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Travel Smarter With TSA PreCheck, Global Entry & CLEAR

By Doug Orens, Vice President, Plaza Travel


Happy New Year! It’s 2022 and you’ve decided to start traveling again. There are a number of programs you can enroll in that will expedite your trip through the airport. A couple will help you breeze through security on your way to your destination, while another speeds up the process when you’re returning from an international trip. The three programs we will be discussing are TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR. Each of these has a cost associated with it, but many credit cards will refund the charges – more on that later.

Because these programs allow you to spend less time getting screened at the airport, they do require you to apply and get accepted. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry have online applications to get a conditional approval followed by a short interview, typically at an airport or other official location. We have made that step substantially easier by offering those interviews in our Woodland Hills office a couple times a year. Be sure to pay attention to our emails, or ask your advisor for the date of our next in-office interviews. CLEAR also has an online application, but no interview. Once accepted, you complete the process next time you’re at the airport. You can also complete the whole process at the airport in just minutes.

TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck is $85 for a five-year
membership and allows you to go through
a special line at over 200 airports in the US.

These lines are usually shorter than the regular security lines, and typically move faster because when going through security in the PreCheck line, you do not need to remove your shoes, belt, light jacket, laptop, iPad, or liquids from your bag.

I think they also move faster because people who have TSA PreCheck tend to travel more often, so they “know the drill.” If you arrive at the airport and the TSA line is substantially longer than the regular line, there is nothing stopping you from getting in the regular line. Just remember, this means you will have to remove your shoes, liquids, laptop, etc.

Global Entry

Global Entry is $100 for a five-year
membership and it includes TSA PreCheck.
I don’t see a reason not to spend the extra
$15 to get Global Entry. Remember, both
of these memberships are good for five
years, so it’s only an extra $3 per year.

The only thing preventing you from getting both programs is if you don’t have a passport. Global Entry requires a valid US passport, while TSA PreCheck does not. The main difference between the two programs is that PreCheck speeds up the security screening when you’re flying out of an airport, Global Entry expedites the process when you return from an international trip. A quick stop at a self-serve kiosk where, depending on the airport, you either scan your passport, check your fingerprints and/or facial recognition, answer a few questions on the screen, and then are presented with a “receipt” that you show the officers on the way out and you are good to go. Once you have your bags, there is another shorter line to exit the airport.

CLEAR

CLEAR costs $179 per year, but we have a
special offer for you below. It is the newest
program and, unlike the first two, is run by
a private company.

Being the new kid on the block, it is not offered at as many airports, but they are constantly adding locations. CLEAR works best in conjunction with the other programs. As more and more travelers enroll in PreCheck, those lines are starting to get longer as well. I have had CLEAR for about five years and don’t think I have ever had to wait in line. CLEAR uses biometrics, iris scan, and/or fingerprints to identify you. So when interacting with CLEAR, you don’t even need your ID. Just walk up to the machine, look into it and scan your boarding pass. A CLEAR ambassador walks you through the very quick process and then escorts you to the front of the security line for a quick check from the TSA officer and away you go. CLEAR also allows expedited security checks at a number of stadiums, arenas, and other entertainment venues around the country as well a new “health pass” feature that allows you to store your COVID-19 test results and vaccination records.

A number of credit cards offer statement credits to cover the cost of PreCheck or Global Entry. These credits are automatically applied when you use your card to pay for either of these programs. Statement credits are typically offered once every four or five years, but the programs are good for five years, so that should cover your cost. Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture, and AMEX Platinum are among those that offer this credit. A list of cards that either cover the fee, or allow you to use reward points to pay for program can be found here.

CLEAR membership fees are not typically covered by those cards, although new benefits are being added all the time. Plaza Travel is currently offering two months of CLEAR for free when using the code below.

One last reminder is to check if you have a
REAL ID. When the May 3, 2023 deadline
arrives, you will have to show a REAL ID-
compliant driver’s license, state-issued
enhanced driver’s license, or another
acceptable form of ID to fly within the US.
Check your license/ID for a star at the top
of the card. If you’re not sure, contact your
state driver’s license agency on how to
obtain a REAL ID compliant card.



• Apply for TSA PreCheck
• Apply for Global Entry
• Apply for CLEAR
When applying for CLEAR, be sure to enter the code SigPlaza2022 to get the first two months for free!
Click here for more info about REAL ID

We think the benefits of all of these far outweigh the costs, especially when taking advantage of the offers mentioned above. Please reach out if you have questions or would like additional information on how to apply for any of these time-saving programs.

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