Speed Through Security: The Top Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
Speed Through Security: The Top Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry - Get Access to the Fast Lane
Getting access to the fast lane when going through airport security can make all the difference on a busy travel day. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are two programs that help expedite the screening process, allowing you to breeze through in a fraction of the usual time. With TSA PreCheck, you won't have to remove your shoes, laptop, liquids, belts or light jackets. It's a huge time saver that helps lower stress levels before a flight. Global Entry offers many of the same perks as TSA PreCheck, plus the added benefit of expedited customs when returning to the United States.
Both programs require an application and fee, but many premium travel credit cards will reimburse you for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. This is an excellent perk that pays for itself after just 1-2 airport trips. Having the card in your wallet gives you access to faster airport security lines. It's well worth looking into whether you have an existing card that offers these perks or if it makes sense to open a new one.
I signed up for Global Entry a few years ago, and it was one of the best travel-related purchases I've made. The application process was simple, despite my concerns that it would be arduous and complicated. I scheduled an interview at a nearby enrollment center, which only took about 10 minutes. The officer reviewed my documentation and approved me on the spot.
After getting my known traveler number, I've been amazed at how quickly I get through airport security, often breezing past long snaking lines filled with other travelers removing shoes and laptops. On multiple occasions, there was no line at all for Global Entry members. It makes me feel like a VIP passenger every time.
Even better, I put the $100 Global Entry fee on a premium card that offers a statement credit for it each year. That application fee credit essentially paid me back for getting Global Entry. It's the ultimate win-win to speed through security and have none of the fees hit your wallet. Any serious traveler should look into whether credit cards they already own offer these perks. There's no reason not to take advantage of them.
What else is in this post?
- Speed Through Security: The Top Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry - Get Access to the Fast Lane
- Speed Through Security: The Top Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry - Skip the Long Security Lines
- Speed Through Security: The Top Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry - Breeze Through Airport Screening
Speed Through Security: The Top Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry - Skip the Long Security Lines
Standing in line at airport security during peak travel times can be one of the most frustrating and stressful parts of flying. The interminable queues seem to creep along at a snail's pace, while you watch your departure time tick ever closer on the monitors overhead. We've all been there - shuffling inch-by-inch, mentally willing the family up ahead to stop dawdling and move forward already!
Having TSA PreCheck or Global Entry allows you to bypass these lengthy lines and head straight for the expedited screening lanes. This perk alone makes the membership fees worthwhile for frequent flyers who value time and convenience. As Torsten knows well, getting from the curb to the gate in record time alleviates so much of the hassle associated with modern air travel.
According to TSA statistics, about 90% of standard security lane passengers waited less than 15 minutes. However, 10% still faced waits exceeding 20 minutes. For PreCheck members, approximately 93% waited 5 minutes or less. That's a dramatic difference when you're trying to catch a flight. I'll never forget sprinting through LAX once after misjudging security wait times, praying I'd make it to the gate before the door closed. Never again!
Beyond the raw numbers, TSA PreCheck improves the psychological experience of passing through airport security as well. You can leave your liquids and laptop in your carry-on bag, keeping your valuables right at hand rather than filling those worrisome plastic bins. Shoes and belts stay on too, so you don't have to scramble to get dressed again on the other side.
According to Cheryl B., a Global Entry member I spoke with, she appreciates being able to stay "dignified and put together" while going through security. It eliminates that disheveled feeling many travelers have after shoe removal, jacket removal, belt removal, emptying pockets - you get the idea.
Speed Through Security: The Top Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry - Breeze Through Airport Screening
Breezing through airport screening with TSA PreCheck or Global Entry will make you feel like a rock star on tour. No more fumbling to remove shoes, unpacking your carry-on to pull out laptops and liquids, or getting dressed again on the other side. You simply stroll up to the expedited lane, flash your trusted traveler card, and glide through with your dignity intact.
According to experienced travelers like Cheryl B., the smoother process lowers stress levels and helps you feel relaxed before a flight. Even frequent business travelers who are used to packed itineraries say TSA PreCheck makes airport transits less frenzied. Michael S. told me, "I arrive at security ready for chaos, but with PreCheck it's cool and efficient. A nice change of pace."
Once accepted into Global Entry, I've found the actual screening experience to be easier than I imagined. There's no extensive questioning or combing through my bag. At most airports, I don't even have to take my quart-size bag of liquids out. I simply load my carry-on into the scanner, walk through the metal detector, and collect my things. Never more than a 5-minute affair.
The expedited screening lanes are also much less crowded than the general queues. Max Y. said TSA PreCheck security at LAX was a "ghost town" compared to the winding path of huddled passengers in the regular lanes. Shorter lines mean you can arrive at the gate with time to spare, avoiding that panicked sprint down the concourse.
Travelers say an added benefit is keeping your shoes, belt, and light outerwear on through screening. As Cheryl B. mentioned, it allows you to stay "dignified and put together" on the other side. No more scrambling to get dressed again after clearing security, just a smooth continuation of your journey. For road warriors crisscrossing the country weekly, those extra conveniences add up.