Think about the last time you were at the airport. Did you arrive 2 hours early? Did you stand in a long security line? Did you envy those separate, shorter lines for people with TSA PreCheck?
For years, I put this off. I figured it would be a difficult process. I heard that you had to attend an interview. I always wished that I had this privilege, but never acted on it.
Until about two years ago. Now my life has changed.
I know that sounds dramatic, but really, every time I go to the airport for a domestic flight now, I am amazed at how quickly I get to my gate. I’ve timed it. From the time I step out of the cab to the time I am standing at my gate is usually about 5 minutes. 5 MINUTES! That includes taking a shuttle to a different terminal. I no longer have anxiety about showing up early in case the security lines are long. I don’t have to.
So should you apply for TSA PreCheck, too? First, let’s discuss what TSA PreCheck is.
TSA PreCheck is one of the Trusted Traveler programs offered in the U.S. In applying for the program, you go through background checks and fingerprinting. Because you already have been checked so thoroughly, you become a Trusted Traveler. Because you are trusted, you get to use an expedited security line with different expectations. You don’t have to remove your shoes. You don’t have to remove anything from your suitcase, so you can leave your liquids and laptop in your bag. Because there is a simpler process and fewer people, you can get through security really quickly.
This program is only applicable for domestic travel within the U.S. If you plan to fly out of the country, you will still need to go through the complete security check.
There are some Trusted Traveler programs for international travel that may be beneficial to you, however. NEXUS is a program for traveling only between the U.S. and Canada. If you’ve ever driven over the border, you may have noticed the separate line for NEXUS travelers. Similarly, the SENTRI program will get you quickly through the border (by land only) between the U.S. and Mexico.
With both NEXUS and SENTRI, you will be qualified for TSA PreCheck in addition to your border passes. But you need to take care of this before showing up at the airport. With either program, you will be assigned a “PASSID” number. This is your Trusted Traveler identification number. When you book a flight online, you will have the opportunity to enter a “KTN” (Known Traveler Number). If you have NEXUS or SENTRI, you can enter your PASSID number here. Once you enter your PASSID number into the system, your boarding pass will indicate that you are a TSA PreCheck member.
Another Trusted Traveler program for international travel is called Global Entry. This program speeds up your process of returning to the U.S. after travel abroad. With Global Entry, you don’t have to deal with customs and immigration lines when you return to the U.S. Similarly, if you are a member of Global Entry, you are qualified for TSA PreCheck for all domestic travel. Simply type in your PASSID number when booking your flight.
To summarize, if you participate in any of these international Trusted Traveler programs, you are automatically qualified for TSA PreCheck. But if you only have TSA PreCheck, you aren’t automatically qualified for the other programs. So if you frequently travel internationally, you should apply to Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI depending on where you travel, and always use your PASSID number when booking domestic flights to use TSA PreCheck.
If, however, you don’t want to apply to an international travel program, you can just apply directly for TSA PreCheck. The process is fairly simple.
Here’s my experience applying for TSA PreCheck. First, I spent less than 10 minutes filling out the application online. When I looked at the scheduling calendar for the Seattle office, I noticed that there were a ton of openings for the next day. Instead of scheduling my appointment, I walked in when I found the time. I ended up waiting about 10 minutes for an interview because I didn’t have an appointment. I handed over my passport, gave my fingerprints, and walked out of the office after about 5 minutes. Within a couple of weeks, I received my Known Traveler Number (KTN) in the mail. Now, whenever I book a domestic flight, I enter my KTN, and the PreCheck shows up on my boarding pass. When I arrive at the airport, I show the security guard my boarding pass and am welcomed into the expedited line.
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Yes, I do fly internationally frequently, and in retrospect, I should have just applied for Global Entry to begin with. So, when it’s time to renew, I will do that.
Are you trying to decide between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry? Let’s compare the two programs:
You may notice one big difference. With TSA PreCheck, children 12 years old and younger can use the PreCheck lane with a parent or guardian with the pass. However, with Global Entry, each person needs his/her own pass for customs. So, if you travel internationally with your family, you will need to pay for each family member’s pass in order to expedite customs.
Some credit cards and loyalty programs will reimburse you for the cost of enrolling in a Trusted Traveler program, so take advantage of that benefit if you can. I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, and it reimburses me completely. Check with your credit card to see if you can get reimbursed for your application.
If you travel domestically or internationally more than once a year, you should definitely apply to one of these programs. From my experience, the process is fairly simple. Visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website for more information about all of the programs I explained in this article.
Are you already a Trusted Traveler? What has been your experience?
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