If you are sick of ready in airport safety strains — particularly throughout in style journey seasons like spring break — why not attempt a bank card that provides a TSA PreCheck credit score? TSA PreCheck permits you to breeze by safety strains.
With a five-year membership beginning at $78, the worth tag of TSA PreCheck breaks right down to about $16 a yr, a price that may be properly price it for frequent vacationers. However, many bank cards supply assertion credit towards the price of TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus once you pay the applying charge together with your card. While this profit is often supplied from premium journey playing cards that cost tons of in annual charges, I’ve discovered a wide selection of no- or low-annual-fee playing cards that supply this perk. You’re welcome.
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Read extra: Which Credit Cards Offer Airport Lounge Access for Free? We Do the Math
Which proper journey program is best for you?
Before you begin searching card advantages for TSA PreCheck, take into account should you want a distinct journey program like Global Entry or Nexus.
TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry vs. Nexus
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and Nexus are all trusted traveler applications run by the Department of Homeland Security. These applications have barely totally different makes use of and software standards, however all serve the identical objective: to offer prescreened vacationers a streamlined course of at US airport safety or when crossing sure border checkpoints.
All these applications require an software — and an accompanying nonrefundable software charge — however an software does not assure acceptance. Applicants have to be vetted and endure an in-person enrollment or interview (relying on this system) to realize membership. You could also be denied in case you have a prison historical past, falsify software info, or have violated federal safety or customs/immigration laws, amongst different causes.
TSA PreCheck members can entry devoted TSA PreCheck safety screening lanes when accessible, which can lead to shorter waits than normal lanes. You will not have to take away your sneakers, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or mild jackets when going by safety both.
Global Entry and Nexus members can robotically get TSA PreCheck along with streamlined processing at sure worldwide borders.
Here’s a fast comparability of the three applications and their advantages:
TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry vs. Nexus
| TSA PreCheck | Global Entry | Nexus | |
| Best for | Travel by US airports | International journey | Travel between the US and Canada |
| Main profit | Streamlined safety at US airports | Expedited entry and streamlined processing at airports and border checkpoints with Global Entry + TSA PreCheck for eligible members | Expedited processing when getting into the US or Canada + TSA PreCheck for eligible members |
| Application charge | From $77.95 (varies by enrollment supplier) | $120 | $120 |
| Membership period | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Eligibility | US residents, US nationals, US lawful everlasting residents | US residents, US lawful everlasting residents, choose overseas nationals | US residents, US lawful everlasting residents, Canadian residents, Canadian everlasting residents, Mexican nationals |
| Enrollment necessities | Application, 10-minute appointment at enrollment supplier | Application, Interview on arrival at choose airports or at an enrollment heart | Application, In-person appointment at an enrollment heart |
How to get TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus by a bank card
Certain bank cards, sometimes journey playing cards, supply an announcement credit score for the applying or membership charge to TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, Nexus or different expedited airport screening applications like CLEAR. Different playing cards supply credit for various applications, however TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are the commonest.
In order to get this credit score, you could pay your software or renewal charge with this bank card. In most circumstances, you will get a credit score for one software charge for the precise charge quantity as much as the utmost credit score quantity. For instance, in case your card affords a $120 credit score for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and also you go for TSA PreCheck with an $85 software charge, you will solely get $85 in assertion credit score, not $120. If you apply for a number of applications, the assertion credit score sometimes will get utilized simply to the primary one.
Apart from providing you with an announcement credit score for the applying charge, your bank card issuer has nothing to do with this system or the applying course of. Everyone applies by the identical official software channels run by the US authorities. This is totally different from perks like bank card Priority Pass, the place cardholders activate their membership by their card issuer.
Most playing cards supply one credit score each 4 years or so, which is sufficient to get steady protection for one particular person as TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Nexus memberships all final 5 years.
Pro tip: The software charge for Global Entry and Nexus lately elevated on Oct. 1, 2024, from $100 and $50, respectively, to $120 for every. Some bank cards have up to date their credit score to mirror the brand new charge quantities, whereas others have not. If a card’s most credit score quantity is lower than the present software charge for Global Entry or Nexus, you will not be absolutely reimbursed for the charge.
Credit playing cards that supply TSA PreCheck or Global Entry reimbursement at no cost
If you are trying to get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry with out having to pay an annual charge for a bank card, listed here are the no-annual-fee playing cards I’d suggest:
No-annual charge playing cards that supply TSA PreCheck
| Card identify | Maximum credit score | Credit | Credit accessible |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines Credit Union Visa® Signature credit score* | $100 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | Every 4 years |
| Arvest Visa Signature® Credit Card | $85 for TSA PreCheck or $120 for Global Entry | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | Every 4 years |
| Truist Enjoy Travel bank card | $85 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | Every 4 years |
| U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card | $100 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | Every 4 years |
*Credit union card; might have to satisfy sure membership eligibility standards to use.
