TSA and Clear To Initiate Single Application Process

Applying for the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program and CLEAR may soon be far simpler

A report from The Points Guy today revealed that the programs may be launching a single, combined application process. Though the timing of when this may take place has not been confirmed.

“CLEAR has been on a mission to make experiences safer and easier since day one, so we’re looking forward to becoming an authorized TSA PreCheck enrollment provider to help bring TSA PreCheck enrollment to more people in more places,” a spokesperson told The Points Guy via email.

Each of the two programs has more than 14 million members already, according to a Needham analyst report. TSA PreCheck has the most significant membership at 14.3 million, which is a 27 percent increase since 2021.

The merger of the application process is being driven by requirements outlined in the TSA Modernization Act and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, according to the Needham report. As part of that report, analyst Joshua Reilly also said there may be a strong opportunity for CLEAR to accelerate PreCheck adoption.

Reilly also said overall penetration for Trusted Travelers, which would include PreCheck, as well as programs like Global Entry, could eventually reach 129 million passengers.

Yet another expert told The Points Guy that PreCheck and CLEAR have long had a contentious relationship. “TSA feels that CLEAR is cutting into some of its turf in terms of passenger screening, creating some tension with airports, but at the same time, CLEAR has shown that it understands biometrics and it can help improve the productivity of the airport passenger screening process,” Henry Harteveldt, an airline and travel industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research, told The Points Guy.

No further information about the combined application process was available. Representatives for both programs also declined to discuss whether the pricing of the programs would be impacted by the application process changes.

Last month, TSA announced that the PreCheck program had set a new record by surpassing 15 million active members. The program was originally launched in December 2013 and reached a single-day record number of applicants on February 21 with more than 19,200 individuals.

Applicants pay $78 for a five-year membership, which involves an in-person appointment and background check. Passengers receive and add their Known Traveler Number (KTN) to their flight reservations when booking to receive TSA PreCheck on their boarding pass.

CLEAR is the biometric identity verification platform that travelers use to speed through airport security. Travelers can enroll in CLEAR online or in person and save time by beginning the process online or on CLEAR’s mobile app and finishing at any of its airport locations with no appointment needed. CLEAR’s network includes more than 50 airports, stadiums and other locations.