United invests in Clear for free and discounted memberships and more biometric checks

United Airlines is the latest airline to partner with Clear, making a strategic equity investment to support the biometrics company’s growth, in return for free or discounted Clear memberships for Mileage Plus members in the U.S. Clear technology will also be deployed to the airline’s hubs at Newark Liberty International Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport later this summer.

Clear already operates at United’s Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles hubs, and the airline will support Clear’s collaboration with the City of Chicago to open lanes at Chicago O’Hare in the near future.

“Our new partnership with CLEAR is another proof point of how we are always looking to improve traveling with United, in this case by making the airport experience more convenient for customers,” says Luc Bondar, vice president of loyalty and president of MileagePlus at United. “CLEAR’s secure and seamless biometric security option creates an expedited travel experience that many of our frequent flyers already use and love. We’re excited to partner with CLEAR to expand their presence at our hub airports and to provide all MileagePlus members with either free or deeply discounted memberships.”

Clear memberships will be offered free to members of United’s Global Services and Premier 1K clubs, and other members are entitled to a $60 or $70 discount off the usual $179 annual retail price.

“It is an incredibly exciting time in the travel industry and we’re thrilled to partner with United to deliver easier and more predictable experiences from curb-to-gate and beyond,” states CLEAR’s Chairman and CEO Caryn Seidman Becker,. “Our shared focus on the customer experience will enable us to reduce friction at every touchpoint and help travelers enjoy more of what they love.”

Clear announced a deployment of its biometric security lanes at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) earlier in July.

Article Topics

airports  |  biometrics  |  CLEAR  |  fingerprint authentication  |  identity verification  |  iris recognition  |  passenger processing