Travel Explained

TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry

TSA PreCheck speeds up airport security before participating flights, while Global Entry adds expedited processing when returning to the United States from abroad—and includes TSA PreCheck benefits.

Airports, Security & Identification • Travel Explained

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Solve Different Airport Problems

TSA PreCheck is designed to make the security-screening process easier when departing from participating U.S. airports. Eligible travelers generally use a dedicated lane and can leave on shoes, belts, and light jackets while keeping compliant liquids and laptops inside their bags.

The Transportation Security Administration works with several authorized enrollment providers, so the initial fee may vary but is currently $85 or less for five years. After approval, travelers receive a Known Traveler Number that must be added to eligible airline reservations.

Global Entry is designed for international arrivals. It provides expedited processing when an approved traveler enters the United States after traveling abroad. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, membership costs $120, lasts five years, and includes eligibility for TSA PreCheck.

That means most travelers do not need to purchase both separately. A Global Entry member can enter the PASS ID from their membership as a Known Traveler Number when booking eligible flights to receive TSA PreCheck benefits.

The difference is when each benefit applies. TSA PreCheck helps before participating departures from U.S. airports. It does not create a faster security lane at foreign airports. Global Entry helps when returning to the United States, but it does not replace a passport or eliminate customs and immigration requirements.

In my experience, TSA PreCheck has been the benefit I use most frequently. At Phoenix Sky Harbor, I have sometimes moved through the PreCheck line in roughly two minutes. The line at Reagan National can be longer, but it has still generally been much faster and easier than standard screening.

I have used the Global Entry arrival benefit far less often, and scheduling the interview took me about three months. That experience will not be the same for every applicant, but it shows why travelers with an international trip approaching should not assume the Global Entry process will be immediate.

For someone who expects even one or two international trips within five years, the additional cost for Global Entry can be worthwhile because it includes PreCheck. Travelers who fly almost entirely within the United States and want the simpler enrollment process may find TSA PreCheck sufficient.