CLEAR Concierge is the best thing I signed up for all year, and I say that as someone who signs up for a lot of travel perks. I have now used it multiple times, and every single time I have skipped every line in the airport. Not just the regular security line. The CLEAR line and the TSA PreCheck line too.
When I first wrote about this service, I was running the math on paper. Now I have real trips behind me, and the experience is better than the numbers suggested. Even better, FoundersCard members get it free, unlimited, for both departures and arrivals.
If you don’t have FoundersCard yet, you can currently get a 12-month free trial here, with instant access to the CLEAR benefit. If you decide to upgrade to Elite (what I have, and recommend), you can do so during your first week at the Cloud9Club rate of $299 instead of the normal $995.
What Is CLEAR Concierge?
CLEAR Concierge is a white-glove airport escort service from the company behind CLEAR+. Instead of scanning your eyes at a pod and waiting your turn, you get a dedicated CLEAR Ambassador assigned to your travel day. It is a separate product from the CLEAR+ membership, and it comes in two versions that you can book on their own or together.
Departure Service starts at the curb. Your Ambassador meets you when you pull up, helps with bags and check-in, takes you through security, and walks you to your gate or lounge. It covers up to 5 travelers per booking.
Arrival Service starts at the jet bridge. Your Ambassador meets you at the gate when you land, helps with carry-ons and checked luggage, and gets you to ground transportation or to your connecting gate. It covers up to 8 travelers per booking.
Adults need their own CLEAR+ membership to use either one. Kids 17 and under come along free with a member.
What CLEAR Concierge Is Actually Like
Three things have stood out across my trips.
The first is the lines, or the lack of them. I expected to be walked to the CLEAR lane. What actually happens is that you bypass the CLEAR queue and the TSA queue entirely and go straight to screening. On a busy morning, that is the difference between a stressful sprint and a calm walk to the lounge.
The second is luggage. Having someone take a bag off your hands at the curb, or meet you at the gate and deal with baggage claim alongside you, changes how the whole day feels. When I am traveling with multiple checked bags and camera gear, this alone is worth booking.
The third is unfamiliar airports, and this is the one I underestimated. In an airport I have never flown through, I don’t have to figure out which checkpoint is closest, where the rideshare pickup is hiding, or how to get between terminals. Someone who works there every day simply walks me the fastest way.
How Much Does CLEAR Concierge Cost?
At retail, Departure Service is $99 per booking and Arrival Service is $199 per booking. That price is per group, not per person, so a family of four pays the same $99 as a solo traveler.
A round trip where you book departure on the way out and arrival on the way home runs $298. That adds up quickly if you travel often, which is exactly why the FoundersCard route matters.
How To Get CLEAR Concierge Free With FoundersCard
FoundersCard members get complimentary CLEAR Concierge bookings on an ongoing, unlimited basis, covering both Departure Service and Arrival Service. There is no annual cap and no per-trip limit. This is how I have been using it all year.
New CLEAR+ members also get $50 off their first year through FoundersCard, bringing $209 down to $159. Many premium credit cards already reimburse the full cost of CLEAR+, so check what you hold before paying out of pocket.
The fine print: US airports only, bookings are subject to availability at participating airports, and day-of-travel changes go through email. Plan at least 24 hours ahead, because this is not a same-day booking.
Is CLEAR Concierge Worth It? The Math
If you are paying retail and fly twice a year, probably not, unless you have a specific reason such as a tight connection, mobility needs, or an airport you don’t know.
With FoundersCard, the math flips. Three round trips a year with departure and arrival booked each time is $894 in retail value. At the $299 Cloud9Club Elite rate, the membership pays for itself on this one perk by your second trip, and on the free trial your cost is zero. Treat this as an illustration: availability varies by airport and date, so your results will depend on where you fly.
What Airports Have CLEAR Concierge?
CLEAR Concierge is available at 41 US airports, with more being added. The biggest gaps are the New York airports and LAX, which are not on the list yet. Arrival Service launched at a smaller set of airports than Departure Service, so check the booking flow for your specific route.
How To Book CLEAR Concierge
Book through the CLEAR app or clearme.com by entering your airport, date, terminal, and flight time, then adding your guests. FoundersCard members should start from the FoundersCard member hub so the booking comes through at no charge. You will get a confirmation email, and your Ambassador texts you on the day of travel to coordinate the meeting point.
Book at least 24-48 hours ahead, especially around holidays. Double check your terminal, because Ambassadors are assigned by terminal.
$995 Elite Access, Yours for $299
Start with 12 months of FoundersCard free, then upgrade to Elite for $299 rather than the usual $995.
FoundersCard is a membership, not a credit card. There is no credit pull and nothing new to carry in your wallet. What it unlocks is negotiated pricing, priority treatment, and experiences that never reach the general public, across travel, lifestyle, and business brands.
Exclusive AccessUpgrade to Elite within your first week of membership to lock in the $299 per year rate. Free trial applies to new FoundersCard members. All terms are set by FoundersCard and subject to change.
Who Should Skip CLEAR Concierge
Skip it if you fly out of a small airport where security takes ten minutes anyway. And skip paying retail if you only fly once or twice a year.
Everyone else should at least try it once, especially families, anyone traveling with parents, travelers hauling a lot of luggage, and anyone connecting through an airport they don’t know.
Bottom Line
I thought CLEAR Concierge sounded excessive before I used it. Several trips later, it is the perk I would miss most. It takes the worst parts of the airport (lines, bags, and figuring out where to go) and hands them to someone else.
At $99 to $199 per booking, it is a splurge. Free and unlimited through FoundersCard, it is the easiest yes in travel right now.
Preview FoundersCard free for 12 months and unlock CLEAR Concierge →
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