Airport operations have gotten complicated with all the changes and updates flying around. As someone with extensive travel experience, I learned everything there is to know about this topic. Today, I will share it all with you.
I’ll be honest – I resisted getting TSA PreCheck for way too long. Seemed like another thing to pay for, another number to remember, another hoop to jump through. Then I watched a PreCheck line breeze through security while I was still taking off my shoes with 47 people behind me. Applied that afternoon.
If you fly more than a couple times a year, understanding your options for expedited security is genuinely worth your time. Here’s what I’ve learned after years of testing these programs.
TSA PreCheck: Just Get It
PreCheck is the baseline. You keep your shoes on, laptop stays in your bag, belt stays buckled. At busy airports, I’ve saved anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes consistently. The $78 cost covers five full years – that’s basically $15 a year. If you fly more than twice annually, it’s a no-brainer.
The application’s pretty painless. You schedule an in-person appointment at an enrollment center, they fingerprint you, check your documents, and you’re out in about 10 minutes. Approval usually comes within days, sometimes hours. Your Known Traveler Number works immediately once you’ve got it.
One heads up though: not every airport has PreCheck lanes at every checkpoint, and some close them during slow periods. Check before you assume you’ll waltz through.
CLEAR: Skipping the ID Line Entirely
CLEAR uses your fingerprints and eyes to verify who you are, so you skip the whole “show your ID” part of security. Combined with PreCheck? It’s basically instant access. I’ve gone from airport entrance to gate in under 10 minutes at busy times.
The catch is the price: $189 a year without discounts. Credit card partnerships and airline programs can knock that down significantly though – worth checking what deals are available to you.
Here’s the important part: CLEAR doesn’t replace PreCheck. It just gets you past the ID check faster. If you’ve got CLEAR but not PreCheck, you still have to do the regular security dance with shoes off and laptop out. The combination is where the magic happens.
Global Entry: If You’re Going International
Global Entry includes everything PreCheck offers, plus expedited customs when you’re coming back from international trips. It’s $100 for five years. After standing in one customs line during peak hours at JFK, I immediately understood the value.
The approval process takes longer – more thorough background checks and an in-person interview that sometimes has multi-week wait times. Don’t apply the week before your trip to Europe. Plan ahead.
At airports with Global Entry kiosks, you’re through customs in under a minute while everyone else shuffles through lines that can take an hour during busy periods. Totally worth it for international travelers.
Finding the Fastest Lines
Programs aside, time of day makes a huge difference. Early morning (6-9 AM) and evening (4-7 PM) are brutal at most airports. Midday’s usually calmer if you have flexibility.
Big airports often have multiple security checkpoints. Before heading to the obvious one near your gate, check if there’s a less-crowded option that still gets you where you need to go.
Your airline’s app probably shows wait times now. Check before you leave for the airport – it helps you decide when to show up and which checkpoint to hit.
When You’re Stuck in a Long Line Anyway
It happens. Flights bunch up, checkpoints close unexpectedly, everyone decides to travel on the same day. Don’t just stand there stewing about it.
Use the time. Answer emails, clear notifications, make mental to-do lists. You can’t use your laptop effectively in a security line, but your phone works fine. Turn dead time into productive time and it stings a lot less.
