Save Time at Security: 4 Cards That Cover Clear+

As Clear+ expands across major U.S. airports and nudges its annual fee higher, a small group of premium credit cards is quietly turning the paid fast-track service into a free time saver for frequent travelers.

Clear+ Costs More, but Card Perks Are Keeping Pace

Clear+ uses biometric identity verification to move members to the front of airport security queues, pairing with Transportation Security Administration checkpoints to shorten wait times. Publicly available pricing information shows that standard Clear+ membership now typically runs just over two hundred dollars per year for individual travelers, not including any airline or partner discounts.

At the same time, card issuers have been layering richer travel benefits onto their premium products to compete for high-spending customers. Recent card benefit guides and issuer disclosures indicate that several cards now reimburse Clear+ fees up to a preset cap each calendar year, effectively erasing the cost of membership when travelers enroll and pay with an eligible account.

For frequent flyers frustrated by unpredictable security lines, these statement credits can change the math. Instead of debating whether Clear+ alone justifies its fee, travelers can treat the service as an included benefit of a card they may already carry for lounge access, travel protections or rewards.

American Express Platinum: Flagship Coverage Up to the Full Fee

The Platinum Card from American Express has long been associated with airport perks, and Clear+ access has become a central part of that package. Recent program terms and travel benefit pages show that eligible Platinum cardholders can receive up to two hundred nine dollars in statement credits per calendar year after they pay for Clear+ with the card, aligning the cap with the prevailing retail price of an individual membership.

The structure is straightforward. Cardmembers enroll in Clear+, charge the membership fee to an eligible Platinum account and then receive one or more statement credits automatically, typically within several weeks. If Clear+ pricing changes or partial refunds occur, issuer documentation notes that credits can be adjusted or reversed so that the total benefit does not exceed the annual cap.

Because the credit resets each calendar year, travelers who keep both the card and their Clear+ subscription active on auto-renew can see their membership effectively covered on an ongoing basis. For frequent flyers who already value the Platinum card for lounge access, airline and hotel credits, and strong travel protections, Clear+ reimbursement has become another lever that can offset the card’s substantial annual fee.

American Express Green: A Lower-Fee Path to Complimentary Clear+

The American Express Green Card has quietly evolved into a travel-focused product, and Clear+ now features prominently among its benefits. Guidance from issuer and comparison sites indicates that the Green Card offers an annual Clear+ statement credit up to the full cost of membership, using the same pay-then-reimburse model seen on the Platinum card but attached to a lower annual fee product.

This positioning makes the Green Card an appealing choice for travelers who value expedited security but do not need the broad suite of lounge and luxury benefits found on more expensive premium cards. By pairing a moderate annual fee with a Clear+ credit that can match or exceed that fee, the card effectively turns fast-track security access into a primary value driver.

For occasional international travelers, the Green Card’s Clear+ benefit can also complement other security programs. Some competing cards focus on reimbursing Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment only once every four to five years, whereas the Green Card’s Clear+ credit refreshes annually, allowing users to maintain both biometric and government-run programs without repeated out-of-pocket costs for Clear+.

Hilton Honors Aspire and Co-Branded Options With Clear+ Credits

Co-branded travel cards have also begun to incorporate Clear+ support. Public benefit tables reviewed by financial media show that the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express provides an annual Clear+ statement credit of up to approximately two hundred nine dollars, mirroring the caps seen on Amex’s own premium travel cards.

For Hilton loyalists who already rely on the Aspire card for top-tier hotel status, resort credits and airline benefits, the Clear+ reimbursement further concentrates travel perks in a single wallet slot. The card’s annual fee is high, but Clear+ coverage helps offset that expense for cardholders who regularly pass through participating airports.

Other airline co-branded cards, particularly those tied to major U.S. carriers that partner with Clear+, have taken a slightly different approach. Rather than fully reimbursing Clear+ for all cardholders, many of these products offer discounted Clear+ pricing or reduced renewal rates for members of the airline’s loyalty program. While those discounts can be meaningful, they generally do not function as automatic, unlimited statement credits and therefore may not bring the net cost to zero in the way that certain premium cards do.

Centurion and Other Niche Cards Extend Clear+ to Frequent Flyers

At the very top of the market, a small set of invite-only or ultra-premium cards provide even more expansive Clear+ coverage. Public descriptions of these products suggest that some offer higher annual Clear+ credits that can accommodate multiple memberships or combined Clear and TSA PreCheck packages, positioning biometric fast-track access as an integral feature for their frequently traveling clientele.

Because these cards typically carry substantial annual fees and strict eligibility requirements, they are not realistic options for most travelers. Nevertheless, their benefit structures underline how closely issuers are tying Clear+ to the broader value proposition of premium plastic. For the narrow audience that qualifies, Clear+ coverage is simply assumed as part of a comprehensive travel toolkit.

For the wider flying public, the more accessible opportunity lies with four core products that now commonly cover most or all of a standard Clear+ membership: the American Express Platinum Card, the American Express Green Card, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card and select ultra-premium offerings such as Centurion. For travelers willing to align their spending with one of these cards, Clear+ can shift from a discretionary add-on to a standard, fully reimbursed part of the airport experience.