U.S. Customs and Border Protection has more than one Trusted Traveler Program designed to expedite your trip though the airport.
Global Entry members skip the lines at Customs and Border Protection and instead use touch-screen kiosks in the arrivals area of airports. Global Entry members are automatically approved for the TSA PreCheck program at no additional fee. In case you travel internationally a lot, this is the right program for you.
Your can use the global entry kiosks at 58 airports internationally. Global Entry allows expedited customs screenings 100 percent of the time at eligible airports. Membership is valid for 5 years, subject to renewal.
With TSA PreCheck, qualified flyers go through an expedited TSA security line, where they don’t have to remove their shoes, belts, coats, and laptops. TSA Precheck does not include Global Entry benefits. Choose this program if you fly mostly within the US.
TSA PreCheck is currently available at more than 150 airports across the U.S. Participating airlines include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Sun Country, US Airways, Air Canada, and Virgin America.
Even if an airport offers a PreCheck lane, TSA PreCheck doesn’t apply 100 percent of the time. Even those who are approved may still be subject to random screenings and not have access to the expedited line. Membership is valid for 5 years, subject to renewal.