While at airports, you may have noticed how some people manage to turn into impressive track athletes in a rush to make it to their gates, just to miss it by a minute. At some point or another during our travels, we have been that family running like maniacs to make it to our gate on time because one of the kids was not being cooperative, or because there was some unexpected road construction on the way to the airport, or better yet someone forgot that we had to check luggage (guilty as charged). No one wants to have to wait hours for another flight to their dream vacation or to return home, especially after having been away for days or weeks.
Traveling with kids obviously offers its fair share of challenges: holding on for dear life to a squirming overactive toddler while doing my best not to drop my pants until I get my belt back on and wondering whether the beeping sound at the security gate is due to scissors my daughter snuck in my back-pocket… You get the idea. We’ve all been there.
Wouldn’t it be nice to zip through the security gates without having to place the laptop in a separate bin, take the kids’ shoes off, take your belt and jacket off, place the liquids in another bin, put the kids’ shoes back on, chase your runaway kid while you are still buckling your belt, and then get stuck in long lines at immigration after hours on a plane. If you would like to avoid these hassles, then you need to apply for the Global Entry or TSA Pre√ Trusted Traveler programs and make your life easier while traveling.
Trusted Traveler Global Entry/TSA Pre√ cards
The Global Entry allows pre-approved (after a background check and interview) travelers to bypass the long lines upon arrival in the US and use Global Entry kiosks with fingerprint scanners to verify identification and fill out customs declaration forms. Members of the Global Entry program do NOT need to fill out the customs declaration forms provided by the flight attendants while in route back to the US. The Global Entry kiosks are also available at specific international airports outside the US. We were able to take advantage of our trusted traveler program membership while flying back from Aruba and Nassau recently. This offered a huge advantage since we were traveling with our preschool-age children who were cranky and restless and didn’t want to stand around in a long line. For a list of interntational airports participating in the Global Entry program, please refer to this U.S Customs and Border Protection link.
Who’s eligible to apply for the Global Entry program?
US citizens, lawful permanent residents, Citizens of Panama, Germany, U.K, South Korea, The Netherlands and Mexican nationals are eligible to apply for the Global Entry membership.
Who’s eligible for TSA Pre√ ?
US Citizens, U.S. Nationals, and lawful permanent residents. Additionally, foreign citizens who are members of the Global Entry program are eligible for TSA Pre√. There are certain disqualifying offenses (such as violation of transportation security regulations, being on a terrorist watchlist (duh!), serious criminal convictions) or incomplete/false application information. If you are traveling with children under age 12, they can benefit from TSA Pre√ while traveling with an eligible parent or guardian. So if you don’t plan on doing any international travel in the next 5 years and have young children, this may be your best value. When traveling with TSA Pre√ you must give your known traveler number (KTN) when making your flight reservations, and it will show up on your boarding pass. Make sure you give the exact name on your airline reservation that you provided for TSA Pre√ or you will not be eligible for that flight or will have to contact the airline to change your name on your flight reservation. We ran into this problem a few times when we accidentally omitted a middle initial from our flight reservation and had to contact the airline to get it fixed.
Is TSA Pre√ available everywhere?
TSA Pre√ is available with the following airlines: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, OneJet, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country, United Airlines, Virgin America, and WestJet. It’s available at more than 150 airports in the U.S. When you arrive to the airport, make sure your boarding pass says TSA Pre√ and then look for the signs to that lane, which will be much shorter and convenient.
I hardly travel abroad, pretty much all of my flights are domestic, do I need to apply for the Global Entry?
The Global Entry program is done through the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) and is essential for international travelers who don’t want to wait in long lines when returning to the U.S. TSA Pre√ is done through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and benefits travelers departing from the United States, whether internationally or domestically. One can simply apply for the TSA Pre√ for a $85 fee, which is valid for 5 years. However, the Global Entry program includes the TSA Pre√ and provides the huge benefit of expedited entry benefits in other countries as well. I would rather spend the extra $15 for the Global Entry program and avoid long lines in customs on international travel while exhausted and jet-lagged. That extra $15 is worth it even if you plan to only travel once internationally in the 5 years that it is valid.
What is it like applying for the Global Entry program?
Applying for the Global Entry is so easy, a caveman could do it. Each individual applying must create a Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) account at the CBP site, fill out the application, pay the $100 nonrefundable fee which is valid for 5 years (more on this below), schedule and attend an interview at an enrollment center, wait 7 – 10 business days for the card to be mailed once approved, and activate the card online upon receipt. That’s it!
$100/person adds up quick for a family of five, how can I pay for the fees?
As a family of 5, the fees for the Global Entry add up. Fortunately, there are credit cards such as the American Express Platinum and the American Airlines Executive cards, both of which we own, that provide statement credits as reimbursements for the Global Entry application. So it turned out to be free for us, and has made traveling internationally and domestically so much easier.
How long does the application process take?
Application processing varies. Our applications took less than 3 days including the interviews at the global enrollment centers. Make sure to bring all the necessary documentation during the interview so you don’t get turned away: valid passport and one other form of identification such as a driver’s license, ID card, or permanent resident card.
Bypass the long lines with the TSA Pre√ lines
In summary, the Global Entry & TSA Pre√ are excellent programs allowing domestic and international travelers to greatly reduce their wait times at the security checkpoints. Being able to zip through the checkpoints or go through customs at a faster pace could prevent you from missing a flight and potentially having to purchase an additional international flight at the last minute, which could be exorbitant. The cost for the Global Entry program is $100/person and well worth every dollar if you plan to travel internationally in the 5 years that it is valid. We were able to get 5 applications (the 2 of us, our 2 kids, and mom) paid for using our credit card perks, so that saved us $500. In the event that one has to pay the $100 out of pocket, the trusted traveler program still pays for itself in the long-term, especially if you place value on your time. For us, having a less stressful experience at the airport, especially while traveling with our young children, is priceless! Have you had any positive experiences with TSA Pre√ or Global Entry that saved you a lot of hassle? On the flip side, have you had any of those Home Alone, running through the airport to realize you left someone behind, or missed your flight due to long lines with security? Please share your experiences with us in the comment section below. Now that you are ready to make your airport experience easier, read this post from Durham’s Love, Life and Travel about common trip planning mistakes. Did you get your Global Entry membership covered by your credit card?
