Is TSA Pre✓worth it?

How to know if you need it

Who wants to stand in a security line that snakes around and around with waits during peak times that can exceed the length of a flight? Well, most travelers don’t have to — if they are willing to pay. But, before you dismiss forking over extra cash, consider your options. For many frequent travelers, it can be worth the upfront cost for saving time and sanity later.

There are several programs that work to get you through airport security faster, but TSA Pre✓ is one of the most popular. TSA Pre✓ sends members to the front of the line, or, more accurately, through a separate express TSA Pre✓ lane.

Other travel programs that ease wait times at airports, and come with TSA Pre✓, include the four Trusted Traveler Programs run by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol:

• Global Entry, a travel program ideal for folks who travel internationally, offers expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S. if you have Global Entry, you also get to participate in the TSA Pre✓, which saves you time and money.
• NEXUS, a travel program for travel between the U.S. and Canada, allows members expedited processing upon arrival in the U.S. and Canada.
• SENTRI (Secure Electric Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection) is a travel program for travel via land into the U.S. from Mexico.
• FAST (Free and Secure Trade) is a travel program for commercial vehicles traveling between U.S and Mexico and U.S. and Canada.

There is also CLEAR, a non-governmentally administered membership program that lets departing passengers breeze through airport security via designated CLEAR lanes at 16 select U.S. airports. Unlike TSA Pre✓, which isn’t guaranteed to be in effect at the airport on your chosen day and time of travel, CLEAR is a guarantee, meaning travelers don’t need to leave their homes or hotels earlier “just in case.”

For more information on TSA Pre✓, Global Entry, NEXIS and CLEAR check out: 4 Programs that will help you breeze through airport security.

What is TSA Pre✓?

TSA Pre✓ is an expedited screening program that helps thousands of travelers get through TSA security screenings faster. Some 97-percent of TSA Pre✓ passengers waited less than five minutes in line in July 2016, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

TSA Pre✓ travelers pay $85 for a five-year membership. After completing a brief online application, prospective TSA Pre✓ passengers attend a 10-minute, in-person background check and finger printing appointment at one of 380 enrollment centers in the U.S. Travelers can apply anytime and the approval process takes 30 to 45 days from the time the application information is received.

Benefits include:

• Expedited screening process full-time or during peak times at 180 participating airports  for “low risk” passengers flying on one of 16 participating airlines. (NOTE: Due to the unpredictable nature of airport security, expedited screening is not guaranteed.)
• Family members ages 12 and under traveling with an eligible parent or guardian with a TSA Pre✓ indicator on their boarding pass can also participate in expedited screening.
• No need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or light jackets.

Is TSA Pre✓ right for you?

More than 3 million people have TSA Pre✓, but is it worth it? It depends. Answer a few questions below to learn whether or not TSA Pre✓ is worth the money for you.

Before you can breeze through security, you need to book a flight. Start planning your next getaway now.

Have you considered TSA✓? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Main image: iStockPhoto/VladTeodor