The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Clear have revised their earlier decision to increase the number of Clear users required to show valid identification. Initially, in response to security incidents, the TSA had announced that a larger portion of Clear members would need to verify their identity with a valid ID. However, recent reports indicate a shift in this stance, with a reduced percentage of Clear members now undergoing additional identity checks.
Clear, a service that allows travelers to bypass traditional TSA screening processes, typically lets users confirm their identity biometrically through fingerprint or iris scans. Once verified, a Clear representative guides the traveler past the initial TSA line, either to the regular screening or the TSA PreCheck line.
The push for more ID checks among Clear users was reportedly a reaction to security breaches earlier in the year. In one instance, an individual allegedly used a discarded boarding pass to pass through security. According to sources, two such incidents involved travelers who accessed Clear without showing an ID, leading to a congressional investigation into the service.
However, the TSA has since adjusted its stance. While neither Clear nor the TSA provided detailed comments on this change, both confirmed the update. The TSA mentioned that all Registered Traveler participants would eventually need to present either a physical or digital ID to TSA's Credential Authentication Technology (CAT), though the timeline for this implementation remains uncertain.
Tim Jue, an aviation correspondent, highlighted the significance of the initial change, noting that the core benefit of Clear is to bypass the need to show ID at security checkpoints. He emphasized that increased ID checks would diminish the value of Clear for many subscribers.
Clear also mentioned its ongoing collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and TSA since 2020 to establish new digital identity standards. This initiative aims to digitally transmit passenger identification information via next-gen TSA equipment at airport checkpoints, eliminating the need for physical IDs.
For now, travelers aged 18 and above must present valid identification, such as a U.S. passport or a Real ID-compliant driver's license, at TSA checkpoints. The full transition to Real ID is set for May 7, 2025.
