Depending on when you travel via commercial airplane and the amount of traffic plus the size of the airport, the security lines can be very long. When I left out of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for my cruise, I thought I would experience shorter lines like usual because I was leaving early in the morning on a Wednesday. However, holiday season travel was alive and well. The lines were so long that I couldn't even find the where the lines ended. Fortunately, I had just completed my enrollment in TSA PreCheck the week prior and was able to use the shorter and faster-paced line to get to my gate. I saved myself an hour of waiting that most other travelers dealt with to get through the regular TSA security lines.
Is getting TSA PreCheck worth it? I'll break down all the details you need to help you make a final decision as you prepare for your next visit to the airport.
What is TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck is a Trusted Traveler Program you can enroll in, if eligible. Enrollment in the program allows you to skip some of the extra hassle that causes security lines to be longer at airports. There is a dedicated lane for those with TSA PreCheck at airports in which you do not have to take off your shoes or jacket because you have a history of being a good traveler.
TSA PreCheck vs. CLEAR Plus
Although TSA PreCheck and CLEAR both have lanes at airports, they are not the same program. TSA PreCheck is through the federal government whereas CLEAR is a private sector company. Each one helps get you get through security faster at the airport, but CLEAR Plus is just for quickly moving ahead of the identity verification line. TSA PreCheck allows you to quickly move through the luggage and person screening line. The following chart helps outline the differences.
TSA PreCheck | CLEAR Plus | |
Locations | Nearly all U.S. airports | Many U.S. airports and several sports arenas in the U.S. |
Purpose | Less clothing items to take off when going through airport security | Quick identity verification with a scan of fingerprints or eyes; QR code to verify info for fast entry at sports arenas |
Enrollment | Start online, finish in-person | Start online, finish in-person |
Duration of Membership | 5 years (renewable) | 1 year (renewable) |
Cost | $78 | $189 |
If you are aiming to have the fastest experience for getting through the security lines at the airport, then you should actually have both TSA PreCheck and CLEAR Plus. Having one or the other still gets you through the lines faster, but for days when the lines are super long (like the day I left for my cruise) having both gets you to the gates in a mere fraction of the time. I actually couldn't find the CLEAR Plus lane at the airport that day, but I was right next to the TSA PreCheck lane and used that instead because it was still much faster than the regular lines. For larger airports or airports that happen to see more travelers with TSA PreCheck or CLEAR Plus, there are sometimes combo "CLEAR Plus with TSA PreCheck" lanes to make it even easier to zip through security.
How to Enroll in TSA PreCheck
Like CLEAR Plus, enrollment for TSA PreCheck begins online. There is an online form to fill out background information that helps the government determine your eligibility for the program. If deemed eligible, you can book an appointment to complete the in-person portion of enrollment. There used on only be a very small number of locations to do this, typically at airports. However, the government has partnered with some third-party entities that offer even more locations to complete the enrollment process. The in-person portion only takes about 10 minutes. You will need to bring two forms of government-issued photo ID with you along with an acceptable payment method for the $78 fee.
After getting your photo taken and your fingerprints scanned, enrollment will finish processing with successful payment. It will take at least a few days depending on demand, but you will receive a notification once enrollment is complete. At that time, you can log back into your TSA PreCheck account to view your Known Traveler Number. This is the number that gets you TSA PreCheck. Once you have your number, add it to the Known Traveler Number section of your account with any airlines you have a rewards account with. This will allow the TSA PreCheck note to be added to future flights that you book. Already have a flight booked? Take a moment to edit your personal info on the confirmation directly to add your Known Traveler Number. When it's time to obtain your boarding pass, you will see the TSA PreCheck notation on it and that will get you through the TSA PreCheck lane!
Is TSA PreCheck Worth It?
If you want to avoid long lines or have a habit of getting to the airport close to the time boarding begins for your flight, TSA PreCheck would be worth it. The cost of $78 covers your 5-year enrollment in the program which is a great price in comparison to the cost of CLEAR Plus, which is an annual fee that is more than twice the cost of TSA PreCheck.
If you do a lot of domestic travel across the United States, I would recommend getting TSA PreCheck. Cutting out the steps of taking off your shoes and jacket along with being able to go through a generally shorter line is less stressful and simplifies your travel experience.
If you do more travel internationally, TSA PreCheck is nice to have but not exactly what you need or want. What you need and want is a Known Traveler Number. However, TSA PreCheck is not the only way to get that. Global Entry, like TSA PreCheck, is a Trusted Traveler Program that gives you a Known Traveler Number along with expanded access. Global Entry is part of the Trusted Traveler Network and is available to use at international airports in the United States and other countries. For regular travelers of the United States and other countries, TSA PreCheck is probably not worth it, but this other Trusted Traveler Program likely is.
Concluding Thoughts
Now that you have more information about TSA PreCheck, it's time to make the decision for yourself of whether TSA PreCheck is worth it or not. For me, TSA PreCheck is worth it because I have it in combination with CLEAR Plus and I travel enough domestically to make use of TSA PreCheck. However, it may not be worth getting if you travel infrequently or tend to travel internationally as much as or more than you do domestically. My recommendation is to choose the option that makes sense both financially and for the amount of use you would get out of it.
Feel free to leave comments below, post (tweet) @KimiThoughts, or leave a post/message on Facebook (@KimisTravelThoughts) and share any experiences you have with TSA PreCheck or other Trusted Traveler Programs!