- As airport security checkpoints go through processing changes, experts say that memberships that offer modified security screenings may still be worth the cost.
- Almost all, 99%, of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes, while standard screening lanes typically take 30 minutes or less, according to the agency.
- “There are still a lot of compelling benefits for PreCheck,” said Henry Harteveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research Group, a travel industry market research and advisory firm.
According to experts, paid programs that enable customized security checks like TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and Clear may still be worth the money as airport security checkpoints undergo improvements that might let travelers get through more quickly and with less difficulty.
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As part of a new effort called “Families on the Fly,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced earlier this month that families will have their own specialized screening lanes in select airports. This comes after the Transportation Security Agency’s “shoes off” travel regulation was changed.
Additionally, Noem has proposed permitting more liquids in carry-ons, which may have an impact on how quickly passengers are screened at airports.
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Once, TSA PreCheckenrollees were the only ones who could keep their shoes on while going through security. Travelers who meet the program’s eligibility requirements can pass the screening process without removing anything from their luggage, such as computers or travel-sized liquids, or from their shoes, belts, or light coats.
Paid memberships are still valuable, according to experts, even with some more lenient screening procedures in place.
Henry Harteveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research Group, a market research and advising organization for the travel sector, stated, “PreCheck still has a lot of compelling benefits.”
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According to a poll conducted by the travel website UpgradedPoints, 39% of travelers who were surveyed with TSA PreCheck stated that the largest benefit was having a less stressful experience. The website polled 1,515 passengers in March, 659 of them were TSA PreCheck members.
It is one of Homeland Security’s five trusted traveler programs that offers pre-approved participants modified screening.
In order to expedite the airport screening process, private companies such as Clearart provide their own paid memberships.
According to the agency, conventional screening lanes usually take 30 minutes or less, while 99 percent of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes.
TSA PreCheck membership lasts for five years, however the cost of enrollment and renewal varies according on the service provider you use and whether you complete the process online or in person.
“Each enrollment provider is allowed to set its own prices for enrollment and renewal fees with TSA approval,” a TSA representative said.
One of the three TSA-approved service providers, Telos, for example, costs $85 initial registration and $70 for renewals for both in-person and online services.
Clear, another TSA-approved service provider, charges $77.95 to sign up for PreCheck. The company costs $77.95 for in-person renewals and $68.95 for online renewals.
A Clear Plus membership, meanwhile, costs $209.
TSA PreCheck is a component of several other reliable traveler services, like Global Entry, which provides a quicker screening process through U.S. Customs and Border Protection when a passenger arrives from abroad. The membership lasts for five years and costs $120.
The TSA representative told CNBC, “Travelers can choose the enrollment provider that best meets their needs.”
Experts offer advice on how to determine whether a pre-screening membership is worthwhile for you.
According to experts, consider how frequently you travel each year before completing the application.
According to Sally French, a travel specialist at NerdWallet, if you only travel once or twice a year, it might not be worth the expense and effort.
For instance, you must fill out an online application in order to apply for TSA PreCheck. A visit to an enrollment center is then required; some may accept walk-ins, while others require appointments. There, you will need to carry the required paperwork, have your photo taken, and have your fingerprints scanned.
TSA PreCheck “can be worth it,” however, if you travel more regularly, Harteveldt added.
The cost of signing up for TSA PreCheck or other pre-screening memberships may be covered by some credit cards and loyalty programs. Even for those who travel infrequently, that may increase the value of enrolling.
Global Entry is another reliable travel program to think about if you are going abroad. Those who meet the requirements can use TSA PreCheck lanes and expedited customs screening when they return to the United States from foreign nations.
But consider how frequently you go overseas, whether for work or pleasure, and whether you have a vacation planned soon.
The application process is made more difficult by the higher enrollment cost and the possibility of fewer enrollment sites in your state. Making an appointment could be challenging, and you might have to drive far to the closest location.
“A lot of people have cited it’s difficult to even get an interview,” French continued.
Meanwhile, according to experts, the value of a Clear Plus membership may vary depending on where you go: It may be found in over 60 airports, some of which are abroad.
Additionally, according to French, Clear “has value outside of airports” because its membership is available for lineups at specific stadiums and arenas.
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