San Diego International Airport has become the latest U.S. airport where CLEAR+ members can use biometric eGates to move past the identity-check podium and go directly to physical screening, a small local change that points to a broader shift in how American airports are preparing for heavier travel volumes.
The new eGates are operating in Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport, according to local reporting and the airport's own security information page. For eligible CLEAR+ travelers, the process uses facial biometric verification tied to an identity document and boarding pass before the passenger proceeds to the regular TSA screening process.
The launch matters beyond San Diego because airport security is becoming a major pressure point for the U.S. travel market in 2026. Airlines, airports and travel sellers are already planning around a crowded summer that includes FIFA World Cup matches across North America, the United States' 250th anniversary events and normal peak-season leisure demand.
What changed at San Diego airport
At San Diego International Airport, CLEAR+ is listed as available at Terminal 2 East from 4:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. The airport says the service lets members skip the ID check and move directly to physical screening, while also noting that CLEAR+ requires a paid membership and can be used alongside TSA PreCheck.
Axios reported on June 11 that CLEAR and TSA opened biometric eGates at the airport's Terminal 2. The gates verify a traveler in real time by matching the person's face with the traveler's ID and boarding pass. CLEAR says the process can take under five seconds, although actual time savings for any passenger will still depend on the terminal, the checkpoint, airline cutoffs and the regular screening line after identity verification.
That distinction is important for travelers. eGates do not eliminate TSA security screening. They automate the identity-verification step for eligible CLEAR+ users before bags and passengers go through normal screening.
Why this is a U.S. travel-market story
The eGate expansion is part of a public-private push that began with initial deployments at major airports including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. CLEAR's original announcement described the program as a way to modernize checkpoints before the 2026 World Cup, America 250 celebrations and continued growth in domestic air travel.
For the travel industry, the practical issue is throughput. Airport security delays can ripple through an entire trip: missed connections, lost hotel nights, tighter cruise embarkation windows, late tours and more expensive rebooking decisions. Even modest improvements at the identity-check stage can matter at high-volume airports if they reduce bottlenecks during morning banks, holiday weekends and event-driven surges.
The change also gives travel advisors and frequent flyers another planning variable. A traveler flying from San Diego may have a different checkpoint experience than someone departing from a smaller airport with no CLEAR lanes, while a connecting itinerary through a major hub may involve different security tools on each leg of a trip.
What travelers should know before relying on eGates
The new technology is useful, but it is not a universal shortcut. Travelers should understand several limits before building tight airport plans around it:
- It is for CLEAR+ members. CLEAR lists the standard CLEAR+ price at $209 per year, and airport availability varies by location and checkpoint.
- It does not replace TSA screening. The eGate handles identity verification, after which travelers still proceed to the physical screening process.
- It works best when paired with TSA PreCheck. San Diego Airport notes that CLEAR+ works alongside TSA PreCheck for the fastest experience, but travelers still need the correct PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass.
- Families may need extra planning. CLEAR says minors traveling with members cannot use eGates today, although they may still be able to use the CLEAR+ lane under program rules.
- Biometric use is optional within CLEAR's system. CLEAR says members who do not want to use an eGate can continue with other CLEAR verification options where available.
Privacy and control remain part of the story
Biometric airport screening continues to raise questions for travelers who want faster checkpoints but are cautious about facial verification. CLEAR says eGates use facial biometrics to verify that the traveler matches the account and travel document, and the company says members remain in control of their information.
CLEAR's public materials also say TSA retains operational control over security decisions. In its 2025 announcement, CLEAR said TSA controls gate access, security vetting and enforcement of government security requirements, while CLEAR does not access government watchlists, override TSA gate decisions or manually open the gates.
For travelers, the practical takeaway is to treat biometric screening as an opt-in convenience rather than a replacement for normal airport preparation. A paid expedited identity lane can reduce one source of friction, but it does not remove the need to arrive early, monitor flight status and comply with TSA rules.
How this affects summer travel planning
The San Diego launch arrives as U.S. airports are trying to absorb a summer in which normal vacation demand overlaps with large sports and civic events. Travelers departing from or connecting through cities with eGates should check the specific terminal and operating hours before assuming the service will be available for an early-morning, late-night or alternate-terminal flight.
For San Diego travelers, the most useful pre-trip steps are straightforward: confirm the departure terminal, check current flight information through the San Diego Airport flight board, make sure TSA PreCheck is printed on the boarding pass if applicable, and avoid booking ground transportation so tightly that a security or bag-check delay creates a missed flight risk.
Travelers using other early eGate markets can take a similar approach. Odyssey's airport guides for Atlanta, Washington Reagan National, Seattle-Tacoma, Oakland and San Jose can help compare airport layouts and flight-planning basics before departure.
The larger message is that U.S. airport security is becoming more segmented. Travelers increasingly face a choice among standard screening, TSA PreCheck, CLEAR+, biometric eGates and airport-specific reservation or priority systems. For frequent flyers, that may mean shorter and more predictable checkpoint routines. For occasional travelers, it makes pre-trip research more important than ever.