For years, I stood in long lines at the airport, staring longingly at lucky passengers who zipped through security and immigration. Because I travel frequently, I considered enrolling in a program that would allow me to skip the line, too. Once I realized how much they cost, I resigned myself to a lifetime of queuing up at the airport.
But that all changed when I got my Platinum Card® from American Express. The card has a hefty $695 annual fee, but several benefits offset the cost, including statement credits for four separate programs that allow travelers to bypass airport lines in different ways (terms apply). I immediately enrolled in all four programs, happy to finally have the chance to see what I've been missing.
Now that I've had a taste of what it's like to bypass lines at the airport, I don't think I could go back. However, I would pay for only two of the four programs that are covered by my credit card.
I love keeping my shoes on with TSA PreCheck
Among the four skip-the-line programs I've tried, I think TSA PreCheck is the best. With TSA PreCheck®, I get access to shorter, priority lanes for going through airport security in the United States.
Though I can also get through TSA security quickly with one of the other programs, TSA PreCheck is the only one that allows me to keep my shoes on.
I find going through airport security stressful, especially when I'm traveling with my children. I already have to keep track of luggage and bins full of coats, sweaters, and electronics. Not having to remove my shoes really sets TSA PreCheck apart.
I feel like a celebrity when I use CLEAR Plus
Whenever I use CLEAR Plus, I feel like a celebrity. At Dulles, my home airport, there's usually a gaggle of CLEAR employees standing around waiting to escort CLEAR® Plus members like me to a TSA agent after they verify our identities.
When I approach a TSA agent with a CLEAR employee, I don't need to show them my boarding pass and identification. But since I always keep these documents handy at the airport, not having to show them doesn't save me much time or inconvenience.
And in my experience, using CLEAR usually isn't any faster than going through the TSA lane. I also found out the hard way that if I forget to add my TSA PreCheck number to my airline reservation and use only CLEAR Plus, I still need to remove my shoes. While it's fun being treated like a VIP, I wouldn't pay for CLEAR Plus.
Global Entry is great for getting back into the United States
When I return to the United States after a trip abroad, I'm usually grumpy. After a long flight and having to deal with the reality of being home after a great trip, the last thing I want to do is stand in a long line to go through immigration and customs.
For a while, I used the free Mobile Passport Control app to help me get through the line faster. The app allows American citizens and some other travelers to use a dedicated lane to enter the US by submitting identifying information and answering some screening questions electronically.
But MPC lines have gotten longer as more people have discovered the app, and not all airports use MPC, which I have found frustrating. Now that I have Global Entry, I can reliably speed through immigration and customs when I return to the United States.
It's a relief knowing that I don't need to wait in a long line after getting off the plane, and I love being able to reliably get home faster. If I ever lost access to Global Entry through my credit card, I would probably pay for the program.
Priority Pass is only worth it for lounge access
Priority Pass is best known for providing members with airport lounge access. Soon after I got a Priority Pass membership, however, I noticed that Priority Pass members could also use Fast Track to get through airport screening faster at an airport in Jamaica.
I was delighted to make this discovery because the security line was very long, and skipping the line meant I could hang out in the lounge longer before my flight. I hoped that I could use my Priority Pass membership to bypass security lines at other airports abroad, but I have yet to encounter another airport where I've been able to use this benefit.
I would probably pay for a Priority Pass membership to maintain my access to lounges. But Priority Pass's Fast Track benefits are so limited that I wouldn't pay for the program just for this benefit.
