CLEAR PLUS PROVIDES SPECIAL PODS TO EITHER CHECK FINGERPRINTS OR IRIS SCANS TO SPEED ACCESS THROUGH SECURITY LANES, NOW AVAILABLE AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. | COURTESY CLEAR

Just in time for the busy holiday season, Pittsburgh International Airport has introduced an international program designed to speed travelers through security lines here and at more than 50 other airports and some stadiums.

It’s called CLEAR Plus, a type of airport membership offering dedicated security lanes to verify traveler’s identity with their biometrics – such as iris scans or fingerprints. After verification, a CLEAR ambassador escorts the members to the front of the normal TSA security line or the TSA PreCheck line (if they have that service).

CLEAR Plus began here on Monday, Dec. 18.

The program costs about $16 a month ($189 a year) although Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and American Express members provide discounts. Active military, veterans, and government officials are also eligible for discounted memberships, and additional family members can be added to an existing account for $99 per adult per year. There are now 19 million members in the program.

While there are times of the day or holiday season when there may be lengthy waits at Pittsburgh International to get through the regular TSA line, the new service could be particularly beneficial in navigating places like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (the busiest airport in the world) or Orlando International Airport (one of the most popular tourist destinations). CLEAR already services nine of Pittsburgh International’s top 10 domestic destinations.

Make sure you do your homework. At large airports with many terminals, for example, it may be available at one terminal but not the one you’re flying out of, so you could not use it.

CLEAR members who are not enrolled in TSA PreCheck still have to remove their shoes and liquids in the regular TSA line.

Some federal lawmakers raised concerns this past summer after there were reports of breaches in 2022 and early in 2023, in which individuals had been escorted past the TSA check without being properly verified. Some privacy advocates also have questioned some of the data collected from members.

CLEAR has announced it will start facial recognition technology some time in 2024, which will further speed travelers through the airport.