united airlines

United Airlines to Expand Biometric Screenings Through CLEAR Partnership

The partnership between the airline and the security company will also offer discounted and free CLEAR memberships to United rewards members.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Aug 01, 2019

United Airlines will partner with the biometrics security company CLEAR to bring more retina and fingerprint-screening facilities to airports across the U.S., the airline announced Monday.

Biometric screening will be available at United’s hubs in Newark and Houston this summer, with plans to expand the service to Chicago’s O’Hare airport in coming months. CLEAR is already operating at United’s hubs in Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington Dulles.

The partnership will offer free or discounted CLEAR membership pricing to United’s MileagePlus members, allowing those who enroll to use eye and fingerprint recognition to bypass the document check portion of the airport security screening process in a line solely for CLEAR members. From there, members continue through the TSA’s screening process.

"CLEAR's secure and seamless biometric security option creates an expedited travel experience that many of our frequent flyers already use and love,” Luc Bondar, the vice president of loyalty and president of MileagePlus at United, said in a statement. “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."

The program is already available at more than 30 airports and is also used by Major League Baseball for entry at games and Hertz for picking up rental cars, according to Fox Business. United’s competitor, Delta, is also partnered with CLEAR.

Passengers seeking to sign up for CLEAR must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents over the age of 18. The company says that it stores members’ biometric information and does not share it with a third party, using safeguards to protect its systems, Fox Business reported.

For non-rewards members, CLEAR will cost $179 per year through United. The program will be discounted to $119 for MileagePlus members, $109 for U.S. United credit card holders or Premier members, or no extra cost for Premier 1K members.

"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," Caryn Seidman Becker, CLEAR's chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "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."

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Ransomware Attacks Rise for the First Time in Six Months

    Ransomware attacks have risen for the first time in six months, increasing by 28% month-on-month to 421 attacks. While overall attack volume remained below 500, the uptick may signal a renewed escalation heading into the year’s most active period for cyber criminals. Read Now

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.