AI-generated travel illustration.
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR+ help with different parts of an airport journey. Start with the part you would like to make easier: departure security, returning to the United States, or the identity check before screening.
Then look at the airports you use and the trips ahead. That gives you a useful starting point for choosing a program.
What each program does
| Program | Where it helps | Membership and standard fee |
|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck | Expedited security screening at participating U.S. airports, with participating airlines. | 5 years. New enrollment: IDEMIA $79.75; CLEAR $84.95; Telos $85. |
| Global Entry | Expedited processing when arriving in the U.S. from abroad, plus TSA PreCheck access for eligible members. | 5 years; $120 application fee. |
| CLEAR+ | Biometric identity verification at participating airport checkpoints, before TSA screening. | Annual membership; standard price $219. |
Standard fees checked October 19, 2026. The PreCheck prices above are for new enrollment through the named providers. Check the program’s application page before paying.
Choose around the journeys you make
For U.S. departures, PreCheck can make screening simpler: approved travelers can generally keep electronics and their 3-1-1 liquids bag packed, subject to officer instructions. Expedited screening is not guaranteed.
If your plans include trips abroad, consider whether Global Entry’s U.S. arrival benefit would be useful as well. Check its eligibility and application process before choosing it just because PreCheck is included.
CLEAR+ handles identity verification; TSA still screens you and your bags. It is a separate membership from PreCheck. Look at the CLEAR+ locations you would actually use when deciding whether the annual cost makes sense.
For frequent trips, think about the airports and routes you repeat. For one or two bigger trips, consider how you might use the program over its membership period. Start with any memberships you already hold, so you understand what another application would add.
Get the application and reservation details right
Apply through the program or its authorized enrollment provider. Review the eligibility, documents and appointment steps, and allow time for approval. Global Entry includes background checks and an interview for first-time applicants.
If you enroll in TSA PreCheck or are an eligible Global Entry member, add your Known Traveler Number to the actual airline reservation. Eligible Global Entry members use their PASSID as that number. Match your enrollment name and date of birth, then check your boarding pass for the TSA PreCheck indicator. If the details are missing from an existing booking, contact the airline to update it. TSA’s guide to using your benefits walks through the details.
Check each traveler’s access
Children’s rules can change which applications your family needs. TSA’s family guidance and CBP’s Global Entry eligibility guidance explain the conditions.
| Traveler | What to check |
|---|---|
| PreCheck: age 12 or under | Can accompany a parent or guardian whose boarding pass has the PreCheck indicator, without an indicator on the child’s pass. |
| PreCheck: age 13–17 | When relying on a parent or guardian’s PreCheck eligibility, must share their airline reservation and have the indicator on their own boarding pass. The adult’s pass needs the indicator too. |
| Global Entry: under 18 | Needs a separate application, with parent or guardian consent and attendance at the interview. The fee is waived when a parent or legal guardian is enrolled or has a pending application. |
Children traveling alone generally need their own PreCheck membership. Use each traveler’s own number; do not copy a parent’s KTN into a child’s record. Two adults should check their own eligibility and membership separately, along with any application-fee credit they plan to use.