Travel Better: Here’s How To Streamline Your Airport Experience for FREE

The Best Free Alternatives to CLEAR, TSA PreCheck, and Global Entry – CLEAR Reserve and Mobile Passport Control. Travel hacking isn’t just about free or cheaper travel, I am serious when I say that it also means traveling better and here’s a couple of things that can make the airport and flying experience so much smoother!

When it comes to speeding through airport security and immigration, programs like CLEAR, TSA PreCheck, and Global Entry dominate the conversation. However, you have to pay for these premium services and go through lengthy enrollment processes. Fortunately, there are free alternatives that can offer much of the same convenience without the hefty price tag: CLEAR Reserve and Mobile Passport Control (MPC)!

_{Beautiful tip: check your credit card benefits to see if CLEAR, TSA PreCheck, and Global Entry enrollment fees are waived – this is why I have all three!}

MPC got an honorable mention but didn’t quite make it to the Top Eight MUST HAVE Travel Free Apps I use – find out which ones did here.

What is CLEAR Reserve?

CLEAR Reserve is a free reservation system offered by CLEAR at select airports. Unlike the paid CLEAR membership, which uses biometric scans to move travelers through identity verification faster, CLEAR Reserve allows you to schedule a specific time to access an expedited security lane.

How CLEAR Reserve Works:

• Pre-book a security appointment online at participating airports – here’s where to check which airports have this service and also pre-book
• Note that how far in advance you can book varies by location with time frames ranging from while you’re at the airport to 14 days before scheduled flight.
• You must arrive during your scheduled window to bypass the regular security line.
• You will go through standard TSA/airport screening, but with shorter lines since only those pre-booked via this program can use these specific lines.

Key Benefits:

• No cost to use.
• No need for a CLEAR membership.
• Reduces uncertainty and stress by securing a predictable security time.
• Currently available at major airports like Orlando (MCO), Calgary (YYC), and Newark (EWR), with more airports being added.

Best For:

Travelers without a CLEAR membership who still want a more predictable security experience without extra fees. And for those traveling internationally, there are a few airports in Europe that use CLEAR Reserve and these lines have been fast when I used them (in FRA).

CLEAR Reserve vs. CLEAR Plus (Paid Membership)

Feature	CLEAR Reserve (Free)	CLEAR Plus (Paid, ~$189/year)
Advance Reservation	Yes	Not needed (walk-up anytime)
Biometric Verification	No	Yes
Expedited Identity Verification	No	Yes
Skip Security Line	Yes (only reservation lane)	Yes (dedicated CLEAR lane)
Availability	Limited airports	Broad airport coverage

Bottom Line: If you just want to schedule a security time, CLEAR Reserve is a fantastic free option. But if you want biometric fast-tracking at a wider range of airports, you’ll need a paid CLEAR Plus membership.

What is Mobile Passport Control (MPC)?

Mobile Passport Control is a free app officially authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It allows eligible travelers to submit their passport information and customs declaration electronically before arrival, helping them skip long lines at U.S. immigration checkpoints.

How Mobile Passport Control Works:

• Download the Mobile Passport Control app (available for iOS and Android).
• Complete your profile with your passport details.
• On arrival at a participating airport or cruise port, open the app and submit your trip information.
• Follow dedicated signs to the Mobile Passport lane.
• Show your QR code to the CBP officer for faster processing.

Key Benefits:

• No background check or interview required (unlike Global Entry).
• No application fee.
• Speeds up entry into the United States at over 30 airports and cruise ports.
• Family members traveling together can submit a single entry for the whole group.

Best For:

International travelers looking for a fast, free way to breeze through U.S. customs without committing to the cost or wait time of Global Entry.

Mobile Passport vs. Global Entry

Feature	Mobile Passport (Free)	Global Entry (Paid, $100 for 5 years)
App-Based Submission	Yes	No (uses Global Entry kiosks)
Requires Background Check	No	Yes
Interview Required	No	Yes
Speed of Processing	Fast	Fastest
Cost	Free	$100 (good for 5 years)
Coverage	30+ airports/cruise ports	All major U.S. international airports

Bottom Line: Mobile Passport is ideal if you want a hassle-free, no-commitment option for entering the U.S. If you travel internationally very frequently, however, Global Entry still offers the smoothest overall experience with wider availability.

Beautiful Tip: I have MPC downloaded on my phone and used it once in ORD when landing – the line for Global Entry would have taken 20 minutes or so but it was only 10 minutes with MPC.

EXTRA INFO: SECURITY @ DEN

Here’s some specific info for my home airport base

DEN RESERVE

Denver International Airport is no longer showing on the CLEAR Reserve website but DEN does have a free program called DEN RESERVE: for all the details and to pre-book, here’s the website

Airport Security Wait Times

Check out the wait times if you didn’t take my advice and use DEN Reserve – https://www.flydenver.com/security/

Pro Travel Tip: Combine Both for Maximum Efficiency

You can use CLEAR Reserve for smoother security screening and Mobile Passport Control for faster customs processing — all without paying a dime! It’s an excellent combo for occasional travelers who don’t want the added costs and complications of CLEAR Plus, TSA PreCheck, or Global Entry.

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Final Thoughts

Traveling doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. With CLEAR Reserve and Mobile Passport Control, you can skip lines and reduce wait times without committing to expensive memberships or tedious applications. As more airports adopt these systems, free fast-track travel is becoming more accessible than ever.