The last thing you want to face after a 14 hour flight from overseas is a huge line at passport control, where you have to stand in line with 100 other bleary-eyed passengers. Likewise, running late for a flight and approaching a giant security line can be a nightmare. Fortunately there are some great ways to sail through these obstacles.
Global Entry (with free TSA pre-check)
If you are a US citizen we highly recommend applying for Global Entry. It’s a program run by US homeland security that essentially pre-screens passengers as likely non-terrorists. You apply online – it’s $100 every 5 years and some of the travel credit cards will reimburse the fee (see our blog on travel credit cards). You will need to apply and then schedule an in-person interview. This may take a few months to schedule. If, however you are entering from overseas you can get your interview at the time you arrive, at the point of entry without an appointment
For your trouble and cost you get valuable services.
First you get a number to use to get TSA precheck every time you book a flight within the US. The vast majority of the time, TSA precheck allows you into a shorter security line where you don’t have to remove your shoes, tablets, laptop, or liquids (it cuts down a significant time for security). It’s $85 for TSA precheck alone so you might as well get global entry as well.
Second you get a Global Entry card which you can use as your compliant ID while flying. If you live in a state like California where you now need to go apply at the DMV for a compliant drivers license I would argue that avoiding DMV lines alone is worth the cost. In addition, you get to bypass the sometimes horrific passport control lines coming back into the US and hop into the global entry line where it’s much faster and easier. You’ll be asked to scan your passport, fingerprints, and look into a camera. There is virtually never a line for this and you can get through passport control within 5 minutes (seriously). When you’re grumpy from lack of sleep and your middle seat in economy, this feels like a win.
Pro tip: If TSA precheck doesn’t show on your mobile boarding pass, go to the check in desk for your flight and hand your card to them. They should be able to enter the number at the airport and reprint your ticket with TSA attached. It’s an annoyance that doesn’t typically occur, but on the off-chance it does, we’ve found this works.
Mobile Passport
This is a great app that costs nothing, requires no special interview, and may save you as much time coming back into the US than Global Entry. The last time we flew back from Spain the line for passport control at SFO was truly frightening. Our traveling companion did not have Global Entry but thanks to this little free app we jumped into the mobile passport line and all of us got through with no wait-time at all. In fact the line was even shorter than for Global Entry, however this could change as more people download the app. Just download the app, spend a few minutes entering you passport info, enter a photo – then every time you return from out of the country, fill out the declarations form as soon as your plane lands and you can connect to internet. When you get to passport control show it to the agent and sail through.
Clear
Whether this service is worth it is up to you. It’s pretty pricey at $179 per year, though travel cards may get you discounts. It’s now at many, but far from all, airports. What it does is it uses biometrics (retinal scan/fingerprint scan to identify you) and then they walk you right to the security scan – bypassing the regular line and even bypassing the TSA precheck line. If you don’t additionally have TSA precheck, you will bypass the line but still need to do the standard airport strip search (shoes and belts off, liquids and laptops out) but you can skip that giant line. TSA precheck lines are now getting a lot longer as more people figure out the benefits, so if you despise lines you might want to consider it. Personally, for the price I’ve never felt it was worth it but if the TSA precheck lines get longer I might consider it.
Airline Elite Status
Airline elite status often gets you into shorter lines, and flying business or first class is almost always a shorter line and you can take advantage of these perks at most international airports. The problem is that you have to fly a lot with one airline or pay the additional fee for a nicer seat every flight.
Repeated Travel to the Same Country
If you travel a lot, for work for instance, you may want to google if that country has repeated entry options for US Citizens. Many listed in the section below in the area of “What About Non-US Citizens?” allow US citizens to use the benefits as well as citizens for a fee. It probably doesn’t make a lot of sense.
What about non U.S. citizens?
Look up your own country’s rules. Many offer options similar to the U.S.’s global entry. Some (that also typically have reciprocity with the U.S.) are listed below.
- Canada: NEXUS
- Mexico: Programa Viajero Confiable and SENTRI
- UK: Registered Traveller Program (works for Eurostar too)
- Panama: Global Pass
- Germany: Easy Pass
- Netherlands: Privium
- Korea: Smart Entry Service
- Australia: Smart Gate
- New Zealand: Global Entry
- Singapore: Singapore’s Trusted Traveler Program
- Pacific Rim Countries: U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program