An endless airport security line is a truly dispiriting experience. While first class passengers have long enjoyed expedited security lines, those first class passengers pay a pretty penny for their benefits – typically outside of the majority’s personal or business travel budgets. Fortunately, the government has created programs to expedite airport security lines for frequent flyers. These programs were designed with business travelers, saving a frequent business traveler hours per year in wait times. These programs are:
TSA Precheck
Apply Here
Application Cost: $85
Approval Duration: 5 years
Benefits: When flying on participating airlines, there is no need to remove shoes, belts, or light jackets in the security line. Carry-on 3oz or less liquids and laptops can stay inside carry-on luggage. TSA Precheck passengers go through a dedicated security line, which is much faster than your standard security line.
Global Entry
Apply Here
Application Cost: $100
Approval Duration: 5 years
Benefits: Includes TSA Precheck is included with Global Entry. Global entry also includes kiosk border re-entry when returning on an international flight and an expedited security line. When driving through the US boarder, if all passengers in the car are Global Entry approved, travelers can use a fast re-entry line.
Cons to these programs: The application fee is non-refundable in the event that the applicant doesn’t get approved for the program. Applicants must travel to a TSA office (typically located in the airport) for an in-person interview with a TSA agent. Applicants must allow the government a full background check, including a criminal and arrest record search. Applicants could be disqualified from the program on the basis of arrest history alone. These benefits only work through participating airlines. Most major airlines participate in the program; however, discount carriers such as Spirit Airlines and Frontier do not participate in the program.
My Experience
The Application: I decided to apply for the Global Entry program in December of 2015. I had two international trips planned for 2016 and the small price difference between the programs made Global Entry a better option for me. Global Entry’s application required that I create an account through a government site, submit 2 forms of ID, give my full work history for the past five years, and give my housing history as well. The government’s Global Entry site and application looks like something that was designed in the early 90s. The online application form was very buggy. I had to use the back button several times when I hit page errors and re-upload my data. It took some persistence and a bit of patience to make it through the online application.
After completing the application, I was initially screened and approved for an in-person interview at a TSA office. The office was located in Chicago’s O’Hare airport which is a short commute from my home. I scheduled the interview for a Saturday in January, 2016. I show up for the interview and waited to see an agent. The wait wasn’t too bad, only about 20 minutes. When I met with the agent, I was asked questions about my employment history, why I wanted to be in the program, and about what I did for a living. The agent took my finger prints and my picture. He ended the interview by saying that I would hear back from them regarding approval within two weeks and that my benefits would start immediately after approval. I left the TSA office and I got an email by the end of that day approving me into the Global Entry program. A week later, I received a Global Entry ID card in the mail that had my Global Entry / TSA Precheck ID number.
Someone who I know applied for this same program and had to supply court documents regarding a previous arrest record. My friend’s application was ultimately approved since the arrest incident was non-violent and did not involve any criminal organization ties, but my friend’s interview agent stressed that depending on the nature of the arrest, the TSA may have decided to decline the application. My friend had a one week turn around time after supplying court documentation before getting approval.
Using the TSA Precheck Benefits: I was able to use my benefits in February when I flew from Chicago to Las Vegas. In order to use TSA Precheck benefits, you must register your TSA ID number with the airline before printing the plane ticket (typically at ticket booking). I added my TSA Precheck number to my Southwest Rapid Rewards account. When printing my plane ticket, a TSA Precheck flag showed up on my ticket.
When I arrived at Chicago’s Midway airport, I followed the signs for TSA Precheck. A security officer at the Precheck line noted my ticket’s Precheck status and waived me through. I walked down a corridor to the security check point. There were three people ahead of me. Nobody needed to undress or adjust their luggage to pull out liquids or laptops, so it only took seconds for each passenger to move through the security check point. My total time through security at Midway was less than five minutes. My return flight experience through Las Vegas’s McCarran airport also took less than five minutes. At McCarran, the TSA Precheck line and the first class passenger line were one and the same.
The whole process of security was incredibly simplified and painless. Not having to take off belts and shoes made a world of difference in comfort and time to get through security. The only trick is to remember to register your TSA ID number when booking a flight.
Using the Global Entry Benefits: While the global entry benefits did save me some wait time when flying back from both Mexico and Canada this year, the benefits did not entirely take away the wait times when re-entering the country. Using Global Entry benefits follows the same process as TSA Precheck, you must register your TSA ID through the airline (typically when booking the ticket) in order to use the benefits.
When returning to the United States, I went to a kiosk which scanned my finger prints, had me input my declarations rather than filling them out on paper, and took my picture. I then took this form to a customs agent who quickly reviewed it and passed me on. I was then able to reclaim my bags. After taking my bags, I was then able to go into a Global Entry dedicated line where agents had an option of reviewing my luggage.
The two times I used Global Entry benefits, I returned at off-peak times and there was not a very long line at customs. I saved a bit of time compared to non Global Entry passengers, but it wasn’t a dramatic difference. There’s just too much security coming back to the US to really reduce wait times past a certain minimum, though I suspect the Global Entry benefit would have been more noticeable if the customs lines were extremely long.
The Bottom Line: I would recommend Global Entry or TSA Precheck to any frequent flyer or business traveler. The domestic flight time savings for either of these programs is tremendous. If you are a frequent international traveler, I would also recommend paying the extra $15 for Global Entry versus TSA Precheck; however, if you don’t intend on traveling internationally when registering for one of these programs in the near future and you might get out of the country at some point down-the-road, TSA Precheck by itself might be the right solution for you.