TSA precheck or global entry

TSA pre-check will not help you with international flight. It is only good for domestic. Global Entry is the one that will help you, but only for re-entering USA. I have both, I decided it would be worth the extra bucks to go ahead a get GE and Pre-Check. I have used both, and I must say it was definitely worth the cost. I love sailing through security on domestic flights, no shoes off, and much faster lines. I just used my GE, two weeks ago, again step up to the kiosk, insert passport and answer the usual questions, place fingers on fingerprint scanner, retrieve printout, and sail through customs. I estimate 3-5 minutes.

Depending on where your nearest Global Entry interview center is and how busy they are you might or might not get an interview before then. The Global Entry requires a face to face interview and many centers are backed up for months for appointments. You sign up online, then get an online approval (sometimes takes 2 weeks to get this) and THEN you can get online and book your appointment.

Where will you enter the US? Atlanta? You may be able to use the mobile passport app which is free.

https://mobilepassport.us/

If you don't have either, you should apply immediately if you want to have any hope in getting either before your trip.

Which do you need? Global Entry only helps on international trips when you are returning to the US. TSA Pre Check will let you use the pre check lanes for every domestic flight (and international flights as long as you are flying a participating airline). If you rarely fly, it may not be worth the cost to you.

I have both. If you sign up for Global entry you automatically receive TRA Pre when approved. At the time I signed up, it was a six month wait at my home airport for the interview portion of the process. The wait can still be that long at some airports and not every airport has an enrolment office. I was able to find an airport I was flying through that had an opening sooner so while I was there, I got the interview and picture and fingerprinting taken care of.

I will be flying back into U.S into Chicago. It sounds like from what I'm reading that I probably won't be able to get an appt in time. I am leaving June 4.

I believe when you receive Global Entry, you are automatically enrolled in Pre-check. Ever since I received global entry, I have received pre-check for all domestic flights I have taken.

I applied late last March, had the interview by the end of April and card by June. Take a look at your airport and see how far the interviews go out. I interviewed at JFK, there were very convenient times for the interview.

Mary

Chicago is one of the cities where you can use the mobile passport. If you have a smartphone, you can download the app and give it a whirl.

Ditto Mobile Passport. I have Global Entry but MP was faster coming back through JFK last summer.

Global Entry includes TSA precheck.
I just got mine for August tour.
Timing: apply online. Waited for about 10 days for approval to schedule interview. First available interview in Phoenix was 3 months out but Tucson was 3 weeks so I drove to Tucson. I heard that you may be able to just show up for an interview but I already had the drive planned and didn't want to risk not getting in. It then took a week to get my Global Entry card. Remember to activate your card on the GOES website and put your # on your flight reservations.

Once you schedule your Global Entry interview, keep checking back. There are often cancellations and then you can get in sooner.

Global entry is worth it if you fly **a lot internationally.** If you are just getting it for this one trip so you don't have to stand in line when you come back home it is not really worth it.
The TSA precheck depending on the airline sometimes comes with international flight from the USA or with an airline credit card frequent flier mileage membership

Getting set up for the free Mobile Passport app takes maybe ten minutes at home and can save lots of time on return. Do it now and you can think about the other stuff for your next trip.

As others have said, Global Entry includes TSA Pre-check. For those on this thread who already have Global Entry and did not seem to know about also having pre-check, you just need to take the number that is on your Global Entry card and enter it as the "Known Traveler Number" on the reservation when you book trips within the U.S. All the domestic airlines I fly store this number in my profile on their sites, so as long as I login before booking, I don't have to enter it each time.

Additionally, check the benefits that come with your credit cards to see if you can get Pre-check or Global Entry for free. Many cards that are marketed to international travelers will reimburse the fees by adding a credit to your account at the same time the fee is charged.

I also recommend Mobile Passport. We just used it this past weekend and we couldn't have gone through any quicker.

Thanks everyone. I'm going to try Mobile Passport since we are so close to time.

"Getting set up for the free Mobile Passport app takes maybe ten minutes at home and can save lots of time on return. Do it now and you can think about the other stuff for your next trip."

Or it won't work and won't save you any time.

Or they won't bother to open the Mobile Passport lines.

Don't get your hopes up. We were very unimpressed with the Mobile Passport app. Did not save us any time either time we tried to use it! If your coming through Atlanta prepare for the worst!

If you fly internationally a lot and use one of the mega airports like JFK, LAX, DFW, ATL, etc GE may be worth it. I flew into MSP (terminal 1) recently and the wait for non-GE was like 10 minutes and we were at the back of the plane. Mobile Pass was not working that day, I did use that at DFW once and it seemed to be worth it, maybe for ORD also.

We came through Customs in Atlanta and flew through with Mobile Passport. I guess we were just lucky - but it couldn't have been any faster.

I have PreCheck, but I have also downloaded the Mobile Pass app. I set up the app, but I haven't used the Mobile Pass yet. For those people who have tried it, how does it work? What do you do?

I have PreCheck, but I have also downloaded the Mobile Pass app. I set
up the app, but I haven't used the Mobile Pass yet. For those people
who have tried it, how does it work? What do you do?

I downloaded the Mobile Passport app before I left for my trip. I then set up my profile by scanning my passport into the app (it was very easy) and taking a picture of myself.

Then as soon as I got off the plane and I was ready to go through customs, I just answered the questions: what is your port of entry, what airline, are you bringing more than $10K through customs, do you need to declare anything, bringing any fruits, meats, etc through customs, have you touched livestock, etc. You submit your answers and then you get a bar code. I simply had to show the bar code as I went through customs. I didn't even have to scan the barcode anywhere.

It was very easy and it saved us A LOT of time. I highly recommend it. It's not in all airports, so just check the list of airports to see if it would work for you.

Here's the official website for detailed information.

I also downloaded and set up mobile passport before we left. Upon return in ATL, I turned on my tablet, answered the questions, and was notified that mobile passport was not working or something to that effect. I retried once more, but ended up having to use the kiosks.

Regarding TSA Precheck -- we usually get it on United flights because I have Mileage Plus card, but on this week's KLM flight we did not, and there seemed to be little to no difference. May just depend on how busy the airport is at the time you check in. Kept our shoes on, too!

KLM is not a participating airline for TSA pre-check.

You don't get pre-check because you have a credit card. You get it because your name was run through the system and didn't sent up any red flags. However, giving Pre-check to people not signed up is beginning to disappear so enjoy it while you can.

I would go with Global Entry the best money spent. My Credit Card covered it and the process took two weeks from Enrollment online to the meeting and another week for the Global Entry Card. My Father applied with me and went to SFO for the interview.

I got TSA Pre Check as part of Global Entry and used it for a Domestic Flight and it worked very well. I hope more international airlines will add Pre Check. Remember Pre Check is airline specific.

Global Entry will speed your entry into the US after a long flight. Figure if you do 1 -2 European trips a year within 5 years its worth it. Even if you do mostly Domestic and 3-8 overseas trips Global Entry is worth the extra $$$$.

Safe travels.

TSA pre-check will not help you with international flight. It is only good for domestic.

We got Pre Check on our recent flight from Boston to Amsterdam. I didn't even realize it until one of the security people pointed it out.