I signed up for Global Entry because it was free with the American Express Platinum. Since then the Amex now offers you a choice of TSA Pre Check ($85) or Global Entry ($100). They will issue a statement credit for the amount of the application. I just used my Global Entry to get free TSA Pre check. As I researched this post quickly I was left scratching my head… but hey, I’ll take it.
- Global Entry = Fast Track for International Arrivals (super useful to skip around long lines at immigration)
- TSA Pre Check = Fast Track for Domestic Departures
Based on this, and that Amex will only refund you for one of the two, you might be facing that decision of which is more likely to be useful based on your travel. You can view the qualifying criteria for TSA Pre Check here, needless to say holding Global Entry is considered a good thing when being considered for Pre Check. Both of these products produce what is called a Known Traveler ID Number (KTN), and when you take the Global Entry KTN and plug it into your domestic trip, TSA Pre check magically appears on your boarding pass. I have heard that this doesn’t happen ‘every time’ but I can say it worked for me both ways on my recent flight, one being an award ticket and one a revenue ticket. I was also able to add an infant onto this ticket.
If you elect to go with Global Entry your KTN is found on the reverse of the card – you can enter this number into your reservation, or if you prefer many airlines, such as American will allow you to add it to your profile so it remembers this next time around.
Add the number to your profile on AA.com
I’ve flown AA many times since holding Global Entry, but never have I had TSA Precheck on my boarding pass until adding the KTN, so I think this is the key. It’s certainly a quick task to add it to the profile so I suggest you give it a go. You will know if you can use the TSA Pre check lanes successfully based upon what is printed out on your boarding pass, if nothing is on it then you can’t use the lane.
I’d be keen to hear your experience with this, have you ever done this and not received Precheck?
Received Global Entry back in April. Since that time, I have not gotten TSA several times when flying Southwest Airlines though my number is in my Rapid Rewards profile. Seems that is always happens when our family is flying together. My husband and son are listed together on the reservation and because I am a Companion Pass designee, my flight has to be booked separately. In this occasion, I also always add the number. Makes it very inconvenient when two of the three of us are going through the line and they have to wait on me to get through.
That’s annoying – I had similar issues coming back as the Wife doesn’t have GE or Precheck, so we had to go back into the Priority lane, luckily that was empty.
Same experiences with Southwest. Pre TSA on outbound but not on return as companion. I have found a call to Southwest takes care of it. I also have KTN on my profile so I don’t know what triggers that.
Interesting – thanks. I’ve actually yet to fly Southwest, i’m waiting for the program to be devalued before I start… 🙂
In the past year, I’ve never not gotten PreCheck with my Global Entry KTN in the reservation.
Hmm- AA, WN or other?
AA primarily, but also WN, UA, and DL. I always put the KTN in online. This can be done either on your FFP account or on the PNR/reservation itself. I have it in all my FFP accounts, but if I’m not using my FFN (with UA, I use my A3 FFN to get *G), I just put it directly in the PNR. Works fine either way.
I have had Global Entry and consistently get PreCheck with my two main airlines, US Air and AA as it is in my profile. On other airlines I usually can put my KTN in during check-in and have it work fine. However a few months ago I was flying United and had problems. I didn’t check in online as I was going to check a bag. I used the machine to check-in and was looking for the place to enter the KTN, at that time I don’t think it had it as an option. So I asked the agent to enter it for me and was shocked by their ignorance. They were of the belief that TSA just randomly picked people and travelers had no control. They had no idea about entering KTN and refused to even try. By now they’ve probably fixed it.
Good to know thanks – I will keep watching AA to see what happens, maybe their system just works better with this.
I’m 100% with TSA Precheck when adding my KTN to reservation. Only flown legacy airlines though since I got Global Entry. I have my KTN in all my profiles and also call to confirm they have it in the reservation most of the time.
Me too! As long as you count twice as 100% 🙂
One issue is that your name with the airline needs to completely match your name on Global Entry. When I signed up with Southwest, I only used my middle initial. SW makes you physically write in with documentation to add your full middle name and I have been to lazy to do so. So no TSA Precheck for me on SW, though I have it on AA/US.
This is exactly why we called every airline after we got Global Entry – to change our last name to match government documentation. On our passports, they put a space between our last name when there is none. All of our names match our indentification and our numbers are in all of our airline accounts and verified with the airlines themselves. They tell me it is just a random thing but who knows. Just weird. If I am flying with my husband, I get TSA Precheck but when it is the three of us, I am always the one who doesn’t get it. Husband and son do.
As a side note, the Well’s Fargo Visa ‘invite only’ card that gives the Global Entry credit allows you to use it twice per account. First year AF is waived too.
I always get TSA-Precheck after I received the Global Entry in April this year. I was surprised I got TSA-Precheck on my Cancun to DFW and CDG to DFW flights. I thought the precheck is for domestic airports only but apparently it’s available in some foreign airports with flights to US.
I think Pre Check is an official benefit of Global Entry, so I don’t see why it shouldn’t work all the time.
Well if that’s the case this post was a complete waste of my time. Do you have a link at least before I hurl myself in front of a speeding train?
http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/frequently-asked-questions
“Who is eligible for TSA Pre✓®?”
Also: http://www.dhs.gov/comparison-chart
Im not really going to jump in front of a train, so you can stop with the data points whenever you are ready
Ha.