Long airport security lines are time wasters and stress inducers. That’s why paid trusted traveler programs such as TSA PreCheck, Clear Plus and Global Entry, which expedite the checkpoint experience at hundreds of airports are so popular. And why the lesser-known Reserve powered by Clear program offering free checkpoint reservations at 20 airports in North America and Europe is gaining fans.
What is Reserve powered by Clear?
The Reserve powered by Clear program, also referred to as Clear Reserve, is a free virtual cueing program offered at select airports. It’s a fast pass program for passengers without TSA PreCheck or Clear Plus memberships that provides reserved time slots and dedicated lanes for going through security during peak travel times. And, like a restaurant reservation, this TSA spot saver program lets you bypass others waiting in line.
First introduced at Orlando International Airport (MCO) in late 2021, as of February 2024 Clear Reserve is available at 20 airports in North America and Europe. More hub airports are scheduled to join the program soon, according to a CLEAR spokesperson.
How to use the Clear Reserve security checkpoint reservation program
You do not need to pay any fee and you do not need to sign up for any sort of membership to make a security checkpoint reservation using the Clear Reserve program. First, check your departing airport’s website or app, or the Reserve powered by Clear website or app, to see if the Reserve program is available.
Whether your sign up on your airport’s site or the Clear Reserve site, the reservation system will ask you for your flight details, contact information, the number of passengers in your group and the reservation time that works for you within the time-period when slots are offered. Slots may be limited and only available during an airport’s peak travel periods.
Reservations can be made from 3 to 7 days in advance, depending on the airport, but you may also apply for a reservation once you arrive at the airport for your flight. Don’t give up if there are no reservations available. Try again before you leave for the airport and again when you are at the airport, even while you’re standing in a long TSA line. As with restaurant reservations, many people don’t show up and you may score a last-minute slot.
Once you enter your flight and contact information, and if a reservation slot is available, you will receive a confirmation email with a QR code. When you get to the airport, show your QR code at the designated TSA checkpoint lane with a Clear Reserve fast lane. Your Clear Reserve security checkpoint reservation has a 20-minute grace period, so you do not need to show up exactly on time. But keep in mind that if you have made a group reservation, everyone on the reservation needs to show up at the same time.
Clear Reserve cannot be used with TSA PreCheck or Clear Plus. If you have a Clear Reserve reservation, you will join the general TSA line where shoes, electronics and 3-1-1 bag of liquids must be removed from your carry-on bags. However, during peak travel times, TSA PreCheck lines can sometime be excessively long. So, you may get through airport security faster if you pivot and use the app to grab an on-the-spot Clear Reserve slot and do not mind taking off your shoes and taking your electronics and liquids out of your bags.
Which airports offer the Clear Reserve security checkpoint reservation program?
As of February 2024, the Clear Reserve program offers free timed security checkpoint reservations at 20 airports in North America and Europe. Clear plans to add more hub airports soon, so check your departing airport’s website or app for new additions to this increasingly popular free program.
United States
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Canada
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Halifax International Airport (YHZ)
- Montreal-Trudeau international Airport (YUL)
- Toronto International Airport (YYZ)
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Europe
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Hanover Airport (HAJ)
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO)
How to make a checkpoint reservation at participating airports
Here are some of the specific rules, advance reservation windows, slot times, and dedicated lane locations for the airports in the United States currently participating in the Clear Reserve program. Instructions for signing up for security checkpoint reservations at airports in Canada and in Europe can be found on the respective airport websites and on the Clear Reserve site.
| Airport name | Airport code | Checkpoint reservation rules |
|---|---|---|
| Denver International Airport | DEN | Reservations for the DEN Reserve program can be made up to 3 days in advance and once you’re at the airport. Slots are available from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm for security screening at a dedicated lane at the West Security Checkpoint. |
| Los Angeles International Airport | LAX | The LAX Fast Lane program is operated at a dedicated TSA lane at the Terminal 7 checkpoint, which also serves Terminal 8. Reservations can be made up to 3 days in advance and when you are at the airport. Slots are available from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm. |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport | MSP | The MSP Reserve Program is available for passengers with flights leaving from Terminal 2. Reservations can be made up to seven days before your flight or when you arrive at the airport. Slots are available from 3:45 am to 8:00 am and from noon to 4:00 pm. |
| John F. Kennedy International Airport | JFK | JFK T4 Reserve is available in Terminal 4 for reservations up to 72 hours in advance. Appointments slots are available from 5:00 am to 10:00 am and from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. |
| Newark Liberty International Airport | EWR | The reservations in the Newark Reserve program (formerly the EWR VirtuaLine) can be made up to 72 hours before a flight or when you are in the terminal for flight departing from Terminal B, Gates 40 to 47, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. (Certain Alaska and Spirit Airlines flights are not eligible). |
| Orlando International Airport’s (MCO) | MCO | MCO Reserve is available in Terminals A, B and C. Reservations can be made up to 72 hours in advance or when you are in the terminal. Available screening times stretch from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm. |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport | PHX | PHX Reserve is offered at Terminals 3 and 4. Reservations can be made up to six days before a flight and when you are in the terminal. Available appointment times are from 4:00 am to 11:00 am in Terminal 3 and from 5:30 am to 11:00 am in Terminal 4 (Checkpoint D). |
| Seattle Tacoma International Airport | SEA | The reservations for the SEA Spot Saver program up to five days in advance and when you are in the terminal. Slots are available from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. Appointments from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm can be used at designated lanes at checkpoints 2, 3, and 5. If you have an appointment between 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, you’ll enter the terminal via Checkpoint 3. |
Conclusion
For those without paid membership programs such as TSA PreCheck or CLEAR Plus, the free Reserve Powered by Clear program (also known as Clear Reserve) is an excellent tool for bypassing long security lines at participating airports. Having a checkpoint reservation won’t take all the stress out of getting through airport security, but on busy travel days, it will certainly help.
How this guide was created
I am a veteran travel journalist and one of those odd people who really loves spending time in airports, which I consider modern-day crossroads where so much of the drama, drudge, hope and excitement of the journey is on display. This guide draws on knowledge and skills accrued from personal travel, from years of studying airport operations and several eye-opening, official TSA officer training sessions. I use Clear Reserve when the lines for TSA Precheck are too long. It is my secret security weapon.
Disclaimer: Prices and information are correct as of 07.02.2024 and may vary with time.
