Planning To Travel More in 2022? These Credit Cards Will Help You Breeze Through Airport Security
Frustrating waits in long, cramped airport security lines were enough to make you want to stay home even before the pandemic. But in the new reality, Global Entry and TSA PreCheck — both are part of the Homeland Security Trusted Travelers program — look better than ever before. TSA PreCheck, which is for domestic travel, lets you breeze through security without having to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets at more than 200 airports across the U.S. Global Entry allows for expedited clearance through customs when entering the U.S. from another country.
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Once approved, membership lasts for five years, and both come with a hefty application fee — $85 for TSA PreCheck and $100 for Global Entry.
The good news is, nearly 30 travel credit cards will cover all or some of the costs of these programs while allowing you to earn rewards and get other travel perks as you spend.
Credit Cards With TSA Precheck Reimbursement
The following credit cards and loyalty programs cover the application fees for either TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or both.
American Express (select cards)
Arvest Visa Signature
Bank of America Premium Rewards
BB&T Spectrum Travel Rewards
Capital One Spark Miles
Capital One Venture and Venture X
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard
Citi Prestige
Commerce Bank World Elite Mastercard
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express and Reserve American Express
Diners Club Carte Blanche Corporate
Expedia Rewards Voyager Card from Citi
HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard and Premier World Mastercard
IHG Rewards Club
Marriott Bonvoy and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
MasterCard Black and Gold cards
Navy Federal’s Visa Signature Flagship Rewards
Orbitz Rewards
PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature
Provident World+ Travel
Radisson Rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business
SunTrust Travel Rewards World Elite Mastercard
UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card
United Club Infinite, Explorer, MileagePlus, and Quest cards
US Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite
US Bank FlexPerks Gold American Express
Keep reading to learn more about some of the best credit cards with TSA PreCheck and find out which credit cards reimburse for Global Entry.
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American Express Platinum Card
TSA PreCheck/Global Entry reimbursement: One statement credit every four years for Global Entry ($100) or 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck ($85)
Annual fee: $695
The American Express Platinum Card has a hefty annual fee, but it comes with premium perks that stand out even among the dozen-plus AMEX cards that offer PreCheck reimbursement. Benefits include monthly Uber credits, a $200 airline fee credit, a $240 digital entertainment credit, a $155 Walmart+ credit and access to over 1,400 airport lounges in 650 cities across 140 countries. With this Global Entry credit card, you’ll also earn rewards points with purchases, including five times the points for flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel.
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Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card
TSA PreCheck/Global Entry reimbursement: Up to $100 airport security statement credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee, every four years
Annual fee: $95
With the Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card, the points you earn never expire. Redemption options include cash back, travel purchases, and gift cards. Earn two points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. In addition to getting your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee waived, cardholders can also get an annual $100 airline incidental statement credit that’s automatically applied to qualifying purchases such as seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services, and airline lounge fees.
Citi Expedia Rewards Voyager Card
TSA PreCheck/Global Entry reimbursement: Up to $100 annual air travel fee statement credit that can be used for either the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees
Annual fee: $0
The Expedia Rewards Mastercard allows you to earn points that can be redeemed for travel bookings through the site that bears its name. Earn four points for every $1 spent on Expedia purchases, earn two points for every $1 spent on dining and entertainment purchases, and earn one point for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. Cardholders also receive automatic Expedia gold status — the highest tier — as well as 5,000 bonus points every year that you spend $10,000, plus Citi Concierge services.
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United Explorer Card
TSA PreCheck/Global Entry reimbursement: Statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
The United Explorer Card offers benefits for United flyers like a free first checked bag — round-trip savings up to $140 — and two United Club passes and 25% back on United in-flight Wi-Fi, food and drink purchases. Cardholders also earn two miles for every $1 spent on restaurants, hotels and United purchases, and one mile for each $1 spent on all other purchases. Miles earned with the card don’t expire, and there are no redemption blackout dates.
Venture From Capital One
TSA PreCheck/Global Entry reimbursement: Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years
Annual fee: $95
With the Venture card, you’ll earn two miles for every dollar spent on all purchases, and five miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Additional perks for travelers include no foreign transaction fees, 24-hour travel assistance services, auto rental collision damage waiver and travel accident insurance. Currently, Capital One is offering 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in three months.
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Andrew Lisa contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Planning To Travel More in 2022? These Credit Cards Will Help You Breeze Through Airport Security
