Clear launches new paid VIP option for curb-to-gate service
Clear Plus subscribers now have more add-on services to choose from at select airports.
Travelers can book two new Ambassador Assist services called Curb-to-Clear and Curb-to-Gate. With Curb-to-Clear, which starts at $49 per person, an ambassador escorts users through the Clear lane and helps with handling luggage. The second service, Curb-to-Gate, takes Curb-to-Clear a step further and costs $149. It provides travelers assistance with carry-on luggage and escorts them through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints and on to their gate — it also includes help with any stops on the way to the gate, such as lounges, restaurants and stores.
“Ambassadors can also help you find concessions or restrooms and wait for you for quick stops,” according to Clear. “Our Ambassadors cannot wait with you at the gate, bring you from a lounge to the gate, watch your children or pets, accompany minors, or accept tips.”
As of Oct. 31, Clear’s new Ambassador Assist services are available to book for Clear users at Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., and Denver International Airport (DEN). They will be launching at Orlando International Airport (MCO) in November. Flyers on all airlines can participate at these airports.
TSA PreCheck members using these services should note that the Ambassador Assist program will take travelers to the front of the Clear Plus lane only when using the Curb-to-Clear option. They will not be brought to the front of the TSA PreCheck line.
These services are only available for Clear members, though travelers younger than 17 can accompany Clear members through Clear lanes.
To book, travelers must reserve their spot online at least 10 hours before flight departure. Reservations are refundable at least 12 hours before the appointment time.
On the day of travel, a Clear ambassador will text the traveler to coordinate pickup and meeting details. If reservation holders arrive later or earlier than scheduled, they should contact their ambassador via text to coordinate. For delayed or canceled flights, they should send an email to ambassistleads@clearme.com to keep their ambassador informed of their travel plans.
Ambassador Assist is the latest opt-in service for Clear users, and it aims to streamline a traveler’s airport experience from curbside to gate. One free service available at multiple airports is Clear Reserve, which allows subscribers to reserve a dedicated time slot in the security line for their party to get through a TSA checkpoint at select airports. At select airports, there are also other one-off services, including expedited bag drop for Clear users at DEN and an app-based lane at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky.
Travelers can now also enroll in TSA PreCheck through Clear at 50 U.S. airports and access both programs for a discounted rate of $200. On their own, Clear costs $199 annually and can be used at 58 airports across the U.S., plus stadiums and other large venues. In comparison, a five-year TSA PreCheck membership starts at $78 and is available at over 200 airports across 90 airlines.
Five credit cards currently offer an annual statement credit that can help you recoup the cost of Clear:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Centurion Card from American Express
- American Express® Green Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The information for the Centurion, Green and Hilton Aspire cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Occasionally, targeted Amex Offers covering the cost of Clear Plus membership are available for those with different American Express cards.
First-time users can try Clear for free for two months.
Bottom line
Curb-to-Gate and Curb-to-Clear are only available at a few airports for now, but they likely will expand based on interest. They are the latest perks available to users and come at a time when some question whether the service is still worth its cost.
For example, some subscribers have noted that they are still subject to random ID checks, which negates one of the main benefits of the program. Other complaints include a recent price hike, longer wait times and third-party biometric screening that competes with Clear.
Related reading:
- 8 ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear
- How to sign up for Clear for expedited security at airports and stadiums
- Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear — and how you can save on both
- Why your family may want to get Clear before your next flight
- Guide to using the American Express Clear Plus benefit
