How to Skip the TSA Security Lines for Free
Sunday, September 28, 2025
At a few airports around the country, there are free programs that let you skip ahead in the security lines.
We all know about CLEAR, which costs $209 a year, but did you know they offered a free program called Reserve powered by CLEAR?
For example, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has the SEA Spot Saver program. It allows you to skip the security line if you pre-register and it’s completely free. You just find your flight (airline, destination, flight number), pick a checkpoint and a time. Then, when it’s time to go through security, head to the checkpoint and look for the SEA Spot Saver queue.
A few years ago, the program was available at nearly a dozen airports in the U.S. It’s since slipped a little bit, as I couldn’t find details of the Newark Airport program or the Houston Airport program, but still available at a few other airports.
Look below to see if your airport still has a program:
If you have TSA PreCheck, the free scheduling is for general screening. In my research, I discovered that you lose all the benefits of TSA PreCheck if you go this route. So, you’ll have to take off your shoes, belts, jacket, remove laptops, liquids, etc.
There is no downside to making a reservation and not showing up. When you make a reservation, you get a QR code that you can scan to enter the faster queue. If you opt not to use it and enter the CLEAR or TSA PreCheck line, your reservation just expires.
So you can reserve a spot, get to the airport and then decide whether you want to use it.
The program at LAX is called LAX Fast Lane and is currently a pilot program. When you get the airport, look for the LAX Fast Lane marked lanes and speed through!
Denver offers DEN Reserve, which is a free program operated by CLEAR.
MSP travelers can use MSP Reserve, which is a free program operated by CLEAR. When you go the MSP Reserve page, you have to toggle the drop down under the image – it says MCO Reserve. From there you can access the link to set up your reservation.
Orlando offers MCO Reserve, which is a free program operated by CLEAR.
At JFK’s Terminal 4, passengers can use JFK T4 Reserve. It’s a free program operated by CLEAR.
PHX offers PHX Reserve, a free reservation program operated by CLEAR>
If you research the Reserve powered by Clear program, you’ll see a lot of other sources list Newark. When I asked CLEAR’s chatbot/digital ambassador, it did not list Newark on its list of participant airports. If you try to look for a page on Newark’s website, you will not be able to find it. I suspect it’s gone from Newark.
As we mentioned at the top, Seattle offers the SEA Spot Saver program, which lets travelers reserve a free timed entry slot at general security checkpoints. Available daily from early morning until evening.
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