By Allison Pohle

Clear is deploying new technology that aims to move paying members more quickly through airport lanes.

The identity-verification company is installing biometric "eGates" at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, it said Tuesday, a move meant to speed up the checkpoint experience ahead of major events like the World Cup.

The eGate pilot program is now live in Atlanta with one eGate at the standard screening area, Clear said. Reagan and Seattle-Tacoma will be rolling out the program over the next month.

Here's how it works: Travelers need to have Clear Plus, the company's paid membership program. Passengers scan their boarding passes at the eGate, which uses biometrics to match travelers' faces to their IDs and boarding passes.

Once the verification is complete, the gate opens directly to the Transportation Security Administration screening area where travelers load their bags and go through the body scanner.

The move gets around a longstanding hangup for Clear's service. Up to now, Clear representatives have had to walk travelers up to a TSA officer, who then permits them to continue on to the screening area. "The program works in cooperation with TSA's system to create a seamless and secure checkpoint experience," a Clear spokeswoman said.

TSA maintains operational control over the eGates, which means the agency handles gate access and performs security vetting, Clear said. Clear can't manually open gates, access government watchlists or override any TSA decisions, according to the company.

Clear said it plans to expand eGates across the country in preparation for the World Cup and next year's America250 celebrations. Earlier this month, Clear told investors it will begin accepting members from the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who could then use the service while traveling in the U.S.

Clear Plus membership costs $209 annually for an individual and $125 for each additional family member. The company offers rebates for those who enroll in TSA PreCheck. Many credit cards offer statement credits, which work like rebates, for the cost of the Clear membership.

TSA is also using biometric technology to speed up certain lines. Travelers can use TSA's expedited PreCheck lane, called Touchless ID, at 15 airports across the country, including Atlanta, Seattle-Tacoma and Reagan.

The TSA program is optional and passengers must be flying Alaska, American, Delta or United. When a traveler enters the Touchless ID lane and stands in the designated spot in front of the podium, a camera takes a photo, which then gets compared with a preloaded image to verify the traveler's identity.

Upgrades have come to standard airport screening lanes, too. Travelers can now keep their shoes on. In recent weeks, TSA introduced family screening lanes and dedicated PreCheck lanes for service members and their families.

Write to Allison Pohle at allison.pohle@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 19, 2025 08:00 ET (12:00 GMT)

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