Clear introduced the new eGates system in August, at which time CEO Caryn Seidman Becker said in a statement: “The U.S. should be leading on security, hospitality, and the travel experience.” She went on to say: “This partnership with TSA is a powerful example of how public and private sectors can work together to enhance security and improve the aviation ecosystem.”
The new eGates system conducts real-time biometric verification controlled by the TSA. It triggers gate access, conducts security vetting, and enforces government security requirements. Clear’s August statement noted that the system uses limited data and has no access to watchlists, and cannot override TSA gate decisions, nor manually open gates. eGates matches passengers’ face scans with their IDs and boarding passes to “modernize and streamline” airport security screenings, according to Clear.
The new program will launch at five main U.S. airports including: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), John. F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C. (DCA), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Clear hopes to expand the system to more airports ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which is expected to bring millions of sports spectators to the country. Next year is also the 250th anniversary of the U.S.’s founding, which is also expected to ramp up domestic travel.
Clear is not accessible to all travelers. A Clear+ subscription, which will allow access to eGates, costs $209 per year. Despite this, T&L reports frequent flyers might be able to access a discounted membership via credit card or airline loyalty programs.
Clear members are currently required to have their identity checked twice when entering security. First to provide a fingerprint, eye or facial scans to verify their identity, and a second screening with TSA officers before continuing to their flight. The new eGate will instead verify the passenger’s identity for the entire security process and allow them to go directly to the conveyor belt for baggage screening, streamlining the process.
