Last Updated: April 2026 | Reading Time: 6 minutes | Author: AmazingMiles Editorial Team
Airport security lines remain one of the most frustrating parts of travel, but CLEAR+ offers a way to cut through the crowd using biometric identity verification. The program now operates at 60 U.S. airports, and while it costs $209 per year, a small group of rewards credit cards will cover that fee entirely through annual statement credits. Here is a close look at which cards qualify, what else they bring to the table, and how to figure out whether one belongs in your wallet.
What Is CLEAR+ and How Does It Work?
CLEAR+ uses fingerprint and iris scans to verify your identity at the airport, letting you bypass the standard TSA document check. You still go through the physical screening process, but the identity verification step is handled in a dedicated lane, which can shave meaningful time off the security experience during busy travel periods.
The annual membership is priced at $209. For frequent flyers who regularly pass through CLEAR+-enabled airports, that fee can be easy to justify on its own. But when a credit card you already carry reimburses that cost as a statement credit, the math becomes even simpler.
The 4 Cards That Cover the Full CLEAR+ Membership Fee
Each of the four cards below provides up to $209 per calendar year as a statement credit toward CLEAR+ membership. Enrollment in CLEAR+ is required, and the membership is subject to auto-renewal. Beyond that shared benefit, these cards are quite different from one another in terms of annual fee, earning structure, and overall value proposition.
American Express Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum is the flagship personal travel card in the American Express lineup, and it remains one of the most benefit-rich cards available to U.S. consumers. The CLEAR+ credit is just one of many statement credits built into the card’s value proposition.
The annual fee is $895, which is a meaningful commitment. On the earning side, the card offers 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on airfare booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year), 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The card is best suited to luxury-minded travelers who actively use benefits like lounge access and the card’s various travel credits.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
The Business Platinum mirrors much of the personal Platinum’s travel-focused benefit stack but is designed for business owners and self-employed travelers. It carries the same $895 annual fee.
Earning rates include 5 points per dollar on airfare and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com. The card also offers 2 points per dollar on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, as well as on purchases at U.S. cloud service providers, U.S. construction and hardware suppliers, U.S. electronic goods retailers, U.S. shipping providers, and U.S. software companies, up to $2 million per calendar year. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar. Business travelers who spend heavily in those bonus categories can generate solid returns on top of the card’s travel perks, including the up to $209 CLEAR+ credit.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The Hilton Aspire is the top-tier card in the Hilton co-branded lineup, aimed squarely at travelers who spend frequently at Hilton properties. Its annual fee is $550.
Earning rates are generous within the Hilton ecosystem: 14 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases, 7 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, 7 points per dollar on car rentals with select companies, 7 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), and 3 points per dollar on everything else. The CLEAR+ credit on this card functions more as a travel lifestyle perk layered on top of the core Hilton-focused benefits rather than the central selling point.
American Express Green Card
The Amex Green Card stands out from this group for one straightforward reason: its annual fee is only $150, which is dramatically lower than the other three options. For a traveler who primarily wants a card that effectively offsets the CLEAR+ membership cost while also earning solid rewards on everyday spending, this card deserves a real look.
Earning rates include 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), 3 points per dollar on travel and transit purchases, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The card is lighter on premium perks compared to the Platinum or Business Platinum, but it is a capable earner for travelers who spend regularly on travel and restaurants.
What About Cards That Offer a CLEAR+ Discount Instead?
The four cards above are the only options that cover the full $209 CLEAR+ membership cost. There are other cards that offer a discounted rate rather than a full reimbursement. Delta American Express cards (excluding the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles Blue Amex) and United co-branded Chase cards both reportedly provide reduced pricing on CLEAR+ membership.
It is also worth checking your credit card’s merchant offer portal periodically. Targeted discounts on CLEAR+ have appeared there in the past, so it can be a useful resource if you hold a card that does not include the benefit outright.
Why This Matters for Travelers
At $209 per year, CLEAR+ is not an insignificant expense. For occasional flyers, it may be hard to justify. But for anyone who flies more than a handful of times per year through major hub airports, the time savings during peak travel periods can be genuinely valuable.
When a card you already hold covers that cost through a statement credit, CLEAR+ essentially becomes free. That changes the calculus significantly. The real question becomes whether the card providing the benefit is one you would carry anyway based on its other features.
Consider the Amex Green Card specifically. At a $150 annual fee, if you value the CLEAR+ credit at its full $209 face value, the card is theoretically paying for itself on that benefit alone before you earn a single point. The Platinum and Business Platinum carry much higher fees, but they also come loaded with lounge access and other credits that frequent travelers can use to justify the cost. The Hilton Aspire sits in the middle, offering strong hotel-focused value alongside the CLEAR+ perk.
Travelers should also remember that CLEAR+ and TSA PreCheck serve different functions. PreCheck allows you to use expedited physical screening lanes where you keep shoes on and laptops in bags. CLEAR+ handles the identity verification step. Many frequent flyers hold both, and some cards cover the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment as well, making the combination more accessible than it might initially appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CLEAR+ work everywhere in the U.S.?
CLEAR+ is currently available at 60 U.S. airports. Coverage continues to expand, but it is not yet at every domestic airport. If your home airport or the major hubs you use regularly are on the list, the membership is worth considering.
Do I need to do anything to receive the statement credit?
Enrollment in CLEAR+ is required, and the membership is subject to auto-renewal. You would pay for the membership using your eligible card, and the statement credit should apply automatically. It is worth confirming the terms with your specific card issuer to understand exactly how the credit is triggered.
Is it worth getting one of these cards just for CLEAR+?
Probably not on its own, unless you are looking at the Amex Green Card, where the math is fairly close even before considering other benefits. For the higher-annual-fee cards, the CLEAR+ credit is best viewed as one piece of a broader value calculation that includes lounge access, travel credits, and earning rates.
Can family members also get CLEAR+ through these cards?
The statement credits on these cards are for the primary cardholder’s CLEAR+ membership. CLEAR+ does offer add-on pricing for family members, but that would be a separate expense not covered by the credit described here.
AmazingMiles Verdict
If you are already carrying the Amex Platinum, Business Platinum, or Hilton Aspire for their other benefits, activating the CLEAR+ statement credit is essentially a no-brainer. You are leaving $209 in value on the table each year if you skip it. For travelers who are not yet holding any of these cards, the Amex Green Card deserves serious attention as a lower-cost entry point that still delivers the full CLEAR+ reimbursement alongside competitive earning rates on travel and dining.
The broader takeaway is that CLEAR+ has become a fairly mainstream travel benefit, and the ecosystem of cards supporting it continues to mature. Knowing which cards offer a full credit versus a partial discount lets you build a card strategy that truly fits how you travel. Whether you are a road warrior passing through major hubs weekly or a leisure traveler taking a few trips per year, understanding these distinctions can save you real money while improving your airport experience at the same time.
