Delta’s top-tier Diamond Medallion status comes with a number of key benefits. One of those benefits has long been a complimentary CLEAR+ membership. For new memberships and renewals from 6/1/26 onward, that membership will now be charged at the reduced rate of $129 per year — it will no longer be complimentary.
Diamond Medallion is the top published tier of Delta’s elite program. Those who have had Delta Diamond for years may have become accustomed to complimentary CLEAR+ membership, clearing the way for a shorter security screening wait at many airports.
However, from 6/1/26 onward, Delta Diamond members will need to pay $129 per year to enroll in or keep CLEAR+. Delta’s invitation-only 360 tier will retain a complimentary CLEAR+ membership.
If your membership has recently renewed or renews prior to 6/1/26, you’ll keep the complimentary membership through the end of your current membership year, but you’ll be on the hook for the discounted rate of $129 at next renewal after 6/1/26 (membership otherwise costs $209 per year).
CLEAR+ is pretty good about emailing renewal notices in advance, so you should be made aware well before a fee is charged. Thankfully, a number of Amex cards offer reimbursements for CLEAR+ membership. If you’ve got a card associated with your CLEAR account that offers reimbursement, this will probably be a non-event for you. If you don’t, you may want to consider using our Best Offers page to seek out a card that offers reimbursement for CLEAR+ membership before your next renewal date.
H/T: Upgraded Points
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Finally trying to monetize their equity interest a bit more. Too bad it’s a barely useful service (and that’s charitable) with terrible customer support. Wasn’t using it and even with the Amex Plat credit just thought it was silly. Cancelled it and they said my service was still good through December 2026. Then a month later they said it was inactive. Complained out of principle (even sent a screen shot of the expiration date they told me – I take screenshots of most online transactions out of habit) and the customer service folks told me to go pound sand. Ironically the next month I get an email from them offering me a free 3 months to come back. Not how this works, folks.
Other than Delta and United having equity interests, there’s really just no need for this service in an age of TSA Pre Touchless ID (yes it helped some people during the shutdown, but the idea that we need a service because of the threat of a government shutdown is not the makings of a great business model). Half the time it takes longer than the TSA Pre line. Pay for if you want it I suppose, but we all know that if the Amex Plat credit went away, most would not actually pay real money for this.
I bet I’m the reason why. They charged my AmEx a month ago for renewal. At the time I never authorized it. I never received any notice of the charge. All the marketing materials on the Clear and Delta websites said it was free for diamonds. I filed an AmEx dispute and supplied documentation. I’m awaiting a determination by AmEx.