Inspiration
An option to explore
Global Entry
Frequent international travelers who want to avoid long customs lines
$120 for 5 years; qualifying children under 18 have no application feeConfirm current pricing
A better question, a better choice
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and CLEAR: choose the right fast lane
Choose the program that addresses your actual bottleneck: returning through customs, screening, or identity verification.
Personal fit. Clear tradeoffs. Room to skip.
The short answer
Buy relief from the queue you actually encounter.
Choose the program that addresses your actual bottleneck: returning through customs, screening, or identity verification.
Worth considering when
You will use the difference.
- You repeatedly encounter the process the program covers.
- The airports and terminals you use support it.
- Your family can use the benefit together.
Probably skip it when
A simpler choice serves you.
- You are buying a benefit for airports you rarely visit.
- Your existing membership already covers the need.
- One family member would move ahead while everyone else still waits.
Make it personal
Does this sound like you?
Start with your priorities. Matching them is a reason to compare the options, rather than a reason to spend automatically.
What would you like to make easier, better or more memorable?
Use your actual household
Make the comparison personal.
Five-year household costs, what kids need, and when the free app is enough.
What the premium should buy
Pay for the useful part.
- Coverage at your usual airports.
- Eligibility and arrangements for each child.
- A clear renewal and reimbursement check.
The smaller alternative
Start one level down.
Compare ordinary screening, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR separately.
The best comparison includes keeping what already works.
The useful alternatives
Compare the level of help.
Costs, benefits and tradeoffs together
THE COST. THE DIFFERENCE.
The options, at a glance.
Compare the useful difference before choosing a provider.
$120 for 5 years; qualifying children under 18 have no application feePlanning estimate · confirm current price
What it offersIncludes TSA PreCheck benefits · Valid for 5 years
What to checkRequires in-person interview · Limited availability for appointments
$219 standard annual membership; eligible partner discounts varyPlanning estimate · confirm current price
What it offersAvailable at 50+ airports · Works at stadiums and venues
What to check$219 standard annual membership · Not available at all airports
$339 first year at standard adult rates ($120 Global Entry + $219 CLEAR+); $219/year for CLEAR+ thereafter, plus Global Entry renewal after 5 yearsPlanning estimate · confirm current price
What it offersFastest possible airport experience · Covers both security and customs
What to check$339 first-year cost at standard adult rates · Requires two separate applications
Request a current quote; service, airport and party size affect the pricePlanning estimate · confirm current price
What it offersPrivate TSA, customs, and immigration · Direct tarmac transfer to aircraft
What to checkOnly at select airports · Not included with airline ticket
Global Entry
Frequent international travelers who want to avoid long customs lines
Explore this optionListed prices are editorial planning estimates. Check the price unit, included services and a current quote. Price bars appear only for amounts with a shared unit; a missing price is never treated as free.
Price, scope & fit details
Global Entry
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.
Frequent international travelers who want to avoid long customs lines
Requires in-person interview · Limited availability for appointments · $120 nonrefundable adult application fee · Not available to all nationalities · Background check required
Read the guideClear
A biometric security program that uses your eyes and fingerprints to verify your identity, allowing you to skip the ID check line at security checkpoints.
Frequent domestic travelers who want to skip ID check lines
$219 standard annual membership · Not available at all airports · Requires biometric data · May still need TSA PreCheck · Limited international presence
Read the guideClear + Global Entry
The ultimate combination for frequent travelers, providing both expedited security screening and customs clearance.
Frequent international travelers who want maximum time savings
$339 first-year cost at standard adult rates · Requires two separate applications · Two different renewal processes · Not available everywhere · Requires biometric data
Read the guideVIP Airport Services (e.g., PS at LAX)
Ultra-premium private airport terminals offering private security, customs, immigration, and luxury amenities for commercial flyers.
For travelers who demand the highest level of privacy, comfort, and efficiency while flying commercial.
Only at select airports · Not included with airline ticket · Must book in advance · Not available for all airlines/routes
Read the guideExplore the options in pictures
Inspiration
An option to explore
Clear
Frequent domestic travelers who want to skip ID check lines
$219 standard annual membership; eligible partner discounts varyConfirm current pricing
Inspiration
An option to explore
Clear + Global Entry
Frequent international travelers who want maximum time savings
$339 first year at standard adult rates ($120 Global Entry + $219 CLEAR+); $219/year for CLEAR+ thereafter, plus Global Entry renewal after 5 yearsConfirm current pricing
Inspiration
An option to explore
VIP Airport Services (e.g., PS at LAX)
For travelers who demand the highest level of privacy, comfort, and efficiency while flying commercial.
