TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are both part of something called the Trusted Traveler Programs run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. They let pre-approved travelers move through airports faster. TSA PreCheck is specifically for security screening at U.S. airports — think the line where you take off your shoes, pull out your laptop, and empty your pockets. With PreCheck, you generally skip all of that and use a much faster dedicated lane. Global Entry does that AND speeds up customs screening when you’re arriving back in the U.S. from an international trip.
Here’s the money math: TSA PreCheck membership lasts five years. The application fee is $85, which works out to $17 per year. (Fees can change, so check the TSA website for the current rate before applying.) Global Entry membership also lasts five years at $120 total — about $24 per year. Both require a background check and an application process. Global Entry also requires an in-person interview at an enrollment center before your membership is approved — something worth planning for. Since Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck benefits, many people go straight for Global Entry if they ever travel internationally.
The part that makes this worth looking into: many credit cards and loyalty programs will cover the application fee entirely. The TSA’s own website lists participating cards and programs. If a parent, older sibling, or you yourself has one of those cards, the reimbursement may be available — though the exact process varies by card, so check your card’s terms. That could mean the membership effectively costs nothing out of pocket.
If you’re under 18, you can’t apply on your own, but kids 12 and under can use the PreCheck lane when traveling with an enrolled parent or guardian. So even now, it’s worth mentioning to your family. The single most important thing to know: if your household has a credit card, check whether it already covers one of these programs — you might already qualify and just not know it.