Have you ever wished that you did not have to wait in that long security line at the airport? If you have never desired this, you have probably never flown through Denver (DEN) or Atlanta (ATL)... What about customs and immigration when returning to the United States?

There are currently three programs in the US that help reduce airport security wait times and immigration wait times when returning from international travel. With air travel on the rise, airports in the United States have been overwhelmed with passengers, causing long lines and delays everywhere. Let's look at how passengers can save time in US airports.

TSA Precheck

TSA Precheck is a trusted traveler program (TTP) run by the United States Transportation Security Administration. The program reduces wait times in security lines at airports by providing an exclusive experience for program members. Below is a quick overview of how the program works:

Simple Flying Recently published a guide to TSA Precheck; you can read it here.

A trusted traveler program (TTP) is a program for passengers who have been vetted by the United States government and proven not to be a threat. The US has multiple trusted traveler programs, two of which are for air travel, TSA Precheck, and Global Entry (keep reading for more information on this). Those who wish to become members / trusted travelers of TSA Precheck must complete an application, background check, and interview and pay the fee before being cleared and allowed to access the benefits that the program offers.

Enrollment in the five-year program is an easy three-step process:

1. Apply online - according to the TSA Precheck website; the application only takes five minutes. During this step, passengers must pay the $85 fee and schedule an interview at 380+ enrollment centers across the country.
2. Enroll in-person - a 10-minute interview for fingerprinting and background checks
3. Travel with ease - once approved, passengers are given a Known Traveler Number (KTN) which must be added to airline reservations to go through the TSA Precheck line at the airport.

Going through an exclusive line is not the only benefit of the program. Once at the x-rays, passengers do not have to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, or light jackets. According to the TSA, in April, 94% of Precheck members waited less than 5 minutes to go through security

Global Entry

Global Entry is also a trusted traveler program (TTP) provided by the US CBP (United States Customs and Border Protection) but is used for international passengers upon arrival in the United States. Passengers arriving in the United States on passenger flights must go through immigration immediately after disembarking. At most* international airports in the US, there are three separate immigration lines, one for US citizens and residents, one for foreign visitors, and the exclusive Global Entry line.

*Not every international airport in the US offers Global Entry

Global Entry provides passengers with an extremely smooth immigration process; it is almost unbelievable. Like TSA Precheck, the Global Entry program offers a five-year membership, and passengers must be vetted through a similar application process before being approved. The application must be submitted online, and the interview can be completed at centers all over the country, including on arrival from international flights (at select US airports). Membership for Global Entry costs $100 for five years and includes TSA Precheck. If you are considering applying for TSA Precheck, I highly recommend applying for Global Entry, which only costs an extra $15 compared to only having Precheck.

Read Simple Flying's piece on Global Entry.

Upon arrival in the United States, Global Entry members go directly to kiosks that take a headshot photograph of the passenger. Once the headshot is taken, a receipt is printed, which the passenger must hand to an immigration officer on the way out of the immigration hall. Passengers do not need to have passports in hand and do not have to speak to an immigration officer. The whole process usually does not take more than 60 seconds.

CLEAR

Unlike the two programs mentioned above, CLEAR is not a trusted traveler program. This program provides touchless entry at venues like concerts, sporting events, and airports. The program has an annual fee of $179 and is an excellent benefit to have in addition to TSA PreCheck. Enrollment for CLEAR is also a simple three-step process:

1. Enroll online or in-person - Save time by starting online or on our mobile app
2. Finish at any of our airport locations - Complete your enrollment with your eyes, no appointment needed.
3. You’re all set to use CLEAR! - Instantly access our dedicated CLEAR Lane at security.

Upon arrival at airports with CLEAR lanes, passengers must go to the CLEAR kiosks, where an image will be taken of the passenger's eyes to confirm the passenger's identity. Once the passenger's identity is confirmed, a CLEAR staff member escorts the passenger to the front of the security line, where a TSA agent will ask to see a boarding pass before being allowed through. With CLEAR, there is no need to show a photo ID to the TSA agent.

Combo: Putting the three programs together

Only TSA Precheck and CLEAR can be used simultaneously because Global Entry is used for arrival into the United States. But there is a scenario in which all three programs can be utilized in one trip, when a passenger arrives on an international flight and has a connecting domestic flight.

Because I am a member of all three programs, I experienced this exact scenario last year when returning from Brazil. I had an early morning arrival at the Newark - Liberty International Airport (EWR) and an extremely tight connection, which is not a good combo. Here is how all the programs came in handy for me.

Upon disembarking, I breezed through immigration in about 60 seconds because of my Global Entry membership. After picking up my checked bag and going through customs, I was landside and had to go airside, but the security lines were extremely long. I searched for the CLEAR kiosk and went through the verification process, and a CLEAR staff member escorted me to the front of the TSA Precheck line. Going through security took between 5-10 minutes, slightly longer than it usually takes me. If I did not participate in all three programs, I believe that I would have missed my connecting flight that morning.

Are you a member of TSA Precheck, Global Entry, and/or CLEAR? Have you ever considered becoming a member of the programs? Do you have any crazy stories related to any of the three?