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No one likes waiting in line. But when it comes to airport security checkpoints, there is a workaround to fast-track the experience. Those with a membership to TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or CLEAR® Plus skip long entry wait lines and enjoy expedited screening where they can quickly verify their identity. All of these programs charge a fee.
If you have the right credit card, your net cost for one of these fast passes can be covered. That’s because many credit cards reimburse the application fees or membership fee as a benefit of being a cardholder. All you need to do is charge the application fee to the right card.
Best Credit Cards With TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
Credit Cards With Under $100 Annual Fee Offering TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Credits
There are over 15 credit cards with an annual fee of $100 or less that offer a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees. Some may also cover reimbursement toward NEXUS. Terms apply for enrollment.
These cards include:
With rare exception, the annual fee on these cards is less than the statement credit you’d receive to reimburse a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. That means you’d actually save more than the first year’s annual fee by applying for one of these cards, paying the annual fee and then charging the application fee to the card. Plus, many of these cards have excellent welcome offers. After the first year, you’d still need to evaluate if you’re getting enough benefit out of the card to justify the annual fee, considering that you’ll only need to apply for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four to five years.
Premium Travel Credit Cards With TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Credits
Reimbursed TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees are a nice perk. But there’s more to a card than this one benefit. Here are cards that come packed with travel perks—including TSA PreCheck and Global Entry application fee reimbursement. Terms apply for enrollment.
Business Travel Credit Cards With TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Credit
You have even more options if you’re a small business owner. Here are small business cards that reimburse application fees for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry:
Cards Offering Credits Toward CLEAR Plus
Only a few cards currently offer full reimbursement for a CLEAR® Plus Membership:
Delta and United airlines have partnerships with CLEAR® Plus where cardholders can receive a discount toward the cost of CLEAR® Plus. The exact discount may vary based on your elite status (if any) with the airline, though even general members can still save a little.
Holders of United co-branded personal and business credit cards receive a discounted price of $159, a $40 discount. These cards include:
Holders of Delta co-branded personal and business American Express credit cards also receive a discounted price of $159 per year, $40 off the regular $199 (enrollment required):
Methodology
Forbes Advisor rates cards both as stand-alone products (the card rating on the review) and compared to others in a specific use case (the card rating you see on a specific “Best” list). The rating for each card changes on different “Best” lists according to how a person looking for a card in that category may value certain card features.
For instance, a card that might be considered mediocre on a list of rewards cards could be the top card on a list of rewards cards with no annual fee. That’s because the card might offer limited features compared to other rewards cards, but after we remove cards that charge an annual fee, it’s the best card that remains.
Forbes Advisor uses data from multiple government agencies to determine how much a typical cardholder might spend. We use the same numbers for cards in the same category to make sure we are comparing cards the same way. The bonus categories for spending included with each card are factored into our determination of how many rewards a cardholder could expect to earn if they use the card as a consumer normally would.
Cards on this list were selected based on having TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or CLEAR® Plus application fee or membership credits as a feature, and then other benefits of the cards were considered when making recommendations about the best options.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards
How To Pick the Best Card With TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
There are many credit cards that offer TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credits as a benefit, so you shouldn’t focus on that benefit alone. Make sure you consider the annual fee of the card, the earnings rates and other benefits you have access to with a particular card before applying. Choose the card that’s going to give you the best rewards and benefits overall.
How To Apply for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
How To Apply for TSA PreCheck
You can apply for TSA PreCheck by following these steps:
- Go to the TSA PreCheck application page on the TSA website.
- Click the “New Enrollment” or “Renewal” button.
- Fill out the application form.
- Schedule an appointment at a TSA PreCheck enrollment center.
- Pay the $85 application fee.
The application shouldn’t take you longer than five minutes.
How To Apply for Global Entry
- Go to the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) website.
- Create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account.
- Fill out the application form.
- Pay the $120 application fee.
- Schedule an appointment at a Global Entry enrollment center after you receive conditional approval.
Bottom Line
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR® Plus make going through security lines faster and easier. Certain credit cards can get you a discounted or free membership to each of these programs. Both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry can save you time and hassle when traveling. Even infrequent travelers can likely justify the fee for five years of travel convenience. However, by charging the application fee to one of these credit cards, you can get this perk as an included benefit of your card membership.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card please visit this page.