Clear is offering free guest passes and $70 discounts on new memberships for the holidays

Clear is trying to make the holiday airport rush less stressful for members — and the friends and family at the top of their gift list. 

Clear+ is Clear’s paid airport membership that uses biometric verification to help travelers move quickly through airport security checkpoints. It can be a lifesaver for travelers who cut it a little too close to boarding, or those who are simply anxious about arriving at their gate on time. 

In honor of Travel Tuesday, which falls on Tuesday, Dec. 1, this year, Clear is welcoming new members to join Clear+ for just $149 for their first year (compared to $219), while existing or new members can add up to three friends or family for just $79 each for their first year, down from $125. The offer is available only in the Clear app and will be available until Thursday, Dec. 3.

Clear is also letting non-members try its service for the holidays. Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 18, members can give free holiday passes to up to five friends and family members via an in-app option. The holiday pass, which comes with a 14-day free trial, includes the exclusive $149 discounted rate for anyone who acts fast and decides to keep Clear+ all year long. 

And for that notoriously difficult person to shop for, Clear is also offering gift cards that can be used toward a paid Clear+ membership, if you have a travel buddy in need of a speedier airport experience.

How Clear is making the airport experience less stressful 

Clear is also upping its app game. If you have Clear+, download the app for a single personalized view of your trip. “Planning Mode” allows users to book a ride to the airport via Uber and provides the best departure time based on traffic and arrival preferences. Once you get to the airport, the app helps you find Clear+ lanes, estimates your walk time to the gate and sends you live updates for your trip.  

In addition to the services offered during the holiday airport rush, Clear recently announced it expects to expand Clear+ e-gates to nearly all airports that offer Clear+ by the end of the year. 

With traditional Clear+, travelers would head to a Clear kiosk for verification, then a Clear agent would bring them to a TSA officer to complete the identity verification process. But e-gates make it even easier: Simply scan your boarding pass, then walk up to an automated gate that scans your face for TSA to verify your identity electronically before you move on to security screening. 

And if the thought of the holiday airport rush is already stressing you out, consider using the Clear app to book Clear Concierge, which will assign you a Clear agent to help you navigate the airport and handle your bags. Arrival service, which is also available, includes meeting travelers at their gate and helping them reach a connecting flight or ground transportation.

Clear Concierge is available at 42 airports in the United States and starts at $99 for departures for up to five people and $179 for arrivals for up to eight people. 

While you have to book the service at least 30 minutes before you’ll need it, time slots fill up, so if you anticipate you’ll want to use Clear Concierge, book as early as possible. 

Either way, you’ll need to download the app to share holiday guest passes and take advantage of the discounts.

How you can get Clear discounts all year

In addition to the holiday promotions mentioned above, some premium travel rewards credit cards also offer reimbursement for Clear+, so consider looking into the travel perks you already have before exploring these holiday discounts. 

Have status on an airline? You may be eligible for a discount on Clear+ as well — check your airline’s app or website. You can even save $10 on a membership just by joining a frequent flier program (Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus and Atmos Rewards, the joint program of Hawaiian and Alaska, all participate).