TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and Clear: Which Is Actually Worth It?

Many travelers think priority security programs are a luxury reserved for people who spend half their lives in the air. The truth is, these are basic tools that anyone can use to skip the worst parts of the airport experience. Even if you only flight a few times a year, a known traveler program can be worth it – but the right program depends on your specific needs.

We have all three: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and Clear. We’ve used them to turn three-hour holiday lines into five-minute walk-throughs to the lounge. But we’ve also been burned by them. Before you spend a dime, you need to know which one is actually worth your time. Plus we’ll tell you about the one free, easy option that most travelers still underutilize.

TSA PreCheck: The Domestic Baseline

TSA PreCheck is the standard for domestic travel. It’s the smart move that allows you to keep your laptop and dignity in place while moving through security. It sounds simple, but it can be the difference between a calm and frantic experience. Even though TSA ended shoe-removal for all passengers, we still think Pre-Check is worth it to zip through security a little faster and probably with more travelers who know the rules and aren’t holding up the line.

Ensure Accurate Data Entry: Make sure you enter your PreCheck number before checking in online. We have had a few moments where our PreCheck status didn’t show up on our boarding pass. Usually, this is a data entry error. You can call the airline to fix it, but if you’re already at the airport, it’s often faster to just use the regular line rather than waiting at a service desk.

The Dreaded SSSS: Even with PreCheck, you can still get flagged for the SSSS (Secondary Security Screening Selection). When those four letters appear on your pass, your status is temporarily revoked for that flight. You’ll be pulled aside for a full pat-down and bag search. It’s rare, but it has happened to us, and there’s no way to skip it. You just have to be polite and get through it.

✅ Check TSA PreCheck eligibility here.

Fast track through the airport feels like a luxury

Global Entry: The Ultimate Power Play

Global Entry (GE) is for international travelers, and here why you want it even if you don’t travel internationally that often: it includes TSA PreCheck for free. We made the mistake a decade ago of signing up for just PreCheck first. While PreCheck is faster to get approved, GE is the better long-term value if you leave the country even once a year. It cost $120 and is good for five years. For most people, $24 a year for GE and TSA Pre is totally worth it.

Interview Tip: The wait for a Global Entry interview after you complete your application is no joke. If you can’t find an appointment, check the website on the first Monday of the month at 9 a.m. local time. This is when they typically release new appointments. You can also check back frequently for cancellations to open up spots but you may have to pivot quickly.

Enrollment on Arrival: We skipped the months-long wait for an appointment by doing our interview on arrival in Miami after a trip to Colombia. It took an extra hour after a long flight, but it secured five years of zipping through immigration. Theo’s renewal at the five-year mark was automatic, but I was selected for another interview. Fortunately, being in DC meant I could go to the CBP headquarters, but those slots are still hard to score. The first Monday strategy worked for me.

✅ Check Global Entry eligibility here.

CLEAR: Is It Worth the High Price Tag?

CLEAR uses biometrics (your eyes or fingerprints) to verify your identity so you can cut to the very front of the security line. It used to be our favorite secret, but lately, it hasn’t lived up to the hype.

Efficiency Problems: At our home airports in Washington, DC (IAD and DCA) the CLEAR line is frequently slower than the standard TSA PreCheck line. I have timed it myself.

It is bizarre to see people standing in a twenty-minute CLEAR line just because they have the membership, while the PreCheck line next to them is moving in five. We honestly wonder how much longer the CLEAR service will last unless they find a way to make it more efficient. Raising the price alone isn’t the way.

Membership Perks: We only keep CLEAR because it is free through our AmEx Hilton Aspire credit card for one person. We would not pay the $209 annual fee out of pocket.

If you have a card that covers it, keep it as “insurance” for those days when the PreCheck line is truly backed up. You can also add a family member for a discounted rate ($125), which is necessary if you fly with a partner like we do. I’m still not sure it’s worth it. We used to get a nice discount with United Airlines that made the AmEx credit stretch to cover both of us, but now it’s only $10 off.

Our Honest Opinion: It’s not worth it for most people unless you frequent airports where it actually saves time or it’s completely covered as a credit card benefit.

🤓 Learn more about CLEAR here.

Luxe-for-Less: Getting Benefits for Free

You should almost never pay the sticker price for these programs. Most premium travel cards offer a statement credit that covers the full cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck for one person every four years. Since we have several cards with this benefit, we both get it for free. Check your cards to see if it’s included and make sure you pay for it with the right one.

The Free Secret: Mobile Passport Control

If you don’t travel internationally enough to justify a paid membership, you should still never stand in the standard immigration line. Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a free app from US Customs and Border Protection that almost no one seems to use – even though it’s been around for a long time.

We recommend this to all our friends and family. You simply upload your photo and answer the standard customs questions in the app while your plane is taxiing to the gate.

Pro tip: make sure you turn off Wi-Fi so your phone isn’t trying to connect to the airplane’s Wi-Fi and the form fails to send. Use cellular data.

While other passengers are racing toward the Global Entry kiosks or the massive standard queue, you just head for the dedicated MPC lane. In our experience, this can be as fast as Global Entry (sometimes) and it costs nothing. You can even add family members to make it easy for group travel.

🤓 Learn more about Mobile Passport Control here.

Not all airports have a baggage claim this small

TL;DR: Our Verdict

If you want to deal with one program that covers the most options, make it Global Entry. It covers both domestic security and international immigration and is often covered by travel credit cards.
If you don’t want to deal with the GE application, or never travel internationally, go for TSA PreCheck. It’s inexpensive and the process is easier.
Use Mobile Passport if you want the perks without the background check and interview.
Skip CLEAR unless a credit card covers it or you fly out of a hub where the PreCheck line is notoriously worse.

What’s your favorite program? Are you tired of CLEAR, too? Let us know in the comments.