The Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Complimentary $189 CLEAR Plus Credit [2023]

Travel rewards credit cards that offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit have become relatively commonplace in the world of points and miles. The Platinum Card^® from American Express, which seeks to stand out from its competitors as the most premium travel and lifestyle card, has a unique credit for travelers — complimentary CLEAR access.

You may be wondering, though, “What exactly is CLEAR, and how useful it is?” This guide will answer all of your questions and more, including how you use your Amex Platinum card to get signed up.

With that, let’s jump in!

Overview of the Amex Platinum Card

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Key Benefits of Amex Platinum Card

As mentioned, the Amex Platinum card is regarded as one of the best rewards cards on the market — and for good reason. Put simply, the card is jam-packed with perks and benefits that offer a lot of value to cardholders.

For starters, the card offers a bevy of statement credits and benefits that offset its annual fee. Plus, frequent travelers will love that the card is best in class when it comes to airport lounge access, gaining you entry to over 1,400+ airport lounges worldwide. This is in addition to complimentary elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and multiple rental car programs upon enrollment.

Further, the Amex Platinum card offers great travel and purchase protections, access to American Express transfer partners, and access to the very best Amex Offers to help you save cash and earn more points.

Hot Tip: A statement credit for an annual complimentary CLEAR Plus membership is also a benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express.

What Is CLEAR?

CLEAR is a program that utilizes biometrics to provide a faster security experience at various airports and stadiums throughout the U.S. This is done through accelerated screening for members, often just needing to scan your eye and then your boarding pass when going through airport security lines.

After performing your CLEAR scans, which usually takes less than 2 minutes, you’ll be led right to the front of the security line by one of the CLEAR staff members.

How the CLEAR Plus Statement Credit Works

CLEAR sounds like a welcome benefit for frequent travelers, right? After all, who doesn’t want an expedited security experience? Previously, the cost of an annual CLEAR Plus membership would set you back $189, or $15.75 per month. Now, an annual CLEAR Plus membership is complimentary for Amex Platinum card and Amex Business Platinum cardholders.

However, you can’t simply flash your card at a CLEAR checkpoint, you’ll need to enroll first. With that, here is how you can get signed up to start taking advantage of CLEAR.

Step 1: Log in to your account on the American Express website, then click on the Rewards & Benefits tab.

Step 2: On the next page, click on Benefits on the top right navigation panel.

Step 3: Once on the benefits page, scroll down until you see the CLEAR Plus benefit listed. Then select Apply Now.

Step 4: Afterwards, you’ll be directed to the CLEAR homepage where you’ll want to select GET CLEAR from the top right navigation bar or middle of the screen.

Step 5: This will prompt you to enter your account details, including your name, email address, zip code, and date of birth.

Step 6: Finally, you’ll confirm that you’re getting the annual standard membership, enter your payment details (make certain you use your Amex Platinum card or Amex Business Platinum card as your payment method), agree to the terms and conditions, and click GET CLEAR.

Once you’ve done that, you’re all set! The $189 fee should be charged to your card, but you’ll receive the statement credit within 2 to 4 weeks, though it often posts much quicker than that.

From there, you’re free to start using CLEAR at all available locations, though keep in mind that on your first visit to a CLEAR station you will need to finalize your account setup by scanning your eyes and fingertips — but afterward, you’ll be able to breeze right through!

Where Is CLEAR Available?

Our map above details every airport that offers a CLEAR checkpoint. Keep in mind that there are also quite a few stadiums that offer CLEAR access as well, which you can view in our complete guide to CLEAR.

Do I Need CLEAR if I Have TSA PreCheck?

If you’re an Amex Platinum card or Amex Business Platinum cardholder, you likely already have TSA PreCheck, so you might be wondering, “Why do I need CLEAR if I already have PreCheck?” Well, these are actually 2 very different services!

TSA PreCheck gets you expedited security screening so that you can keep your laptop and liquids in your bag, keep your shoes on, and of course, the lines are much shorter than standard security.

However, with TSA PreCheck, you still have to wait in line in order for your identity to be verified. This is where CLEAR Plus comes in handy.

With CLEAR Plus, your identity is verified in a matter of seconds, and you’re then escorted by a CLEAR team member directly to the front of the TSA PreCheck line. Given that, there is no faster way to get through airport security than a combination of both CLEAR and TSA PreCheck.

Also, consider that at very busy airports the TSA PreCheck line can be quite long, and at other airports, they might not have the TSA PreCheck line open at all. In both cases, having CLEAR Plus (assuming it is offered at the airport) gives you another way to get yourself through security much faster.

Final Thoughts

Adding an annual CLEAR Plus membership to both versions of the Amex Platinum card was a great way to differentiate the card from other premium rewards cards, and deliver more value to cardholders.

As you can see, a CLEAR Plus membership is a welcome addition to those who value an expedited security experience at both airports and stadiums, and combined there are over 50 locations where you can use your CLEAR benefits.

The information regarding the Centurion^® Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Green Card, click here.