Does TSA PreCheck Actually Work For International Flights?

When flying, few things are more stressful than hearing a boarding call for your flight and being stuck in the TSA airport security line. Whether you're traveling domestically or internationally from a U.S. airport, TSA PreCheck will help you speed through airport security lines to catch your flight. It will not, however, help you sail through customs and immigration like Global Entry once you return home.

The TSA airport security checkpoint screens both the best and the worst kinds of travelers in the United States. Regardless of whether you are sitting in seat 1A or crammed into a middle seat in row 34, at peak times, passing through security can take up to an hour. At major international airports such as Newark Liberty, Houston George Bush, and Miami, the average wait time clocks in at about 20 minutes. If you want to get through airport security faster, services such as TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR can help you speed through and stress less, regardless of whether you're going to Boise or Bogota.

Both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve efficiency at airport security and U.S. border checkpoints. These services are available to trusted travelers who pay an application fee (PreCheck is $78, Global Entry is $120) undergo a background check, and complete a short interview. Only U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents can use PreCheck, however, citizens of over 20 countries can apply for Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck. Both are valid for five years. CLEAR costs $199 annually and allows travelers to use their biometrics and skip the document and identification verification at the beginning of the airport security checkpoint. However, travelers still need PreCheck or Global Entry on their boarding pass to use the PreCheck lines.

Prior to departure, airlines are required to send SFPD (secure flight passenger data) to TSA which matches the names of travelers to trusted traveler and traveler watch lists. Passengers who sign up for PreCheck and Global Entry are normally placed on trusted traveler lists, meaning they will not have to remove their shoes, jacket, electronics, and liquids packed in containers under 3.1 ounces when passing through security. This benefit can save you and your family time and money and be the difference between making or missing a flight on over 100 airlines flying from or within the United States. Additionally, children aged 12 and under can use PreCheck lanes if traveling with a parent or guardian who has PreCheck marked on their boarding pass.

Both PreCheck and Global Entry require an online application and a short interview to determine eligibility. Travelers granted entry will receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN), which is your ticket to the fast lane. Whether flying domestically or internationally from the United States, you must include your full name and date of birth as stated on your driver's license or passport and add your KTN to your reservation to be eligible for expedited TSA screening. The data on your flight booking and in your trusted traveler profile must perfectly match to get a designated PreCheck symbol on your boarding pass.

However, you should note that it is still up to TSA whether you get to use the PreCheck lane. If you've done everything right, or the PreCheck symbol doesn't show up doesn't show up, don't fret. As long as your membership hasn't expired, based on personal experience, you can normally add it at the airport during check-in as long as your personal information is the same. If you see the "SSSS" designation on your boarding pass though, you'll have to undergo additional screening and won't be eligible.

Between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, there is a real difference in international travel benefits related to your arrival into the United States. While TSA PreCheck only provides expedited screening before a commercial flight, Global Entry membership also includes an expedited arrival procedure into the United States. Travelers can utilize a kiosk to quickly pass through immigration and customs when arriving at over 75 airports, making the arrival procedure quick and easy. However, similar to TSA PreCheck, members may have to undergo additional screening at the port of entry. Global Entry members can also use this benefit when entering the United States at a SENTRI or NEXUS lane from Canada or Mexico.

Another major difference in both programs is the amount of time it can take to apply and get approved. 90% of TSA PreCheck applications are processed in a week, and TSA PreCheck has a little-known signup hack with enrollment centers nationwide, including at many Staples and Office Depot stores. Global Entry, however, can take weeks as you will need to secure a short personal interview for Global Entry membership. If you have an international flight to the U.S. coming up, you may be able to enroll in Global Entry on arrival, saving yourself another trip to an enrollment center. However, when departing you will not be able to use PreCheck.

If you are still deciding whether to sign up for either program, note that many major credit cards will reimburse the cardholder for PreCheck or Global Entry if they pay the application fee with their affiliated card. Also, note that Global Entry ID cards are valid forms of REAL ID, and you will need a REAL ID to fly starting from May 7, 2025.