Is TSA pre-check worth it?

[808blessing]

I am also cheap and put it off for many years though we traveled several times a year. It is the best thing and will always do in the future. Two words: toiletry bag. Bonus: my daughter gets pre-check too. I think my husband may have gotten it once or twice when we flew on the same booking too.

 

[rigs32]

They all have annual fees higher than the Pre-check fee.

Everyone has their own view of the cost/benefit analysis. I have one of the higher end travel cards that comes with a hefty annual fee, but when I break it down to calculate what I get for that money, I come out on top without even counting the SW points I trade my points in for.

In additional to free global entry (and therefore precheck), I get access to airport lounges for me and two guests (a delay is much less painful when I have a comfy place to hang out with free food and drink), the card refunds the cost of the peloton app, I get discounts on Lyft, statement credits for doordash, and there are a LOT of categories of spending where I earn points based on a multiplier.

I travel pretty frequently and I've only paid cash for 3-4 flights in the last 6 or 7 years. I only had to pay cash because SW didn't fly to the airport I was going to or I needed a different time of day than SW offered.

That said, I realize many people wouldn't see the benefits in the same manner that I do and/or may not be comfortable using a credit card for the benefits and paying it off every month.

 

[joelkfla]

Everyone has their own view of the cost/benefit analysis. I have one of the higher end travel cards that comes with a hefty annual fee, but when I break it down to calculate what I get for that money, I come out on top without even counting the SW points I trade my points in for.

In additional to free global entry (and therefore precheck), I get access to airport lounges for me and two guests (a delay is much less painful when I have a comfy place to hang out with free food and drink), the card refunds the cost of the peloton app, I get discounts on Lyft, statement credits for doordash, and there are a LOT of categories of spending where I earn points based on a multiplier.

I travel pretty frequently and I've only paid cash for 3-4 flights in the last 6 or 7 years. I only had to pay cash because SW didn't fly to the airport I was going to or I needed a different time of day than SW offered.

That said, I realize many people wouldn't see the benefits in the same manner that I do and/or may not be comfortable using a credit card for the benefits and paying it off every month.

Sure, for truly frequent travelers, a travel-oriented card with an annual fee may be worth the fee.

I was just pointing out that getting a card with a fee doesn't seem to make sense if you're basing the decision on a Known Traveler program rebate.

 

[mickey+minnie91]

after many comments on how wonderful it is, just went online and got appointments for Wednesday this week! We leave mid June so hoping that means we will have it by then!

 

[FCDub]

after many comments on how wonderful it is, just went online and got appointments for Wednesday this week! We leave mid June so hoping that means we will have it by then!

Congrats!

 

[EACarlson]

after many comments on how wonderful it is, just went online and got appointments for Wednesday this week! We leave mid June so hoping that means we will have it by then!

You certainly should. I had mine in three days and my wife had hers in a week. I have heard of people that go to the interview and have their numbers before they get home.

Make sure to go into your upcoming reservations and add it in to each of them. I know SW will automatically put it in when you book a new flight if it's in your profile, but they won't go back and put it in if you add the number to your profile after you've booked.

 

[LadybugsMum]

You certainly should. I had mine in three days and my wife had hers in a week. I have heard of people that go to the interview and have their numbers before they get home.

I had mine in 24 hours.

 

[DisLiss]

Yes! We had it, but then we didn't get it renewed and the next year we traveled without it, and boy was that ever a reminder as to how nice it was to have it!!

That was only a few months before COVID hit, so we haven't flown since, but when we're ready to fly again, we're definitely going to want to have the pre-check again!

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Just signed up. Does each person have to be signed up for Global Entry or does it work like Pre-Check where usually the people you book your flights with have it designated on their tickets as well?