Request a current quote; service, airport and party size affect the priceConfirm current pricing
The details behind the decision
Airport friction compounds fast when you fly often. The right mix of Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and Clear can turn arrivals and security into predictable, low‑stress non‑events. This guide explains what each does, where they overlap, and simple rules of thumb for deciding which combination is worth it for your family.
What Each Program Does in Plain English
Global Entry (with TSA PreCheck)
- Where it helps:
- U.S. immigration and customs on international arrival.
- TSA security at participating U.S. airports via the bundled PreCheck benefit.
- What you get:
- Kiosk‑based passport control instead of long primary queues.
- Shorter, more predictable security lines and fewer screenings (shoes, laptops, liquids).
Clear
- Where it helps:
- TSA document‑check line at participating U.S. airports.
- Some stadiums and venues for identity and ticket verification.
- What you get:
- A dedicated lane where biometric verification replaces the ID check.
- You then merge into either the standard screening line or PreCheck line.
Clear + Global Entry Together
- Where it shines:
- Heavy international + domestic travel through airports that support both programs.
- Peak travel periods where both security and immigration queues get ugly.
With both, you're essentially paying to move to the front of the ID check line and skip the worst of immigration.
Simple Decision Rules
- Mostly international trips, a few times a year → Start with Global Entry for immigration + PreCheck.
- Frequent domestic trips from Clear-heavy airports → Consider Clear, especially if airlines or cards subsidize fees.
- High-frequency international + domestic travel → Global Entry + Clear is usually the right combo.
- Rare flyers, mostly off‑peak → You might skip Clear, but Global Entry can still be worth it if you hate immigration lines.
Implementation Steps
- List your top 5–10 origin airports and check where Clear is available.
- Count your likely international entries to the U.S. over the next 5 years.
- Check which credit cards or elite statuses will reimburse application fees.
- Apply in an order that matches your pain points: Global Entry first for immigration, then Clear if security is still a bottleneck.
The questions that matter
A little more clarity.
Are airport fast lanes worth it?
Choose the program that addresses your actual bottleneck: returning through customs, screening, or identity verification.
When should I choose the smaller option?
Compare ordinary screening, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR separately.
Is Global Entry worth it if I only take one or two international trips per year?
In many hubs, one peak‑time arrival can easily involve 45–60 minutes of waiting. Over a five‑year membership, even a few such trips can make Global Entry feel like a bargain, especially if a card benefit reimburses the fee. The real value is avoiding unpredictable stress at the tail end of long‑haul flights.
Do I still need TSA PreCheck if I have Clear?
Clear gets you through the **ID check** faster but does nothing about the actual screening lane you enter next. PreCheck (or the PreCheck benefit bundled with Global Entry) still matters a lot for keeping shoes on, leaving laptops in bags, and facing shorter, better‑behaved lines.
Does Clear always save time?
No. At some airports and times of day, the Clear lane can be as busy—or busier—than PreCheck alone. Think of Clear as an **optionality upgrade**: when both exist, you can choose whichever is shorter in the moment.
Should my spouse and kids also get Global Entry and Clear?
For Global Entry, every traveler needs their own membership, including children. Qualifying applicants under 18 pay no application fee when a parent or legal guardian is already a Trusted Traveler member or applies concurrently. For Clear, adults need separate memberships, but you can often add family at discounted rates, and young children can accompany you. If you travel together most of the time, aligning your memberships avoids "slow lane" bottlenecks.
How long does it take to get approved for Global Entry?
Timelines vary by demand and your ability to secure an interview slot. Conditional approval can be quick, but interviews may take weeks to months depending on location. If you have an upcoming international trip, look into **Enrollment on Arrival** to complete your interview when you land.
Is Clear safe from a biometric/privacy standpoint?
Clear is widely used and regulated, but it does require comfort with storing biometric data with a third‑party vendor. If you're privacy‑sensitive, weigh that against the actual time savings you see at your home airports and consider whether Global Entry + PreCheck alone already solves 80–90% of your pain.
Before you commit
Ask for the part you actually need.
Compare ordinary screening, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR separately.
Our fit criteria are editorial judgment. Listed prices are planning estimates unless a source and review date are given. Confirm the actual offer, total cost and terms with the provider.