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Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
OFFER STATUS
The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by The Ascent and not provided by the issuer. Therefore, some terms may be out of date. Visit the issuer's website for more information.
Standing around in security lines probably isn't anybody's favorite part about going to the airport. Fortunately, there are three expedited security programs that help you go through checkpoints more quickly: TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, and CLEAR.
Best travel credit cards that reimburse for each security program:
Should you sign up for TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, or CLEAR?
Signing up for one or more of these programs is worth it if you want a faster and easier time at the airport. Here's when you should consider each program:
Sign up for TSA PreCheck® if you have a trip right around the corner. Most applicants get approved in just three to five days. Upon approval, you can go through expedited security screening at U.S. airports with TSA PreCheck® lanes.
Sign up for Global Entry if you have time to wait. It takes longer, up to 11 months, but it's the most comprehensive option. It gets you through immigration and customs more quickly at airports with Global Entry. It also includes a TSA PreCheck® membership.
Sign up for CLEAR if you want to avoid security lines and don't mind the cost. It's considerably more expensive than the other programs, but it gets you to the head of security lines at airports with CLEAR lanes.
For most travelers, Global Entry is the best expedited security program because of its benefits and reasonable fee. However, it also has the slowest processing times.
Comparing TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, and CLEAR
Here are the key details, benefits, and drawbacks of each expedited security program:
Program
TSA PreCheck®
Global Entry
CLEAR
Cost
$78 (with Idemia) or $85 (with Telos)
$100
$199
Membership length
Five years
Five years
One year
Approval time
Up to 60 days (most applicants receive approval in three to five days)
Up to 11 months
Same day for immediate use
Fees when traveling with children
Free for minors traveling on the same reservation with a parent or legal guardian who has TSA PreCheck
$100 per child, children must have their own Global Entry membership
Free, family members under 18 can join you in the CLEAR lane
Benefit
Fast processing times and expedited security at over 200 U.S. airports
Expedited service going through immigration and customs at over 70 airports (including over 50 U.S. airports)
Gets you to the front of the security line at over 55 U.S. airports and offers approval in minutes
Drawback
More cost-effective to apply for Global Entry and get a membership to both programs
Slow processing times
Most expensive
Data sources: Transportation and Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and CLEAR.
TSA PreCheck®
Details:
$78 or $85 for a five-year membership, depending on where you enroll ($15.60 or $17 per year)
Allows low-risk passengers to access TSA PreCheck® security lanes and go through an expedited security screening
Available at over 200 U.S. airports on over 90 participating airlines
Children can join a parent/guardian with TSA PreCheck®
TSA PreCheck® provides a faster security process at participating U.S. airports. Once you're enrolled, you receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN). Enter this number when you make air travel reservations, and your boarding pass will be marked with a TSA PreCheck® icon.
Remember that being a TSA PreCheck® member doesn't guarantee expedited screening every time. You must be at an airport that offers it and fly with an airline that participates in the program. The TSA can also still decide to require a regular or a more thorough screening.
At the security checkpoint, you can go through dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes instead of standard security lanes. You don't need to take off your shoes, belt, or a light jacket. You can also keep your laptop, food, and liquids that meet the liquid size requirements in your carryon.
Considering how much time it saves you at the airport, TSA PreCheck® more than justifies its cost. Many of the top travel credit cards also cover a membership fee for either TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. If you travel exclusively within the United States, then this is the program for you. If you travel outside the country at all, then Global Entry is the better choice.
Cards that reimburse for TSA PreCheck®
Here are a few of the best credit cards that cover the cost of a TSA PreCheck® membership (or a Global Entry membership, if you sign up for that instead, as the cards with this benefit will cover either program):
Chase Sapphire Reserve®(seerates and fees): Reimburses up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® membership (or up to $100 for a Global Entry membership) once every four years.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Welcome Offer:
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
75,000 Miles
Welcome Offer:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
Rewards Program:
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
2X-5X miles
Rewards Program:
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR:
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Regular APR:
22.49%-29.49% Variable
Annual Fee:
$95
Annual Fee:
N/A
$550
Highlights:
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Highlights:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Allows low-risk passengers to access expedited security kiosks when arriving in the United States and at airports abroad with Global Entry service
Available at over 70 airports (including over 50 U.S. airports)
Includes membership to TSA PreCheck®
Global Entry speeds up the process of going through immigration and customs when you arrive in the United States. As a member, you can go to a Global Entry kiosk instead of the immigration line. You then scan your passport or U.S. permanent resident card and your fingertips, answer questions for your customs declaration, and receive a receipt.
