If you get my weekly newsletter (sign up here) then you know that I have a love/hate relationship with TSA PreCheck. I love it because the line is usually much shorter and I don’t have to take off my shoes, belt and jacket. I also don’t have to take my laptop or my 3-1-1 compliant liquids bag out.
But at the same time I sort of hate it because it seems they’ve been allowing totally random people who haven’t applied or received a background check to enjoy the benefits of the program. Here’s my rant on the subject.
However, it looks like the Transportation Security Administration is starting to wake up because according to the New York Times, they plan to end the free rides for those who haven’t applied. So how do you get TSA PreCheck for free?
Global Entry—for international travel
TSA PreCheck costs $85 for five years, which seems like a fair deal. But if you travel internationally at all (and especially if you do it frequently), it makes sense to instead get Global Entry, which gives you expedited processing through CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) at airports and land borders upon arrival in the U.S. as well as TSA PreCheck for only $15 more ($100 total) and is also good for five years! Tip: If you have an American Express Platinum credit card, pay with it and they’ll reimburse you the $100 Global Entry fee.
NEXUS—for travel to Canada
An even better deal, if you travel to and from Canada often, is to get NEXUS. It’s basically the same thing as Global Entry except only for Canada—and it also includes Global Entry and TSA PreCheck and only costs $50 for five years. The downside is that you need to have your face-to-face appointment in Canada or one of their enrollment centers near the Canadian border, like in Seattle or Niagara Falls. Here’s a list of locations.
Sentri—for travel to Mexico
For those frequent travelers to and from Mexico, get Sentri ($122.25) as it’s just like NEXUS but for Mexico and it too includes Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.
To give you a better understanding, here’s a quick and handy comparison chart from the Department of Homeland Security created. It shows all the programs, the eligibility requirements, application process and fees, along with links to all of them.
No matter which one makes sense for you, it will be the best money you’ve ever spent as a traveler as it will mean you’ll be able to breeze past the customs and immigration lines—which will now take about two minutes.
I am US Airways Silver and when I get a 1st Class upgrade which is a bout 95% of the time I get Pre Check, funny thing is I am a Brit on an L1 work visa
everytime we fly 1st class we get Pre Check
I just got the pre-check without even asking for free. I fly Alaska airlines several times a year and the past few times they have autimatically been sending me through PreCheck. Could it be because I fly the same airline so often?
As an USA citizen, will the Nexus pass be used for entry into Canada AND a return to the U.S?
No. NEXUS is to get into Canada and Global Entry is for getting into the U.S.
I’ve used nexus to get back into the US (where I live) from Canada. Only difference between bellota and I is that I am a Canadian citizen.
I don’t totally get this. Everytime I fly Southwest, I am pre screen. I’m guessing that I’ve flown with them so often and for so many years, that the airline is issuing this. Is that correct?
Here’s Southwest’s link to the TSA PreCheck http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/airport-experience/tsaprecheck.html I know other airlines have given their best customers a free membership but not positive about SWA
I have flown three times since getting pre-check and I have yet to get pre-check on my boarding pass even though my number is on the reservation.
It might be inputted wrong. Next time go to the counter or call the airline and ask them to double check
You never did say how to get it FREE.
By using a credit card like an American Express Plat or by getting Global Entry or NEXUS or the Sentri
I am in the process of applying for BOTH Global Entry and Pre-Check. I didn’t realize they “overlapped” (despite scouring the sites for this info) Fortunately I’ve only paid the Global Entry fee so far–thanks for saving me $85!
Can you clarify a couple of things that are confusing on the comparison chart you linked? …..
I have Nexus, since I go back and forth to Canada a lot [a quick note to those using it across the land borders….you wave the card in front of the blank-looking reader and drive on up to the booth… don’t wait as I did for a beep to tell you it’s been read. Canada must have registered me entering 16 times in a row before I figured it out; and the bored Quebecois agent at the booth was not amused].
Back to the chart: it says that Nexus includes the benefits of Global Entry and TSA PreCheck…. but it is half the price of just the Global Entry alone, which doesn’t make sense.
Does it mean that I don’t need to apply for anything further to use those two, or do I need an additional Global Entry card?
Thanks,
You are correct! It is cheaper to have Nexus and it includes all three. You just need to put your Known Traveler ID into your airline accounts. You should also have been interviewed by CBP for Global Entry when you went for your NEXUS appt so you should be all set their too.
One other point about Nexus, if you plan on using it at airport crossings Canada requires a retina scan. The procedure is not available at all interview locations e.g. International falls, so you may have to do that at another point of entry.
I recently got the NEXUS card and was told that the program now ncludes Global Entry as well. It seems to allude to this is the packet I was given, but I haven’t had a chance to test it out yet.
I was going to say the same thing. Nexus seems to equal Global Entry.
My wife and i just went through Pre-check and got approved. did not know Global entry was an option. Is there an upgrade?
I don’t think so which is too bad
Somehow TSA precheck started showing up on ALL my boarding passes last year. I never applied or paid a fee. 12 trips, some international,, all TSA precheck. Perhaps it is my age
They do give it to older people but not every time. At least, that’s been my experience with my dad.
Hmm, I got the Global Entry though my platinum American Express card. I had no idea I could’ve added TSA pre-check for $15.00 more. Is it to late to add it on??
It should’ve been included. So you don’t need to do anything except put your “Known Id” number into your airline profiles.
I have done this and I am sometimes not pre-check! (Like three out of ten times) No fair! LOL
Be very certain that your EXACT name on your airline profile matches the name on your GE card (not your driver’s license, passport, or other… your GE card), e.g. just your middle initial on your GE card? Same for your airline profile.
Some airlines you can update online, while others you may have to fax in the request.
More info here: http://travelblawg.boardingarea.com/7-reasons-to-get-global-entry-instead-of-tsa-precheck/
Thank you! I think that is the problem! My license has my middle name as my maiden name, (Hamilton) as does my profile on Delta. My Global Entry has my real middle name. Can I just change my middle name in my Delta profile to my real middle name even though my drivers license has “Hamilton”?