United Airlines is making a strategic investment in a startup that helps you speed through the airport faster.
Chicago-based United announced Monday that it has invested in CLEAR, a biometric identity company that uses fingerprints and iris scans to identify travelers at the airport. United said it plans to offer free or discounted CLEAR memberships for its U.S. MileagePlus members, and it's looking to bring the service to more of its airport hubs, including O'Hare.
The size of United's investment was not disclosed.
CLEAR offers annual memberships for $179, which allow travelers to verify their identity with a biometric scan and jump the line at TSA. CLEAR works at more than 30 airports, and also operates in sports stadiums and other facilities.
The United investment will help CLEAR get into more airports. United said it's bringing CLEAR to its hubs at Newark Liberty International Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport later this summer. It's also working with the City of Chicago to open CLEAR lanes at O'Hare in the coming months.
Founded in 2010, CLEAR's other backers include Revolution Growth, T. Rowe Price Group and Delta. It's raised at least $35 million to date, according to Crunchbase.
An increasingly popular service with business travelers, CLEAR has grown to 3.8 million members, according to the Wall Street Journal. That's up from 2.5 million less than a year ago.
"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, vice president of loyalty and president of MileagePlus at United, said in a statement.