$0 intro annual charge playing cards with TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus credit
There are sure playing cards that waive their annual charge in your first yr, basically getting you a credit score for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus for no extra cash.
Intro annual charge playing cards that supply TSA PreCheck
| Card identify | Annual charge (after first yr) | Maximum credit score | Credit | Credit accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One® Spark® Miles Card | $95 | $120 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years |
| Provident World+ Travel® Visa Signature®* | $45 | $85 for TSA PreCheck or $100 for Global Entry | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 5 years |
| Truist Business Travel Rewards bank card | $49 | $85 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years |
| United℠ Explorer Card | $95 | $120 | TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus | 4 years |
*Credit union card; might have to satisfy sure membership eligibility standards to use.
While you would technically get the cardboard, use the credit score after which cancel the cardboard for no out-of-pocket value, doing so might injury your credit score rating or probability of getting accredited by the identical issuer once more.
Low annual charge playing cards that supply TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus credit
If you desire a larger tier journey bank card, you would possibly take into account a card that costs an annual charge that is decrease than the credit score it affords for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus. While you technically will not be getting a membership at no cost, you would nonetheless save greater than you’d by shopping for the membership outright.
Keep in thoughts that you’re going to solely offset your prices for the primary out of 4 years (typically). Most playing cards solely obtain one credit score each 4 years. For the opposite three years, you will not be capable to offset the annual charge with this explicit credit score, though the cardboard might supply different journey advantages or rewards that make the annual charge price it.
Like with the $0 intro annual charge playing cards, you in principle might cancel these playing cards after you’ve got acquired the credit score the primary yr, however accomplish that at your personal danger.
Low annual charge playing cards that supply TSA PreCheck
| Card identify | Annual charge | Maximum credit score | Credit | Credit accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroplan® Credit Card | $95 | $120 | TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus | 4 years |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® bank card | $95 | $100 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | $95 | $120 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years |
| Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® | $95 | $120 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | $99 | $120 | TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus | 4 years |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card | $99 | $120 | TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus | 4 years |
| Navy Federal Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Card* | $49 | $120 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years |
| PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card | $95 (waived for PenFed Honors Advantage Members) | $120 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years |
| Truist Enjoy Beyond bank card | $95 | $120 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years |
| USAA Eagle Navigator™ Visa Signature® Credit Card* | $95 | $120 | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years |
| U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card** | $85 | $120 for Global Entry, $85 for TSA PreCheck | TSA PreCheck or Global Entry | 4 years for Global Entry, 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck (after making use of for a 5-year membership) |
*Credit union card; might have to satisfy sure membership eligibility standards to use.
**(see charges and costs)
Do you actually need TSA PreCheck? Thoughts from a frequent traveler who virtually by no means makes use of it
I’ve been touring for the previous yr — I’ve visited over 36 international locations since September of 2023 — however I hardly ever use TSA PreCheck since I’m not within the US typically. I’ve flown out of home airports 5 instances throughout this timeframe and solely used TSA PreCheck for one or two of these flights.
TSA PreCheck hasn’t been very useful for me — at the least not but. My house airport has comparatively brief basic screening strains, and taking my laptop computer out or my sneakers off is not an enormous deal. This is certainly not a membership I might pay money or open an annual-fee card for, nor one I might renew except I acquired it at no cost once more.
But that is simply me. If you steadily fly out and in of US airports, or if your own home airport is giant and has lengthy safety strains, TSA PreCheck is usually a main comfort and time saver.
For now, I really feel the identical method about TSA PreCheck as I do about Priority Pass: it is good to have and infrequently helpful, nevertheless it’s not going to make or break my journey expertise. It’s additionally removed from my prime concern when selecting a brand new bank card.
More journey recommendation
*All details about the Aeroplan® Credit Card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® bank card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, Navy Federal Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Card*, PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card, Truist Enjoy Beyond bank card, USAA Eagle Navigator™ Visa Signature® Credit Card*, American Airlines Credit Union Visa® Signature credit score*, Arvest Visa Signature® Credit Card, Truist Enjoy Travel bank card, U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card, Capital One® Spark® Miles Card, Provident World+ Travel® Visa Signature®*, Truist Business Travel Rewards bank card and the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
For charges and costs of The Platinum Card from U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card, click on right here.
