Global Entry, Clear or TSA Pre-Check?
- gabtravelsthere
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Are they even worth it?
Typically, if you travel once or twice a year you have one or both of these programs in your back pocket; aimed to simplify the airport screening process. In theory it should get you through airport security and customs quicker than “everybody else”. But if everyone has at least one of these options on their boarding pass, does it really make a difference?
Something to note is that certain credit cards across all the bank ecosystems reimburse the fee if you decided to apply for either global entry or TSA pre-check.
Let’s briefly analyze each program and see which one may be the right fit for you:
Global Entry
Fee: $120
Term: 5 Years
Interview: needed for approval along with photo, fingerprints and interview questions
Appointments: Local Airport (116 Locations)
Exceptions: Applicants under the age of 18 are exempt from the fee if a parent or legal guardian is already a member (since Oct. 2024)
Perks: Global Entry come with TSA Pre Check, and will show on your boarding pass when you enter the “known traveler number” (KTN) on your passenger information before you check-in.
This program is aimed to expedite U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing upon arrival to the USA.
Pros:
- expedited customs entry,
- comes with TSA pre-check,
- reduced wait times, for security and border patrol
- interview can be completed on arrival back to the US
- certain credit cards can reimburse the fee (once per 5 years)
Cons:
- Only 116 Enrollment offices, by appointment
- More stringent approval
- Time from application to approval can take considerable time
- Appointment availability
TSA Pre-Check
Fee: $77.95
Term: 5 Years
Interview: needed for approval (500+ Enrollment Centers)
Perk: Shoes, belts, light jackets and liquids stay in your bag (subject to each airport)
This service is aimed to simplify the screening process with an expedited wait time of less than 10 minutes to get through security and on to your boarding gate.
Pros:
- Faster screening through security
- You get to keep your shoes on
- More convenient
- Certain credit cards reimburse the fee
Con:
- For US Travel Only
- Limited number of participating airports (200+ participating locations),
- You still may have to wait during peak travel times
Clear
This is a newer program that uses biometric data, allowing passengers to skip ID checks at security check points. This program is only slightly quicker than TSA Pre-Check and isn’t available at all airports.
Fee: $199 Annually
Interview: Not required
Pros:
- Avis Preferred Plus (rental card upgrade)
- $40 Discount as an Elite member of United or Delta
- Bypass the ID check portion of the airport screening
- Skip TSA Precheck folks for the ID check portion
- Stadium entry
Cons:
- No Expedited Security Screening
- Expensive
- Only available at 67 locations; including stadiums
Any of these programs are worth considering if you don’t like the stresses of airport life or travel frequently throughout the year. Personally, we chose to acquire the Global Entry program and have enjoyed its perk since about 2015. TSA Pre-Check has helped us in some cases like when we landed late due to an aircraft delay in Chicago. We were able to get expedited through security and make it to our connecting flight that had us running through the airport. The Global Entry program has also proved beneficial when we have had a long day of flying and just wanted to get home at Bush Intercontinental Airport. We were able to skip a very long line of re-entry by visiting the kiosk and continuing on outside to our ride home.
Now that we travel with young kiddos this is also a beneficial perk to us. Either way I think it does help to some degree and now that we get reimbursed for the fees it makes it an even easier choice to renew it.
Travel On!
Gabby