Navigating the airport can be quite the task. You have to arrive 2 to 3 hours ahead of time just to make it from the entrance to your plane on time. This is the summer of revenge travel so that has made things even more daunting. What is revenge travel? People have been locked up in the house since COVID shut things down in 2020. Now that places are opening back up, everyone is getting out and making up for lost time. Let’s explore a few options that can help you navigate the airport like a pro. If you are someone who travels here and there, then these options might not be the best investment for you, but if you travel often for work (or pleasure) these might be something to consider. Check with your job or credit card services. Sometimes they will reimburse or provide a credit towards purchasing these services. Don’t spend more money than you have to.
There are a few points that you will come into contact with at the airport. First you will need your boarding pass. Many airlines have apps which will allow you to pull up your boarding pass and bypass the kiosks and lines when you first enter the airport. If you are checking your bag, you will still need to go to the line for your airline. Also, during my recent trip to Cancun, they ONLY took paper boarding passes. Even if you go to the Kiosk to print your boarding pass, you still need to get in the line because an agent has to check everyone's itinerary to ensure you have a return flight. Once they verify you have a return flight, then they put a special mark on your paper boarding pass, and you’re allowed to go to the next point. I’m not sure if this is the case for all international trips, but it is the case for going to Mexico right now. They want to be sure you’re coming back home.
Clear (Document Screening Expediting)
After checking your bags if necessary and getting your boarding pass, your next step is showing your ID and boarding pass to a TSA agent for verification. Clear allows you to go to a different line for verification. Clear uses biometrics like your eyes and fingerprints to verify who you are. Once verified you go on to the security line. Clear isn’t a government agency and though it is at various airports around the country, it isn’t available everywhere. Being in Dallas, it is something I can use on most of my outbound trips, so it is worth it to me. DFW is one of the busiest airports in the country and this helps me to save some time when leaving. Clear cost $189 per year, so it’s a hefty investment in comparison to some of the other options we will explore.
TSA Pre Check (Physical Screening Expediting)
Once your boarding and ID documents have been verified you will go through security. This is where you see people taking off their belts, shoes, ensuring liquids are the correct size, taking out electronics and placing everything into bins. Then you go through a screener that checks your body and sometimes leads to you being patted down. TSA Pre Check is offered through the government. You get a background check that identifies you as a low risk traveler. If you don’t pass the background check, you won’t be eligible for this service. If you pass the background check, TSA Pre Check allows you to go through security without removing your shoes, belt, laptops, liquids and jackets. There is a separate line and it allows you to get through more quickly. TSA Pre Check is found at tons of airports across the country. The cost is $85 and it lasts for 5 years. This is a very good investment in my opinion for the frequent traveler.
Mobile Passport Control (Customs Expediting)
Mobile Passport Control is an app that you can use when re-entering the United States after a trip abroad. In order to re-enter the US everyone must go through customs. During this process you will speak with an agent that will ask you questions. You might have brought items with you that you need to declare. Whatever the agents ask you, be specific and be honest. Mobile Passport Control is an app that allows you to upload your Passport information and answer customs declaration information. The app is time sensitive, so I recommend filling out the information when you board your flight, and then submit the information after landing. You’ll have 4 hours from the time you submit the information to the time it’ll have to be shown to an agent. When you get to customs there will be the general line that everyone can go through, the Mobile Passport Control line (which will have far less people) and the Global Entry line (which will also have far less people). This is a free app and doesn’t require any pre-screening or qualifications to use. I highly recommend anyone traveling download this as an option. Even if you have Global Entry, which we’ll discuss next, have Mobile Passport Control available as an option in case the line is shorter. This is all about expediting your navigation through the airport.
Global Entry (Customs Expediting)
With Mobile Passport Control, you are expediting your final step of an international trip. Global Entry is another option that does this as well. Global Entry is a program offered through the government and does require a background check. You’ll first apply and wait for conditional approval after your background check clears. Once you’re conditionally approved, you can start looking for an appointment which is the next step. You will have to take your passport and another form of ID (like your driver's license) and possibly mail like a bill, to your appointment location for in person verification. After your interview you’ll receive your approval status within about 24 hours. Getting an appointment is quite a task. Most places are booked out for months. I’ve heard of people waiting 6 plus months for an appointment. There are a few things you can do to try to get in sooner. Check the appointment website daily throughout the day. Sometimes there are cancellations, but you’ll need to act fast to snatch it up. Expand your search. If you can, be open to doing your appointment in a different city. Though I live in Dallas, I found an appointment in Austin within a month of my conditional approval. Do your interview upon returning from your trip. If you already have an international trip on the books, you may be able to do your interview upon returning. Check to see if the airport you’re returning to offers this option and during the hours of your return. Then you’ll have it already in place for future travel. Global Entry is one of the best investments in my opinion because it comes with TSA Pre Check so you get domestic travel perks and international travel perks. Global Entry is $100 and lasts for 5 years.
The Bottom Line
All of these services are an effort to help you move through the airport more quickly. I personally recommend applying for Global Entry since it includes TSA PreCheck and lasts for 5 years. It will be available at the majority of US airports, so you will get the most use from it. Once approved for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry be sure to update any airline profiles you have, so that your name appears the same way it appears on your passport. If your middle name is on your passport, include it on your airline profiles. You want to be sure that whenever you book a flight, your name you’re booking it under matches your passport exactly in order to use these services. I also recommend downloading Mobile Passport and having it available on standby even if you have Global Entry. On my recent trip from Cancun there were only about 10 people in the Mobile Passport line. It was the shortest. It doesn’t hurt to have options and it’s free. Check with your credit card companies and job. Some will foot the bill for these services. If you frequently fly through an airport where Clear is offered, it might be worth the investment.
Happy Traveling like a pro!