Only members can use Global Entry kiosks. Travel companions, including children and spouses, must have their own memberships.
By presenting your receipt from the kiosk, you can pass through the Global Entry immigration counter. You can also go through a Global Entry line at customs, which is typically faster than the standard line. Just like with TSA PreCheck®, membership doesn't guarantee an expedited security process every time.
The entry process to the United States is much faster with Global Entry. While waiting in the immigration line can easily last half an hour or longer, using a Global Entry kiosk doesn't even take a minute.
Considering a membership costs $20 per year, Global Entry is a great value for international travelers. To make this program even better, it also includes a TSA PreCheck® membership. You get all the benefits of both programs for being a member of Global Entry. And there are quite a few credit cards to get through airport security faster with a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® fee credit.
Cards that reimburse for Global Entry
Here are a few popular cards that will cover a Global Entry membership. Once again, these cards cover the cost of either a Global Entry or a TSA PreCheck® membership, depending on the program you choose:
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Excellent (740-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Excellent (740-850)
Welcome Offer:
60,000 online bonus points – a $600 value – after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
60,000 points
Welcome Offer:
75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
Rewards Program:
Unlimited 2 points per dollar on travel & dining purchases, unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases
1.5 - 2 points per dollar
Rewards Program:
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
2X-10X miles
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR:
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Regular APR:
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee:
$95
Annual Fee:
$395
Highlights:
Low $95 annual fee.
Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 - 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
No foreign transaction fees.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Highlights:
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Takes you directly to the front of the security line in U.S. airports with CLEAR service
Available at over 55 U.S. airports
Also available at select sports and entertainment venues
CLEAR has some notable differences from TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry. While those are both programs run by the government, a private company operates CLEAR. Instead of getting you through the security process more quickly, CLEAR offers front-of-the-line privileges at some U.S. airports. Using biometrics, it allows you to bypass the standard document check at airport security.
When you're a member, you can go to a CLEAR kiosk and scan your face, irises, and fingerprints. A CLEAR employee will then escort you to the front of either the standard security line or the TSA PreCheck line, depending on whether you're a member of that program as well.
This program isn't limited to airports. Certain sports and entertainment venues also have CLEAR service. Although this is a good additional perk, you don't need to pay for it. Anyone can sign up for a CLEAR Sports membership free of charge.
Whether CLEAR is worth getting depends on where and how often you fly. If you fly out of an airport with CLEAR kiosks several times per year, a membership could save you a lot of time. The main drawback is the high cost. Although there are sometimes discounts available, CLEAR costs much more than TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.
Cards that reimburse for CLEAR
While it's a less common perk, there are a few cards that reimburse the cost of a CLEAR membership:
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Welcome Offer:
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Welcome Offer:
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
40,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Rewards Program:
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Rewards Program:
3X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery. 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours. The 1x points on other purchases.
1x - 3x points
Intro APR:
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Intro APR:
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
APR:
See Pay Over Time APR
APR:
See Pay Over Time APR
Annual Fee:
$695
Annual Fee:
$150
Highlights:
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.¤
Terms Apply.
Highlights:
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
$189 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express® Green Card.
$100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by The Ascent and not provided by the issuer. Therefore, some terms may be out of date. Visit the issuer's website for more information.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
• Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
• Car rental loss & damage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Picking the right expedited security program
If you want to cruise through airport security, you have a few options, and choosing between them isn't too difficult.
Just about every air traveler can benefit from TSA PreCheck®. Since Global Entry includes that program and its own benefits for only $3 more per year, it's usually the way to go. The right credit card will also pay for Global Entry, so you wouldn't even need to pay that small cost difference.
While Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® are useful for most travelers, CLEAR is more limited. You may decide it's worth getting in addition to Global Entry if you can use it enough. After all, getting front-of-the-line privileges at airports you frequent is nice. Or, you might feel that Global Entry is already enough and save yourself $199 per year.
FAQs
Here are the approval timeframes for TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, and CLEAR:
TSA PreCheck®: Up to 60 days, with most applicants receiving approval notices within three to five days.
Global Entry: Up to 11 months.
CLEAR: Same day approval within a few minutes of applying at the airport.
Yes, you can get TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry. The most cost-effective option is signing up for Global Entry, because that includes a TSA PreCheck® membership. If you already have TSA PreCheck®, you could also sign up for Global Entry later, but that means you'll need to pay both membership fees.
Here are the details on acceptance for each expedited airport security program:
TSA PreCheck®: Accepted at over 200 U.S. airports.
Global Entry: Accepted at over 70 airports (including over 50 U.S. airports).
CLEAR: Accepted at over 55 U.S. airports.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here
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