Why We Book Our Holiday Travel A Year In Advance

Nothing ruins holiday travel like realizing at the last minute your passport or Global Entry has expired. Don’t let this happen to you. Check your passport, Global Entry and TSA PreCheck status at least a year in advance.

U.S. citizens aged 16 or older must renew their passport every 10 years, while those under 16 need a new passport every five years. In addition, certain countries won’t allow U.S. citizens to enter with a passport that expires within six months—and some airlines will enforce the rule by prohibiting boarding.

Learn passport rules for specific countries you might visit during your holiday travels on the U.S. State Department’s website. An updated passport will ensure a smooth entry into other countries, but to expedite your return to the U.S., sign up for Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck.

Everyone needs their own Global Entry account, no matter their age. The TSA PreCheck rules are nuanced and depend on whether children are flying alone or with parents who have TSA PreCheck.

To gain Global Entry, create a Trusted Traveler account, pay the $120 fee and schedule an interview at a nearby airport. Once you’re approved for TSA PreCheck, you’ll have access to a special security line when departing U.S. airports.

After your Trusted Traveler interview, you’ll have both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. Sometimes, you can’t schedule a Global Entry interview for several months, which is another reason we plan our holiday travel a year or more in advance.

Many credit cards offer a Global Entry credit, including the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve®, among others. The Global Entry charge doesn’t have to be for the cardholder either—simply charge anyone’s Global Entry application fee to participating credit cards and receive up to $120 credit on your statement.

Don’t have a year before your next international trip? One way we’ve skipped the U.S. reentry line last-minute is with free Mobile Passport Control. Before your next return flight to the U.S., download the CBP Mobile Passport Control app and add your travel document, photo and customs declaration form. You’ll enter through a line separate from both the regular line and the Global Entry line—simply follow the Mobile Passport signs at the airport.