details and party size, and pick a time to go through security. The service is free, and only one traveler's information is needed to book a reservation for a party of up to 10 people. While travelers should make every effort to arrive at their selected time, there is an unspecified grace period before and after selected reservation times. Twenty minutes is set aside for each reservation to ensure travelers have ample time to make it through screening, and reservations can be made up to 72 hours ahead of scheduled departure times.
As travelers continue to deal with canceled flights and long security lines due to high travel demand and staff shortages, anything that helps make getting through the airport a smoother experience is welcome news. This year the TSA is adding new technology to their security checks to help speed up the processing time. The upgrades include new scanning technologies and mobile ID options, helping passengers get to their terminals faster. Five of seven airports listed above are equipped with the new technology, meaning travelers taking advantage of the reserve lanes at JFK, PHX, MCO, LAX, and SEA will be skipping to the front of the line and using the best technology available for a speedy experience.
The first Clear Reserve Lane debuted in October 2021 at Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Clear has been adding the service to other airports since. “The travel experience can be unpredictable – from the moment you step outside your door to the moment you arrive at your destination,” said Caryn Seidman-Becker, Clear's CEO, in a press release. “We are excited to offer this new experience alongside Orlando International Airport and help give their travelers more predictability and more control over their time. With CLEAR's solutions, travelers are enjoying faster and easier travel from home to gate.”
Travelers using the program should note that Reserve powered by Clear does not grant access to Clear Plus Lanes. Clear Plus Lanes are for travelers with Clear memberships, which offer faster front-of-the-line service at over 38 airports. A Clear Plus membership is not free like the Reserve Lanes and is offered at $189 per year. For travelers who want the fastest and easiest experience possible any time they travel, combining a Clear Plus membership with TSA PreCheck ensures a quick security experience. Clear Plus will get travelers to the front of the line quickly, and TSA PreCheck makes security easier by eliminating the need to remove belts, shoes, or the removal of laptops, and liquids from carry-on bags.
As travel demand continues to surge, airports and airlines are being forced to cut flights as they cannot keep up. Programs like Clear Reserve Lanes and the recent TSA technology improvements continue to alleviate travel woes for passengers and airport personnel, and their continued expansion is greatly welcomed.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.