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As has been widely reported, the situation with Transportation Security Administration screening lines and staffing at airports across the country currently ranges from not great to absolutely terrible as the partial government shutdown stretches on.
At my home airport — Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — things have been worse than average, with screening lines having wait times of up to 270 minutes (over four hours) today alone. And both TSA PreCheck and Clear were closed this afternoon when I was scheduled to fly, making it increasingly likely that I would be stuck waiting in a lengthy line.
But I was miraculously able to walk right through for just $99, thanks to a Clear Concierge Express appointment I booked a few days ago. Here’s what you need to know about the program.
Related: Save time at the airport: These 4 cards cover the cost of Clear+
What is Clear Concierge?
Clear Concierge is an add-on service available to Clear+ members at roughly 30 airports. Pricing for the service starts at $99 per adult, per use (with children eligible to join at no additional cost).
When you make a Clear Concierge reservation, a Clear Ambassador will escort you to the front of the Clear+ line for truly expedited security screening. There is also a version of the service, available at a higher price point, that helps you with your luggage all the way to the gate.
The Clear Concierge service requires a reservation and a Clear+ membership — along with an additional $99 fee per use. (But remember, there are multiple cards — including the American Express Platinum Card®, which includes a statement credit of up to $209 annually toward Clear+* — that can cover the cost of your membership.)
*Clear+ requires enrollment and is subject to auto-renewal.
You need to book Clear Concierge at least 30 minutes before you need it, but, in practice, I would book much further in advance, as time slots can and do fill up.
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Today, facing waits of more than four hours for the two open security areas at IAH, the $99 Clear Concierge fee was the best money I could have possibly spent.
My experience using Clear Concierge
When IAH sent a message out on social media last night that Clear would be closed today, I thought that the odds that my Clear Concierge Express appointment would go on as planned went down with the rest of the service.
However, to my surprise, I got a text at 4:30 a.m. from a Clear Ambassador at IAH with contact information and instructions on how to meet up later in the day. I arrived to find multiple Clear Ambassadors standing at an otherwise closed Clear line (reportedly closed at the city’s discretion). And while the rest of the airport unfortunately faced no real alternative around the four-hour security lines, because I had a Clear Concierge appointment, they were able to help me right through. I walked through security in just two minutes.
Related: Clear’s new ‘e-gates’ now live at airports across the US
Bottom line
I have every trick in the TSA security screening book: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck Touchless ID and Clear+. However, none of them were enough to help me this afternoon at IAH, as the partial shutdown has closed down all but two general screening lines.
Choosing to pay $99 for a Clear Concierge Express reservation was absolutely the best money I could have spent, as it helped spare me from that situation.
I don’t know if Clear Concierge will continue to operate at eligible airports if the current TSA situation carries on. This was the first day the normal Clear+ lines were closed at IAH, and while they were still able to honor this booking, I imagine that is subject to change.
But for as long as it works — and even after the shutdown ends — if you’re looking to ensure a smooth path through security (or even all the way to the gate), consider paying for Clear Concierge. I’m a raving fan of it now, as it spared me four hours in line and an untold amount of stress. Without it, there is no way I would’ve made my flight today.
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