Clear, the system allowing people to pass through airport security faster at many US airports, is testing a new program to pay hard cash for referrals plus offering a new "gift card" option for those who want to give Clear passes to others. If you have a Clear referral code, you can earn the cash as well as buy gift cards at a cheaper price, $40 off.
Both moves seem to be in response to Clear upping the annual price on October 15 from $128 to $199 per year. That was quite a hike, and even more so when you consider it used to be $99 until sometime earlier this year.
I suspect some people are finding the $199 cost too pricey, so Clear is pushing on the promotions to make up for lost sales. Just pure speculation.
I've added years to the expiration of my Clear card, through Clear's "Refer-A-Friend" referrals, since the program was launched last year. If you're signing up, when you get to part 3 where you pick your membership term, you'll see a box that says:
Refer-A-Friend/Discount/Gift/Corporate Code If you have a code, please enter it here.
Here's my code. Use this, and you'll get a free month. And hey, I'll get a free month, as well!
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Today, I got an email telling me this:
We have selected a small group of members who took advantage of Clear's Refer-A-Friend program to test a new promotion that we want to launch. You are one of those lucky members! Between now and December 17, we'll send you a check for $20 for each friend you refer. You know the rules as well as we do; your friend just has to enter your Refer-A-Friend code when he or she enrolls online, and must complete in-person enrollment before we can send you a check for $20 to the address we have listed on your Clear account. Just as with the regular Refer-A-Friend program, there is no limit on how many people you can refer before December 17 - or, to put it another way, no cap on the amount of money you'll receive from us for all the friends you've referred. We think this is a great way to reward those members who have gone above and beyond the rest in spreading the word about Clear, while making it worthwhile for you to continue helping us grow our membership base nationwide.
It's unclear (no pun intended) whether those in this pilot program get an extra month, a $20 check or both. Hey, I'll hope for both. But the main point is that I suspect the current Refer-A-Friend program may change to a cash bounty basis.
That's kind of a bummer. I like the current "everyone wins" system. But for those generating lots of referrals, eventually getting extra months isn't that useful. What happens when your card will last longer than you live?
Anyway, I recommend that anyone in Clear sign-up for the Refer-A-Friend program. It's easy to do, doesn't cost you anything and now comes with an added benefit -- gift card discounts.
The gift cards let you buy a Clear membership for someone else at the regular $199 price. But if you have a referral code, you get them for $159, according to another email I got today:
You have a Clear card, but do your friends and family? Now that the busy travel season has arrived, membership in Clear has never been more valuable. Until December 15, you have the exclusive option to give Clear for only $159 - $40 less than the current rate of $199. Just enter your code in the "Discount Code" field at checkout to take advantage of this special offer.
This probably makes more sense for some families to use in some cases than the "Family Plan" prices. Those work out like this:
- 2 family members, $329 ($165 each)
- 3 family members, $459 ($153 each)
- 4 family members, $589 ($147 each)
- 5 family members, $719 ($144 each)
Here's the thing. If one family member already has a membership and later decides to have another family member join, there's no "1 additional family member" price. So the $159 gift card is a good deal. And if you wanted to add two family members, buying two gift card is still cheaper than the 2 family member price, which works out to $165 each. Keep in mind that kids under 12 with you get to use Clear even if they don't have a card -- you don't need memberships for them.
How about purchasing multiple years when you sign up? That works like this:
- 1 Year: $199
- 2 Years: $358 ($179 per year)
- 3 Years: $497 ($165 per year)
- 5 Years: $695 ($139 per year)
- 10 Years: $1,190 ($119 per year)
I suspect just doing one year actually works out cheaper for those looking to save money over the short term. Right now, anyone with a current pass can renew for $159 through Dec. 15. That's a little cheaper than buying the two year pass. If you could apply and get processed in time to quickly go in an renew, you'd save $20. Still, processing might take longer than that. But still again, I suspect the renewal discount will be extended or some other member offer will be put out. Just don't hold me to it!
The main issue to me about a 3 year or longer period is that Clear itself isn't guaranteed to exist that long. So far, they seem to be expanding and doing well. They probably will be around for 3-5 years. But in 10 years, who knows how airport security is going to change -- and $1,190 is a lot to gamble on that.
Meanwhile, how's Clear going? For me, pretty well! I do much more domestic travel than in the past, and it usually saves me time -- sometime a considerable amount. San Jose, some terminals at JFK, Oakland -- it's great to have someone pick up your stuff, whisk you right to the front of the line, and zoom -- you're through. When there's no Clear line, I really miss it (JFK Terminal 5, I'm like "Do you have Clear?" and no one knew what I was talking about).
You still have to have both a photo ID and your Clear card, which is stupid. I mean, as I wrote in Passport Fast Track: UK's IRIS Easily Beats US's Clear, with Britain's (Free!) system, all you need are your eyes. No card is required. Still, the system seems to process me much faster than when I wrote my Using CLEAR To Clear Airport Security -- This Is Efficient? post last year. Plop my finger down, in a few seconds, all's good. And new Clear cards (promised in January) that will have your picture on them are still promised to be coming, which you can also use as a photo ID with the TSA. That'll be nice, not having to fiddle with both a driver's license and a Clear card.
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