TSA Pre Check and Global Entry are Trusted Traveler Programs that help you breeze through security at U.S. airports or expedite re-entry to the U.S. after traveling abroad. In this post, I’ll show you how to get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry for free!
What Is TSA PreCheck?
TSA Precheck is a program that allows you to speed through security at U.S. airports in the designated TSA Pre-Check lanes. It’s kind of like an airport time machine — you don’t have to remove your shoes, light jackets, laptops, or liquids.
Once you apply, you will need to schedule your interview at a selected enrollment center where you will be fingerprinted and interrogated about your past criminal activity…ok, so there isn’t an interrogation, but they will do a background check.
Once approved, you will receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN). Then, you just need to add this number to your airline reservations to get the TSA PreCheck designation on your boarding pass. It’s a relatively simple process and costs $78 for a 5-year membership.
What Is Global Entry?
Global Entry is a trusted traveler program that gives low-risk travelers expedited re-entry back into the U.S. after traveling abroad. With Global Entry, you can bypass immigration lines at select airports and use one of the Global Entry kiosks to process your re-entry back into the U.S.
The kiosk will quickly identify you and process your customs declaration. Global Entry is open to citizens of the U.S., Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Colombia and Switzerland.
Canadian citizens and residents enrolled in NEXUS may also use the Global Entry kiosks.
Kids under 18 need their own Global Entry membership. Unlike TSA PreCheck, kids can’t go through the line with a parent unless they have their own membership. Beginning on October 1, 2024, the application fee for kids will be waived as long as a parent or legal guardian is also applying or already a member.
Once you submit your online application, you will receive a temporary authorization that will allow you to schedule your interview at one of the enrollment centers (not the same locations as TSA PreCheck). Unless you check back every day to wait for a cancellation, don’t be surprised to wait 4 to 5 months for an open appointment.
At your interview, you will be photographed, fingerprinted, and asked about your travel plans. Then, you will receive a Known Traveler Number to add to your airline reservations. There is a $100 fee for Global Entry, which is good for 5 years.
Global Entry Update: The price for Global Entry is increasing to $120 on October 1, 2024. On that date, kids under 18 can apply for free as long as a parent or legal guardian is already a member or is also applying.
How to Get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry for FREE
This all sounds great, right? Getting these benefits for free is even better. Certain credit cards come with a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, so it makes sense to just go for the Global Entry membership since you will also get TSA PreCheck.
Global Entry membership costs $100 and is valid for 5 years. All you need to do is charge the application fee to your card, and it will be automatically reimbursed.
These are the credit cards I use to get Global Entry and TSA PreCheck for free for my whole family:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Earn 75,000 bonus miles (worth $750+)
Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Earn 60,000 bonus points (worth $900!)
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Earn 200,000 Amex Membership Rewards points!
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card – Earn 4 free nights!
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card – Earn 80,000 Southwest Points!
You can use the fee reimbursement for yourself or gift it to someone else. Many of these cards come with hefty membership fees, but they also come with lots of valuable benefits and bonus points in addition to the $78 TSA PreCheck or $100 Global Entry Fee Reimbursement.
Additional cards that come with a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry include:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
- United Club Infinite Card
- United Explorer Card
- United Quest Card
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Be sure to evaluate a card’s benefits before applying, and always pay your bill in full and on time every month.
Now that you know how to get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry for FREE, where will your travels take you next?
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Ah if only…I’m a New Zealander so no special queue jumping for me! But great that it is an option though, boy would I love something like this for every country ha ha!
Wouldn’t that be nice if it was an international thing!
This sounds great. Not having to remove shoes and jacket or put liquids in a bag would be so good! The price is really reasonable, definitely worth it!
It’s definitely been worth it for me!
…and a side note – I am dying to go to New Zealand! I have heard nothing but great things. My in laws are going later this year so I guess I will have to live through them until I can go!
I hate, hate, hate lines, especially customs lines…so this is great info. I need to get off my duff and do it! Thanks.
Ahhh I got so excited reading this but then realised it was only for Americans, nooooo! You Americans have such great deals associated with your credit cards that we just don’t get in Aus and it’s annoying 😕
yeah, sorry, the good credit card deals tend to be U.S only : (
Interesting concepts to go through the airports easier! I wish there was something like this in Europe, especially for the items you don’t need to remove. Thanks for the info
Thanks for sharing, this is great to know! That should really help speed up the process.
I knew one of these cards gave you these benefits but I didn’t know about the others. I love the Chase Sapphire! It’s my go to card.
The Chase Sapphire cards are great! The Sapphire Reserve/Freedom Unlimited combo is my go to…I love Chase points!
That is a Time Saver. Some airport security can get real shitty with their checking.
This sounds like a great idea for those of us who always end up spending ages decanting all our cameras and laptops at security, and then often end up running to catch the plane as we’ve been held up for so long.
They can really be great time savers. I just love not having to take my shoes off when going through security!