This Is My Favorite Travel Perk — and It Was Free Thanks to My Credit Card

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Days at the airport usually come with some amount of stress and plenty of expense. Learn how you can save on both with this travel perk. 

For many people, travel is an enjoyable and rewarding experience well worth the cost of admission. Time spent in the airport, however, is less of a treat. Long lines, overbooked flights, and weather delays are common experiences when flying. And even if everything goes smoothly, I’d bet that you still experience your share of frustration at the airport.

There’s one perk that I started taking advantage of a few years ago that has significantly improved my travel days, and I didn’t have to pay a cent for it. Here’s what it is, and how you can get it for free, too.

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry makes airport travel smoother

Once travel opened up more broadly after the worst of the pandemic had passed, I decided to sign up for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. It was a program I’d heard about for years but had never taken the time to pursue, but I’m so glad I finally did.

You probably know the main benefit of TSA PreCheck, which is getting to skip the main security line at the airport and move through a separate line just for TSA PreCheck members. According to its website, 99% of passengers wait for less than 10 minutes, and depending on your airport and the crowds when you travel, it can be even less. Speaking anecdotally, I’ve had plenty of travel days with no wait in the security line at all.

Another great thing about having TSA PreCheck is how much less fussing you need to do while going through security. You can leave your shoes, belt, and light jacket on instead of publicly disrobing in line, and you can leave your laptop and small liquids in your bag rather than digging through your carry-on while angry travelers mutter behind you.

If you plan on traveling internationally, Global Entry is great to have. Membership includes eligibility for TSA PreCheck, so you get all of those benefits, as well as (according to the Global Entry website):

No processing linesNo paperworkAccess to expedited entry benefits in other countriesAvailable at major U.S. airportsReduced wait times

Again speaking from my experience, I’m pretty sure I spend more time walking from the plane to Customs than I do actually waiting and being cleared through Customs.

All this…for free?!

Yep, that’s right. This is no big secret, but I think it’s still worth shouting from the rooftops for those who don’t know about it. Many travel credit cards cover the cost of joining TSA PreCheck and Global Entry for cardholders, so you don’t have to pay anything extra to sign up for the services.

TSA PreCheck alone costs $85 for a five-year membership, while Global Entry (which, remember, includes TSA PreCheck) costs $100 for five years. If you have a credit card that covers the fee, you’ll receive a credit after applying for the program, leaving you to breeze through the airport like the jetsetter you are.

If you already have a travel credit card you love, check the cardholder benefits to see if you can get a TSA PreCheck of Global Entry membership fee waived. And if you’re looking to apply for a new credit card, consider getting one that includes this perk. You’ll save money, time, and your sanity as you speed past other travelers stuck in the slow lane.

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