According to WSJ CLEAR (CLEAR makes it easier and quicker to get through airport security lanes at select airports) is opening popups in retail stores. They are selling CLEAR giftcards. I assume this will code as CLEAR purchases and trigger the American Express Business Platinum credit but that might vary from pop up to pop depending on how payments are handled.
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Dang 🙁
Gift cards are available on the clear website… do those not qualify for the credit?
Probably not, as they appear to be sold by eGifter on behalf of CLEAR.
I stopped by the Rimowa store in NYC today. The store only lets one customer in at a time and they lock the door with others having to wait outside. Not sure if this is because of COVID but it felt very strange. There was one Clear machine with dedicated Clear staff overseeing it. I was able to complete my signup in a few seconds. They didn’t have any gift cards for sale today. Was told to check out Showfields downtown.
I will be at the Showfields mall NYC tomorrow purchasing 22 CLEAR GC’s with my Biz Plats. Huge fingers crossed these trigger the credit.
Report back
I updated you in the most recent comment.
Is this just in New York? Has anyone seen these in California malls? Googling “Clear pop ups” doesn’t help…
I tried to search the company names in the article. Appears to be NYC and South Beach (Miami).
article says Rimowa in San Francisco
For me, having Clear and TSA pre check is an absolute time saver in some domestic airports. We were escorted in the front because of Clear, and avoided the screening because of TSA pre check.
I’ve seen how worthless Clear is. For a very short while I worked for the TSA. After being verified by Clear, the passengers were able to get in the front of the other passengers waiting to be ID-ed. But you still had to go through security screening just like everyone else. The TSA pre-check line was usually much shorter and quicker. And unlike Clear which cost $179 every year, TSA pre-check is only $85 every 5 years.
Huh? People who get CLEAR already have or, to your point, should have Pre-check.
Then what is the advantage? It takes no longer for them to scan your driver’s license than it does to scan your eyeballs.
How do you downvote?
Used clear several times when tsa precheck lines were long. Immediately skipped the line since nobody else had clear and precheck.
You pissed off that you just realized you threw your money away? Don’t worry, you will still get value out of it. Most of the people, and I’m sure you’re one of them, get enjoyment out of thinking they are privileged. You know, to make you feel better about yourself. I’m sure that is the reason why you really have it.
CLEAR brings you to the front of the Pre-Check line if you have it.
Some people can’t get approved for pre-check.
the pre-check lines at SFO,LAX,SEA can get very long. That’s when Clear comes in handy
It’s insurance. It’s basically saying insurance is useless because you didn’t need it. Having it with a toddler and traveling a lot can be a life saver. You go five times thinking it’s useless and then thank God you have it in Denver when the line is 45 min long in precheck.
Well CLEAR brings you to the front of the Pre-check line. You also don’t need to travel with a physical ID with CLEAR.
CLEAR is something I wouldn’t have ever paid for, but as a “perk” of the Platinum card, I’m happy to have it. It was very easy to enroll and that along with TSA Pre means getting through security at JFK even at the busiest times takes only a few minutes.
I hope the GC do trigger the credit (go way to bank future credits).
I will never understand why anyone would willingly hand over their biometrics to a private company, AND pay the company $180 every year, all to save… what… 5 minutes?
Saved one of my trips because we couldn’t get into the parking lot for the airport shuttle. So I guess it saved me a few $ks
Do you use face, Iris or fingerprint unlock for you phone?
People are paranoid about 23andMe/Ancestry etc getting your DNA.
But if you have served in military in last 25 years, had a blood based lab test in last 25 years and didn’t opt of DNA testing with the tester/insurer probably even if you have had a COVID nasal swab test – you have tacitly agreed to give up your DNA privacy.
FB/Insta/Snap/ etc probably the biggest databases of facial recognition.
I know I have had to give up bio-metrics at immigration in Israel, US and it a few other countries.
Delta has already started using optional biometrics for boarding in ATL for some flights.
Its only a matter of time before it’s industry wide.
I have yet to directly pay for Clear but got it free for a long time now it cover by Amex Plat.
Phone biometric data is only stored encrypted locally on device.
Facebook has ended their facial recognition program and is deleting all data stored due largely because of privacy concerns and pressure from the EU. Some states prohibit private companies from allowing facial recognition without the end user opting-in.
Ancestry DNA sites sell your DNA to the highest bidder and gives it to law enforcement for them to retain permanently, so they can find you or any of your relatives if their DNA ever shows up somewhere.
I try to stay off government databases, but that’s just me.
Keep in mind that both CLEAR and TSA Precheck are rendered completely useless for the security checkpoint when making a connection after clearing customs at an international airport, e.g. Atlanta. Everyone gets pushed into the same generic line where you have to take off your shoes, no CLEAR shortcuts.
The main advantage of Clear over Pre-Check: Clear has far less stringent exclusions like criminal records, etc.
I have an easy answer for you: I got Clear for free for a year in 2013, back when I cared less about this sort of stuff, so they already have mine. I’m not saying I would or wouldn’t sign up now — I haven’t researched their privacy policies. Signing up for free (Amex Plat) at this point isn’t costing me any sensitive info because they already have it.
I do think class actions like the ones vs. Plaid help to show what companies might do with your info if you blindly accept terms & conditions, though.
For what it’s worth, I would never pay for their service. And if/when I decide to drop the Amex Platinum, I’ll ask them to delete my data (though no idea how effectively they’ll do that).