Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear — and how you can save on both

The post is updated with new information on a regular basis.

As we prepare to light menorahs and Santa fills his sleigh with gifts, we expect the airport surge of travelers to resemble pre-pandemic 2019?

The TSA screened more passengers on Sunday, Nov. 20, than they did on the same day in the previous year.

It makes sense to speed up airport security screening. No one wants to spend more time waiting in line than is necessary during busy travel times such as the holiday season or regular travel throughout the year.

There are two options for expedited airport security in the U.S. Two programs are broken down.

TSA PreCheck versus Clear

The Clear process will get you to the front of the line quicker than the Precheck process. After an agent has verified your identity, the screening process will be quicker and simpler.

If you have Clear, you can use the PreCheck lane for carry-on and personal screening, but this is not the case, so why not use both?

There are ways to get through airport security quicker.

If you possess the right card or elite status with certain airlines, you can save a lot of money.

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The American Express Green Card will give you up to $189 in annual statement credit. An annual Clear statement credit of up to $189 is offered by the Platinum Card. It is necessary to enroll for certain benefits.

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Global Entry is another expedited security program.

Travelers who have been approved by Global Entry can use the automated U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing.

Since they are the ones that will get you through U.S. security lines faster, we should compare the two.

TSA PreCheck

Travelers who are deemed low risk by the transportation security administration can use special security lines at airports. Travelers don't need to take laptops or liquids out of their bags. Travelers usually use walk-through machines instead of full-body scans.

The program works with 80 airlines in over 200 airports. Travelers on participating airlines should be able to use the PreCheck lanes.

The wait times for travelers using the PreCheck lanes were less than 5 minutes.

You need to be a U.S. citizen or a foreign citizen to apply for the program. Children 12 and under can use PreCheck lanes when traveling with a parent or guardian who is a member of the program. If the child has the TSA PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass, they can go through the checkpoint on their own.

You have to pay an application fee of $85 to apply for the program. Once the application is conditionally approved, you can schedule an in-person appointment at one of hundreds of Enrollment Centers around the country. A background check is included.

You receive a known traveler number once you're approved. Any reservations you make will be attached to your frequent flyer profiles. You can always add it to your luggage at the airport.

Five years is the validity of the membership. You can get a new membership up to six months before your current one ends. All you have to do is provide your name, date of birth and KTN, and you're good to go.

Many credit cards now include a statement credit for the PreCheck application fee as part of their benefits, meaning you can apply and be reimbursed for the fee.

The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the popular cards that features this benefit.

There are the best cards for global entry.

There are many reasons to apply for TSA PreCheck, including the wide availability of lanes at hundreds of airports, the ease of applying, and the fact that many credit cards cover the application fee.

Some travelers have said that the PreCheck lanes can be longer than normal security lanes. An extra few minutes of waiting here and there might be worth it to avoid having to strip down and assume the position at the airport. The members of the TSA PreCheck program can be randomly excluded from expedited security at airports.

Clear

Let's talk about Clear next. There is a line at 50 airports around the US for Clear members.

fingerprints and iris scans are collected by Clear as part of a secure identity platform. They are used to automate the identity verification step. Travelers who enroll in Clear can use a separate lane with dedicated kiosks for this part of the airport experience instead of waiting in line to get through the security checkpoint.

A Clear representative will escort you to the front of the line for the security screening machines. The caveat needs to be said. You don't have to remove your shoes, belt, and items from your carry-on if you enroll in the PreCheck program. If you don't have TSA PreCheck, you have to use the normal screening lines, which is why you may want to enroll in both.

Clear is available at more than 50 airports and many arenas.

You must be at least 18 years old to join Clear. You need a valid form of unexpired ID such as a U.S. driver's license, a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S.-issued Permanent Resident Card, and a state-issued ID.

It takes less than five minutes to apply. You can register online or in person at a Clear kiosk at the airport. You will need to answer a few identifying questions, have your fingerprints scanned at one of the machines, snap a profile photo, and hand over your identification card or document for another Scan.

If you join Clear, you will be able to add up to three family members for $50 a year. The Clear lane can be used by children under the age of 18.

You can find out if you are eligible for Apple's new driver's license.

Clear memberships can only be renewed for a year. If you log in to your account online, you can set it to renew automatically or cancel before the renewal date.

Clear membership costs $189 a year, but there are ways to get it discounted. You can get a two-month free trial to see if you like it.

When you use the American Express Green Card to purchase a membership, you'll get an annual up-to-189 statement credit.

If you are a Delta or United Airlines member, you can use this card to get another discount.

The yearly membership fee for Delta SkyMiles is $119. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can be used for $109 a year. Clear can be enjoyed by Delta Diamond Medallion elite members.

United and Clear have similar partnerships. The general mileageplus members have to pay $119 a year. The United Explorer Card or United Club Infinite Card can be used to get Clear for $109 per year, while the top tier United Premier 1K elite members can get it for free.

If you are an active member of Clear, you will be able to use the kiosks. You can still use the Clear kiosks if you don't fly an airline that participates in the PreCheck program.

If you join the PreCheck program, you will not be able to use the security screening program. You need to give over your data to join clear.

Bottom line

Millions of flyers were given access to the expedited security lanes when they joined the program. It improves the process of getting through an airport for frequent travelers.

If you automate the identity verification process and whisk travelers to the front of the security lines, you can cut down on wait time even more. Global Entry usually confers TSA PreCheck status when they have Clear, but that doesn't mean it's automatic. It is also available at less airports than Precheck.

If you spend a lot of time in airports that have Clear, it will allow you to skip the ID line and maybe use PreCheck screening lanes where you won't have to remove clothing items or belongings from your bags. If you use a credit card that reimburses you for Global Entry applications and Clear memberships, you can save money. Clear membership fees are cut down if you join a frequent flyer program.

Which is better, Global Entry or the Precheck?

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