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 just chatted with Am/Ex about the reimbursement if I apply for Global Entry. Although I have a Delta Platinum Am/Ex card (and have been a member for 49 years) my card was not eligible. You must have one of those cards with a yearly fee of $450.
That is correct but it has amazing benefits https://johnnyjet.com/2015/10/reminder-the-amex-platinum-card-has-great-travel-benefits/
Sometimes TSA is longer than ordinary lines for some reason. And recently at JFK, both lines were merged as the very early weekend time was not busy. But if you can manage Global Entry for 5 years at $99 and a few minutes on the computer/plus a ride to your airport… do it immediately. JFK’s American Airlines arrivals area was so full one afternoon that the escalator people started getting dangerously backed up
I have had the Global Entry for 3 years. In the 3 years only once did I not have TSA Pre-check. Even though my Global Entry number is listed in my profile with the airlines it is important that I fill in the Known Number in the actual reservation. Southwest is the worst. Be sure to enter the Known Number at the time of making the booking.
Got my initial approval in early May. The soonest interview appointment for PDX is 11/29/16 and October 2016 for Seattle. I love Precheck but having to wait six months for an interview at US Customs is ridiculous. Asked if I could do a walk-in and PDX and SEA said no walk-ins allowed. I am heading to DC in July and have scheduled my interview there instead of waiting so long.
My husband and I live in Iowa, the closest we can go for an interview is Minneapolis for Global Entry. We have a flight out of Minneapolis in Oct. If we fill out the form, is it possible to make an appointment before the flight? I would assume not and we have to make a seperate trip. Thank you
Cathy
You should be able to. But I’ve heard of people just dropping into the office to see if there were any no shows.
Thanks so much. I have tried calling the minneapolis office but always get a recording.
i have global entry but how do you add this number to an airline ticket?
or must it be added to your frequent flyer account for every airline?
You must add it to your profile in each airline’s profile of yourself
I usually get TSA precheck with credit card. However, I am 71 y.o. & have had both hips & both knees replaced. The TSA precheck is not helpful for me & once it caused me to suffer through EXTENSIVE additional screening in the precheck line here in Charleston, SC. Here they have told me to go through the regular security line to avoid problems! I call that discrimination! I have AmEX Platinum but am somewhat reluctant to apply for Global Entry because of this.
Hmmm… I would definitely get Global Entry since it would speed up immigration lines when returning to the U.S
If you have children under 12, they’re covered by your PreCheck status. That’s not true for Global Entry. I was thrilled when an upgrade got me free PreCheck status, and the TSA officer waved me and my two kids to that line (their dad did not have precheck and had to use the regular line).
Good to know! Thanks
Your link to the Mexico Sentri website is outdated. Can you supply the new one? Thanks!
It’s been updated
That NY Times article has been floating around since 2014 and despite TSA claims that they are tightening up the use of Pre-Check, the number of non pre-check passengers going through is as high or higher than ever. This was highly evident during the holidays, when most of the passengers going through pre-check were not only NOT pre-check, but seemed to be first time travelers, including a woman who tried to put her dog through x-ray.
I once wrote to the TSA supervisor at EWR, pointed him to the article and he replied that passengers are “profiled” during times of high traffic. I don’t know what their profiling consists of, but I’ve seen many instances when travelers who are not US citizens are given a pass into pre-check.
Can anyone be added to pre check even the small children? I didn’t know that Amex platinum has that option and I should look into it with them.
I believe they have to be interviewed as well
Am I eligible to apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck if I am on L1 visa and hold a Non-US Passport? I have been living in the US for almost 2 years and keep traveling on work inside and outside the country.
Thank You!