 

[PrincesCJM]

I traveled last month with my mom and two boys. Mom got precheck several years ago. She and my boys were able to breeze through security at MCO because they all had it. I did not and it took 26 minutes to get through security (not including the 2-3 minutes it took me to find the end of the line). After that I said never again. My husband, kids and I are traveling to Disney again and October and we will sign up for it over the summer. It's not needed at our home airport but certainly at MCO. Just knowing that I don't have to take all the snacks, 3-1-1 bags and medications out is huge

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Just signed up. Does each person have to be signed up for Global Entry or does it work like Pre-Check where usually the people you book your flights with have it designated on their tickets as well?

When you're using Global Entry at an international airport border crossing, every single person has to be a member, no matter their age.

When you're using the TSA Pre-Check that comes with Global Entry, kids 12 and under can travel through Pre-Check with their parents. Adults who don't have Pre-Check themselves but are traveling with someone who does can use the Pre-Check lane ONLY if it's printed on their boarding pass. There's no guarantee of getting this.

I traveled last month with my mom and two boys. Mom got precheck several years ago. She and my boys were able to breeze through security at MCO because they all had it. I did not and it took 26 minutes to get through security (not including the 2-3 minutes it took me to find the end of the line). After that I said never again. My husband, kids and I are traveling to Disney again and October and we will sign up for it over the summer. It's not needed at our home airport but certainly at MCO. Just knowing that I don't have to take all the snacks, 3-1-1 bags and medications out is huge

No need to pay for your kids unless they're over 12.

 

[PrincesCJM]

When you're using Global Entry at an international airport border crossing, every single person has to be a member, no matter their age.

When you're using the TSA Pre-Check that comes with Global Entry, kids 12 and under can travel through Pre-Check with their parents. Adults who don't have Pre-Check themselves but are traveling with someone who does can use the Pre-Check lane ONLY if it's printed on their boarding pass. There's no guarantee of getting this.


No need to pay for your kids unless they're over 12.

Thank you. My mistake. When I said we, I meant my husband and I. My oldest will be 9 so there's not need for it yet there.

 

[_19disnA]

TSA pre-check sometimes gets assigned to those traveling even if they have never paid for this benefit. They never disclose what formula they use (for obvious reasons), but there is no guarantee you will always get randomly assigned. Getting registered for pre-check is a better option if you travel more then 1-2 times per year.

 

[BLLB]

My family all has pre-check, stupid question, how do you know when it expires? I cannot remember when we got it.

 

[Akck]

My family all has pre-check, stupid question, how do you know when it expires? I cannot remember when we got it.

As i recall, they will send you emails that it is about to expire. We got Global Entry about 6 months before Pre-Check would’ve expired, so I didn’t really pay attention to the emails.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

My family all has pre-check, stupid question, how do you know when it expires? I cannot remember when we got it.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequent...know-when-my-tsa-precheckr-membership-expires
Consider the upgrade to Global Entry when it's going to renew. For $15 more, there's no reason not to IMO.

 

[gharter]

Love it!
It doesn't help us a lot going down, but still a benefit.
However, at Orlando Int'l Airport, its wonderful to bypass the long security line, take everything out of your bag.
Even missing a year, its worth every penny.

 

[DVC-Don]

Yesterday mid morning at the Albany, NY airport the PreCheck line was way longer than the regular line. I asked if I could skip the PreCheck line but was told to stay in my line. Seems to work much better in Orlando though

 

[Cheburashka]

Yesterday mid morning at the Albany, NY airport the PreCheck line was way longer than the regular line. I asked if I could skip the PreCheck line but was told to stay in my line. Seems to work much better in Orlando though

I've flown out of many airports around the country (JFK, LAX, SFO, PHX, MCO, MIA, IAH, AUS, etc.) and have never encountered that issue, so it definitely isn't common.

 

[gharter]

Yesterday mid morning at the Albany, NY airport the PreCheck line was way longer than the regular line. I asked if I could skip the PreCheck line but was told to stay in my line. Seems to work much better in Orlando though

Wow, from all the airports I've flown out of, I have never seen the pre-check line longer than the normal security line. Must have been an unusual day.