Hey Reader,
If you have been watching the news, you know airports have been a mess for weeks. The government shutdown lasted 43 days and forced the FAA to cut flights at 40 major airports due to air traffic controller shortages. Those restrictions were just lifted, and airlines are now racing to get back to normal ahead of Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday crush.
That is the good news.
The less fun part is that the system won't bounce back overnight. Airlines are rebalancing schedules, crews are out of position, and TSA is still working through staffing gaps. Even with the FAA order lifted, experts expect longer lines and uneven operations through the holidays.
So this is a good time to look at what trusted traveler programs actually do and whether any of them make sense for how you fly.
Trusted traveler programs for air travel ✈️
Only a few programs make a meaningful difference when you are flying. Here is what each one does in plain language.
TSA PreCheck
What it does: Provides access to an expedited security lane where shoes, jackets, and belts stay on and laptops and liquids stay in your bag.
Who it helps: Travelers who fly a few times a year or more and want a more predictable checkpoint experience. Children 12 and under can enter the lane with a parent who has PreCheck.
Cost: from $76.75 for five years, depending on the enrollment provider. Fee credits are available through select travel rewards credit cards.
Learn More: TSA PreCheck
Global Entry
What it does: Speeds up passport control when returning to the United States and includes TSA PreCheck.
Who it helps: Anyone who takes international trips, even occasionally. Faster processing after long flights can make a noticeable difference.
Cost: $ 120 for 5 years, with fee credits available through select travel rewards credit cards.
Learn More: Global Entry
CLEAR Plus
What it does: Uses fingerprint or facial recognition to verify your identity and move you to the front of the ID check before security. You still enter the regular or PreCheck lane afterward.
Who it helps: Travelers who regularly deal with long ID lines at busy airports. Works best alongside PreCheck.
Where it works: More than 55 U.S. airports.
Cost: $ 209 per year, with fee credits available through select travel rewards credit cards.
Learn More: CLEAR Plus
Nexus
What it does: Speeds up processing at Canadian airports and provides access to Global Entry-style kiosks and TSA PreCheck eligibility for qualifying travelers.
Who it helps: People who regularly travel to or through Canada.
Cost: $ 120 for 5 years.
Learn More: Nexus
Reserve powered by CLEAR
Reserve powered by CLEAR is a free tool that lets you book a timed entry slot for security at select airports. You choose a window that matches your departure time and enter through a designated lane. You do not need CLEAR Plus or PreCheck to use it.
Here are the current participating airports. Visit the participating airport’s official website to learn how Reserve works at their location.
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Montréal Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 4 (JFK)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- London Luton Airport (LTN)
- Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
What we use as a family 🧳
Our family uses TSA PreCheck, and it has made air travel more manageable after the pandemic. We have immunocompromised family members who were nervous about long lines and crowded spaces. PreCheck reduced several pressure points and helped us get back to flying with more confidence.
We also had CLEAR for a while. We ended it because of cost, not performance. At Cleveland Hopkins, CLEAR almost always moved faster than the standard ID line and often beat the PreCheck ID queue. Online opinions vary widely, but in our case, the value was clear. It depends heavily on your home airport.
As I take more international trips, Global Entry is probably my next move. Faster reentry, combined with PreCheck, makes a significant difference, especially when travel card credits help offset the fee.
Which trusted traveler program is right for you 🤔
Choosing the right program depends on where you fly, how often you fly, and what tends to slow you down.
If most of your trips are within the United States, PreCheck is usually the most useful first step. Over five years of travel, even small time savings add up, and the checkpoint process becomes more consistent.
If you take international trips, Global Entry is often the better long-term move. It includes PreCheck and shortens passport control upon arrival back in the country. This alone can save a surprising amount of time during busy seasons.
CLEAR Plus is more situational. It is a premium add-on that makes sense only if your airport experiences regular congestion at the ID check. The annual cost is high, and most travelers do not fly enough from the right airports to truly benefit. The MyTSA app is useful for checking wait times at your home airport. Local airport Reddit communities can also give real-world insight into whether CLEAR actually helps where you fly.
NEXUS is worth considering if Canada is part of your normal travel pattern. If not, there is no reason to complicate things.
Reserve powered by CLEAR is worth checking anytime your airport offers it. It provides a scheduled security entry window at no cost.
How to apply 📝
Compare and choose
Look at your upcoming travel over the next couple of years and pick the program that fits your actual destinations and frequency.
Gather personal information
Have your passport, address history, travel history, and identification ready before you begin. It speeds up the application and reduces mistakes.
Apply online or in person
Submit your application, pay the fee, and schedule an interview if required. Interview slots can book out, so planning ahead helps. If you have an international trip coming up, Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival is a useful option.
Are you already using a trusted traveler program? If not, what questions do you still have?
To a life well-traveled,
Kevin