If navigating the airport gives you a headache and you wish you had a personal escort who took care of you along the way then CLEAR’s latest offering may be of interest.
CLEAR recently launched an Ambassador Assist service “to ensure your travel experience is seamless and stress-free,” according to its website. The service provides a guide who will meet passengers at the curb, help with any luggage and then lead them through the CLEAR Plus lane at security in an option called Curb-to-CLEAR for $49. You can even be escorted past security and all the way to the gate in the other option known as Curb-to-Gate for $149.
“With Ambassador Assist, we’re further personalizing the travel journey to create the most seamless CLEAR Plus experience yet,” Kyle McLaughlin, CLEAR’s EVP of aviation, said in a statement to USA TODAY. “With the curb-to-gate service, members are guided through the airport every step of the way, adding yet another benefit to ensure their day of travel is even more predictable and frictionless.”
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It’s open to passengers on any airlines as long and must be booked 10 hours in advance of their flight.
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As of Tuesday, the service is only available at three airports, having first launched at Denver International Airport in September and expanding to Washington Dulles International Airport last Thursday. It’s also currently offering free bookings for a limited time ahead of its official start at Orlando International Airport later this month.
The service will rollout to the majority of the 58 airports in the CLEAR network throughout next year, a CLEAR spokesperson told USA TODAY.
Passengers over 18 must be CLEAR Plus members to book the service, which has an annual membership fee of $199 and uses eye or fingerprint scans for quick identity verification at airport security checkpoints. TSA PreCheck is not required and kids under 17 can join for free. If some members of your party don’t have TSA PreCheck, the ambassador will share options to keep everyone together.
The ambassador will coordinate a meeting time and place upon your arrival at the airport via text message. “They’ll try to meet you where you’ll be arriving to help you along the fastest way through the airport,” the website states.
Ambassadors will also assist with checking in any luggage with the airline, according to the website. Once through security, they will drop you off at a lounge if you have access, restaurant or gate in addition to locating food or restrooms and waiting for you during quick stops. However, they won’t babysit your kids or watch your pets. Those reserved wheelchair services with their airline will also get assistance by the ambassador.
If your flight is delayed, you can adjust your booking within 12 hours.
Passengers can book the CLEAR Ambassador Assist online.