As spring break and summer vacation approach, travelers looking to navigate crowded U.S. airports faster and easier have several options. Five travel services currently offer expedited immigration or security screening services. Four of these services, PreCheck, Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS, are operated by the U.S. government's Trusted Traveler Program, which currently has approximately 18.5 million members. The fifth one is called CLEAR Plus and is run by a private company.
PreCheck allows travelers classified as low-risk to skip routine Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening. Global Entry expedites customs inspection upon arrival in the United States. SENTRI streamlines land border crossings. NEXUS simplifies transit between the United States and Canada. CLEAR Plus, on the other hand, focuses on airport departures and uses biometrics to quickly identify passengers.
Each of these five services is available only to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, with the exception of Global Entry, which is available to citizens of 14 other countries.
New features in the quick travel program
A record number of people signed up for TSA PreCheck last year, as U.S. authorities introduced new technology to combat increased wait times for this airport screening service. In 2023, 4 million members joined the service, an increase of 19% compared to the previous year.
To accommodate this large number of users, the latency will also be high. According to TSA's latest statistics, in 2023, 88% of PreCheck passengers will wait less than 5 minutes to clear security, down from 94% in 2022.
PreCheck could lose members if its efficiency continues to decline, warns aviation security expert Sheldon Jacobson. Jacobson, a computer science professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said travelers at some U.S. airports are reporting longer wait times in PreCheck lanes than in TSA lanes. If the system's wait times increase further, Jacobson predicts, “passengers will see PreCheck as not being worthwhile and will likely have their status revoked.”.
But he believes this problem may be solved by TSA's new technology. Facial recognition and self-service security screening are being introduced to reduce PreCheck wait times. The TSA PreCheck touchless ID solution allows a PreCheck member to verify her identity through facial recognition instead of presenting her ID or boarding pass. It is currently operating at six of his airports in the United States, with more airports expected to join in 2024.
Meanwhile, TSA's new self-service screening equipment has been installed at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. This state-of-the-art checkpoint will allow passengers enrolled in the Trusted Her Traveler program to scan their ID and carry-on luggage themselves. Feedback from this trial will help develop and potentially expand the system.
What you need to know about the three major fast-track programs
TSA PreCheck allows members to enter express security lanes at U.S. airports without having to remove shoes, belts, laptops, jackets, and liquids smaller than 3.4 ounces (100 ml). To become a PreCheck member, travelers must provide personal information and undergo a background check. Most applicants receive approval in the form of a known traveler number within her 5 days. This number is used when you book your flight to ensure access to PreCheck expedited screening.
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CLEAR Plus is similar to, but not identical to, PreCheck. This allows members to navigate airport checkpoints more efficiently by verifying their identity through biometrics (eyes or fingerprints) rather than queuing to show ID to security personnel. It will look like this. Travelers can join her CLEAR Plus by registering directly at her CLEAR desk at participating airports. This process will be even faster if you fill out the application online before visiting the airport to complete your registration.
Global Entry costs $100 for five years and provides pre-approved, low-risk travelers with expedited security clearance upon arrival in the United States. Members will have their photo taken to verify their identity at a separate Global Entry lane, and will then be briefly interviewed. Customs and Border Patrol agents.
Unlike PreCheck and CLEAR Plus, Global Entry is available to citizens of 14 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bahrain, India, Colombia, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Mexico. But John Lipford, associate professor of tourism at Grand Valley State University, said the Global Entry application process is slower and more complicated than PreCheck or CLEAR Plus.
Global Entry applications may take up to 11 months to be processed. Applicants must pass a rigorous background check and in-person interview, which can take several months. You can check your application status by visiting his website for the Trusted Traveler Program.
But there is a shortcut. The Registration on Arrival program allows applicants who are conditionally approved (usually after a few weeks) to complete an interview at the airport without a reservation when they arrive from an international trip.
The program will be conducted at more than 50 U.S. airports, and interviews will be conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. All you need is a valid passport or permanent resident card and proof of U.S. residency (driver's license, utility bill, mortgage statement, or rent payment statement).
Which program is right for you?
Global Entry is designed for international travelers and includes TSA PreCheck membership as an added benefit. Travelers who only travel within the U.S. are better off with just PreCheck or CLEAR Plus.
PreCheck's advantages over CLEAR Plus include wider availability, lower price, and enhanced security bypass, Lipford said. PreCheck is offered at more than 200 U.S. airports, while CLEAR Plus is offered at fewer than 60. A 5-year membership costs just $78, which is about 1/12th the annual cost of CLEAR. Also, unlike CLEAR Plus members, PreCheck users are not required to undergo a body scan.
Despite costing $189 a year, CLEAR Plus is popular because of its convenience, marketing and appeal to new technology, Lipford said. The company's sales kiosks are prominent at many U.S. airports, making them easy to find for weary travelers looking to get ahead in line for their flights.
CLEAR Plus is also newer than PreCheck and uses biometrics as standard. It benefits from the perception of being more cutting edge, Lipford said.
(Will new travel technology invade your privacy?)
But Lipfort also expressed concern that travelers are sacrificing their privacy by consenting to the collection of biometric data by some express travel services. “[This] If this information is misused, the consequences both overall and in the long term can be quite dire,” he warns. “Privacy has historically been an important right and component of our lives in the United States, but advances in technology and corresponding pressures to keep up with these advancements have made us collectively It’s scraping away.”
