Do you find the airport security screening process your least favorite part about traveling? I think pretty much everyone does, so why not make your life easier and become a “trusted traveler”? By participating in the TSA Pre-check program, you proceed to your own security line, you don’t need to remove your shoes or your jacket and you don’t have to take your toiletries or your laptop out of your bag. The average wait time for the TSA PreCheck line is two minutes! I can hear all of you saying “sign me up”, so I am here to tell you how it all works!
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There are two primary ways to achieve “trusted traveler” status – by signing up for TSA PreCheck, or by participating in Global Entry, a program offered through US Customs and Border Patrol, which offers expedited passage through immigration when re-entering the United States, as well as automatically enrolling you in TSA Precheck.
TSA PreCheck costs $85 for five years. You initially fill out an online application, followed by an appointment at an enrollment center where you will be fingerprinted and provide the necessary documentation (valid ID and proof of citizenship).
Global Entry costs $100 for five years. The process is similar to TSA Precheck, but following your initial application, you schedule an interview with a customs agent, where they will also fingerprint you and verify your documentation. If you anticipate traveling internationally at all, it is worth the extra $15 to do Global Entry to receive expedited passage through customs upon re-entering the United States. Also, if you have an American Express Platinum card, they will credit back the $100 fee to join Global Entry, if you charge it on your Amex card.
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Following the successful completion of the above steps you will be provided with a “known traveler” number. When you book your plane ticket there is a place to enter this number and when your boarding pass is issued, it will be marked TSA Pre-Check and you will receive all of the benefits mentioned above.
I recently went through the process of joining Global Entry and I can tell you the process was incredibly easy. We scheduled our interview at JFK airport for a day when we were flying, so we simply arrived at the airport a bit early. The interview took about 10 minutes and we were on our way.
It is well worth the time involved in filling out the application and going for the interview to not have to deal with long security lines. I haven’t tested to the Customs aspect of the Global Entry program, but judging from the long lines at JFK whenever I come back from an international trip, I can imagine it will be a pleasure to simply scan my fingerprints at a kiosk rather than waiting in those lines!
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So, what are you waiting in that security line for??
Good morning, Sandy! I hope you had a lovely Mother's Day! My mom arrived from Texas on Saturday evening, so we've been having a ball! Off to Westport today, after the kids get to school.
We love TSA pre-check at our house. We have used it numerous times and are under the Global Entry program. One funny thing is they occasionally select you for extra screening. It's happened to me or Grant, separately. I think it's just another layer of security.
Here's to cutting the line!!!
xoxo elizabeth
Great tips , we will be flying to Ireland at the end of June with the whole family, so these tips come in handy!!
Such good information Sandy!!! This is SO worth it, as we all know those dreadful lines are the worst part of traveling! Thanks for another excellent travel tip!
Because of our Amex, we can always be put through security quickly and keep our shoes on. Definitely worth it. Happy Mothers Day.
Hi Sandy, Hope you had a lovely weekend and Mother's Day! Great travel tips as always – we are Global Entry and it's made getting through TSA and going though customs at the end of an international trip so much easier! Next up is Nexus – we live so close to BC and go there often, it will be nice to speed things up at the border! Have a wonderful week! XOXO
I have got to sign up for this! I hate the long, long lines at customs.
Thank you for the information.
I hope that you enjoyed a wonderful mothers day.
Now that is a great, great idea. The stress that just waiting in that line then taking off your shoes is horrible! Thank you Sandy for always getting us ready for our travels! Hugs to you! Anita
We had been wanting to do this but then I heard a rumor they were going to do away with the Global entry? Is this not true? Also, now (in Dallas anyway) they have a ton of computer where they scan your passport for the passport control and that's it…so the lines have reduced significantly….so now I wonder if its worth it.
Sandy,
Somehow my daughter and I made it to Pre-Check and that was far more civilized than removing shoes and all. I miss the days of traveling without any security and even having family or friends waiting at the gate for one's return or send off.
Times have changed and our security is part of travel and life, I guess one can never be too careful. It saddens me to see all these lines and extra security and dogs at airports or at any point of entry.
pve
I hope they develop this programme here in the UK as the queues for security are always so long unless we opt for Fast Track which is a little quicker.
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