TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry
Surprisingly enough, I didn’t have Global Entry until 2022.
I couldn’t justify the expense pre-COVID, and the security lines were really never that bad in the old LGA (not true for the new LGA). During 2020 I was typically one of the only people going through security, but it wasn’t until late 2021 when I started to feel the airport congestion come back.
In the office, I asked around for advice and was met with shock and contempt that I was on the travel team and didn’t at LEAST have TSA PreCheck. I immediately dove into some online research to determine the most seamless route.
If you’ve looked into the process, the biggest obstacle is getting an interview. Both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry require you to go somewhere in person, hosting minimal locations and up to year-long wait times for available slots.
In order to get a Global Entry interview in New York you have to haul your ass all the way to JFK and back, which is either an $80 Uber or 2+ hours on public transit each way. My mom had to drive an hour and a half to Rockford, Illinois for her appointment, and many other destinations have similar headaches. TSA PreCheck offers ~3x as many enrollment centers, but once again the appointment slots can be booked out for months.
(*If you’re wondering if high-profile executives have to work around these obstacles, they don’t! Insider tip from my friend that used to work at a travel agency: his agency would bring interviewers directly into the office for clients to experience that white-glove service.)
**Please note that both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are only good for US domestic travel - TSA for getting through US security, and Global Entry for re-entering the US.
Because I travel abroad at least once a year, I decided Global Entry would be the best choice for me. Take a look at the chart below for high-level info:
How I Did It
I submitted the Global Entry paperwork online along with the $100 application fee in June 2022.
I travelled internationally and returned through JFK during enrollment office business hours (6:30am - 8pm EST).
Once you clear customs in JFK, you can have your interview on the spot. I waited for about 15 minutes before I was seen. They take your picture and hand you a printed form with your TSA Pre-Check number on it that you can upload to your airline profiles immediately.
Research here to see if your home airport participates in Global Entry enrollment centers.
Aftermath
After you complete your interview, your physical Global Entry card will be mailed to you within a few weeks. In case you lose it, you can always order a replacement online for $30 (I travel with it religiously, however I’ve never had to physically use it).
*Pro-tip, input the correct KTN (Known Traveler Number) on your online profiles or be an idiot like me with one number switched and be confused for multiple trips why it’s not showing on your boarding pass.
The remainder of the year I used Global Entry on two trips back to the US - let me tell you it’s kind of creepy! You skip the customs line and walk over to the designated Global Entry section, where the kiosk automatically takes a picture of your face and you’re good to go. Seriously - no passport required. I was just waved on through to baggage claim.
When people complain about the government or TikTok having too much of your information, I let them know I literally paid the US to utilize facial recognition software to save cumulative minutes of my life standing in line.
Unfortunately, my dreams of being an international spy are behind me.
Benefits of going with TSA PreCheck
If you don’t travel internationally enough to make Global Entry worth it, or if you live in an enrollment center dead zone, you’re better off going with TSA PreCheck.
Research your nearest TSA PreCheck enrollment office and availability here.
Safe travels!
