Benefits of TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry
Going through airport security is no picnic, but with TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry you will find that you will not be spending in those long lines. I have signed up for Global Entry for my daughter and myself. And let me say that we breezed through the security line and I mean breezed. Both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry both have fees but I seriously think it is worth every penny if you saves you having to stand in a one to two hour line or missing a flight.
TSA PreCheck Requirements and Benefits
- $85 fee for a five-year membership
- It is required that you make an appointment (fair warning this make take weeks to get on the calendar) to complete the application in person.
- Children 12 and under will be able to go through security with a parent who has enrolled with TSA PreCheck
- Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible who mostly travel within the U.S.
Benefits of TSA Pre-Check
- A separate entrance through security so you bypass the non TSA Precheck lines.
- Quick and speedy airport screening, for each time I have whipped through TSA Precheck the line has been 5 people at the most. Sometimes depending on the time of day, I was first in line.
- You DO NOT have take off your shoes or belts.
- You DO NOT have to take out your laptop/ipads out of your bags and put them in a separate bin. Talk about a time saver and who wants to juggle taking out all that stuff.
- YOU DO NOT have to take out liquids, although don’t confuse that with bottles of water or drinks. Those you can not take in.
Global Entry Requirements and Benefits
- $100 fee for a five-year membership.
- As with the TSA PreCheck you still need to make an appointment and go for an in-person interview.
- Only U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and citizens of select other countries who travel internationally
- Requires a valid passport.
Benefits
- You have expedited clearance through Customs and Border Protection checkpoints at most U.S airports and select international airports.
- Rather standing in along line, you should have to scan your their fingerprints at automated machines. You don’t even have to fill out a customs form. I forgot and when I got to the exit, they told me nope, don’t need it.
- If you sign up for Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check is included. So whether you travel domestically or internationally you are good to go.
Which should you sign up for? Unless you are certain that you will never be travelling international, I would go for TSA- Pre Check otherwise, applying for Global Entry is the way to go. Remember the membership if for 5 years.
I can not recommend applying for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry enough. Visit tsa.gov for more information and to apply.
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom was not compensated for this post.
