The Wait is Over
When preparing for a vacation, one thing that you will always have to take into consideration is, “how soon do I have to get to the airport?” Tons of articles will tell you, depending on the airport, 2-3 hours for domestic flights and 4 hours for international. Just imagine, you have a flight to the Bahamas that leaves at 4 pm, so you have to get to the airport at 12pm so you can wait in ridiculously long lines to catch your plane. Now imagine on that same flight your friend arrives at the gate an hour before takeoff. You ask them how early they get to the airport and to your astonishment they reply “I got here about 30 mins ago!” Just picture it, the previous 3 hours you spent waiting in line could have been put to better use. You have to learn how your friend did it so that you can save yourself some time and a headache for your next trip.
The secret is your friend took advantage of at least one of the programs below to significantly reduce their time going through airport security. Here’s information on each program and how you can do the same.
TSA Precheck
TSA Precheck is known as a Trusted Traveler Program under the Transportation Security Administration. It is a program that allows users certain privileges when traveling from an airport in the United States. When going through TSA Security, there is an expedited line just for TSA Precheck members. In this line, you do not have to remove your shoes, belt, light jacket, laptop, or your 3-1-1 liquids (3oz in a 1-quart bag for 1 traveler). Also, for parents with kids 12 years of age or younger, you can have them accompany you in the TSA Precheck lines. To become part of the TSA Precheck program, it is a simple process.
First, an online application filed which takes about 5min.
After that, you will schedule an in-person interview at one of the enrollment centers. At the in-person interview, you will confirm your identity and citizenship, provide fingerprints, and pay the $85 fee. This fee covers the processing of your application and will cover you for 5 years.
After you are approved, you will receive a Known Traveler Number which you will add to your airline reservation to show you are a TSA Precheck member.
Global Entry
Global Entry is a program under U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This is for travelers who like to venture outside of the United States. Once you return to the states, everyone has to go through Customs and fill out a declaration for any items that Custom Agents need to be made aware of. The benefit of Global Entry is this process is done electronically. Once you arrive back into the United States, you will go to a designated kiosk, scan your passport, and then complete the declaration form at the kiosk. It will in return provide you with a receipt and you can continue on to baggage claim. The number of those enrolled in Global Entry is considerably low given the population of the US citizens. While everyone else is standing in line waiting for a Customs agent to manually read their declaration form before getting their luggage, you are coasting through the entire process and heading for the exit. The main difference between Global Entry and TSA Precheck is that Global Entry is used when returning to the US from an international trip whether it is by plane, boat, or car while TSA Precheck is used for any flight within the US. Also, for those who have Global Entry, it automatically comes with TSA Precheck. If you like to travel internationally, Global Entry might be the option for you. The process for becoming a Global Entry member is the exact same as TSA Precheck, the only difference is the fee for this program is $100 for 5 years.
My wife Shaneece first experienced the awesome benefits of Global Entry when we returned from Italy on a connecting flight to Amsterdam. She literally made it through security in under 3mins by just scanning her fingerprints along with handing her declaration form to the agent while the remainder of our party waited 45+ mins. That is the beauty of these types of programs; shorter lines (if any) and a smoother process. That goes to say that my wife was impressed and I of course earned brownie points for signing her up for this program.
CLEAR
Both TSA Precheck and Global Entry are great tools for traveling but when used in conjunction with CLEAR, it makes the traveling experience that much more rewarding. CLEAR is a Registered Traveler Program that confirms your identity and helps expedite your movement through security at airports and some sports arenas. CLEAR uses kiosks at airports and arenas to verify your identity using biometrics. In the instance of airports, an agent stands at the kiosk while you scan your fingerprints to confirm your identity and then escorts you to the TSA agent so you can then go through the TSA screening of your luggage. CLEAR is an independent organization certified by the Dept of Homeland Security to be a third-party company to validate your identity at these airports and arenas. CLEAR allows you to skip, that’s right, skip the line at the airport. So, for those who have TSA Precheck, when used along with CLEAR, you can skip the TSA Precheck line and go straight to the luggage screening process. You could be fine with just CLEAR as it will help you avoid the long wait time at the airport, but if you do not have TSA Precheck, you will have to take off shoes, belts, jackets, & more.
The process for becoming a CLEAR member is even more simple than TSA Precheck or Global Entry. You would submit your personal information online as well as your payment method. The next time you are at an airport with CLEAR, you would speak with an agent who would confirm you are who you say you are and then scan your fingerprints. After that, you are free to use CLEAR. Currently, CLEAR is located at major metropolitan airports like Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami, New York, Los Angeles to name a few. The cost of CLEAR is higher than all the others but the trade-off in my eyes is even greater. CLEAR has a yearly fee of $179 for the 1st adult in the household and you can add up to 3 more adults at a cost of $50/yr. each. Kids under 18 years of age and use CLEAR along with the adult for free. If you are a general Delta Skymember, you can save $60 on your membership. Some credit cards will offer CLEAR for free depending on the type of card you have.
Try CLEAR for free for 2 months by using my referral link below. I guarantee you it will be the best time saver for your next trip. My wife and I have used our membership in conjunction with TSA PreCheck and have literally been walked to the front of the line with 100+ people staring at us in disbelief. And it was an awesome feeling knowing we weren’t wasting our time in those long lines full of tired and impatient travelers.
Now imagine your next vacation, it is 3 hours before your flight leaves and you are still at home. There is not even a break of sweat on your forehead because you now have TSA Precheck or Global Entry AND CLEAR and the time you previously wasted waiting can be better spent elsewhere. You’re welcome!