Is TSA PreCheck worth it?
Editor's Note
Quick summary
By this point, you've likely at least heard about, if not tried, the expedited airport security program TSA PreCheck.
TSA PreCheck can be one of the most valuable investments you can make as a frequent traveler, thanks to the amount of time it saves and the peace of mind it provides.
Here's your ultimate guide to TSA PreCheck, including how the program works, how much it costs and whether it's worth the money.
Related: Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear — and how you can save on both
What is TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck is a Trusted Traveler Program administered by the U.S. government. It allows prescreened, low-risk travelers at the airport to use a TSA PreCheck-designated security line rather than pass through the normal Transportation Security Administration line.
TSA PreCheck users typically pass through security faster than they would otherwise because they do not have to take off their belts or light jackets or remove the quart-size plastic bag of liquids and electronics from their carry-on luggage.
These travelers are generally screened via walk-through security machines versus full-body scanners.
Currently, travelers can use TSA PreCheck lanes at more than 200 U.S. airports when flying on 90-plus participating domestic and foreign airlines.
Related: Which airports and airlines use TSA PreCheck?
How much does TSA PreCheck cost?
Enrollment fees vary by provider. For new enrollees, a five-year TSA PreCheck membership costs $76.75 via Idemia, $79.95 via Clear or $85 via Telos. Online renewals for another five years of TSA PreCheck membership cost $58.75 via Idemia, $69.95 via Clear or $70 via Telos. In-person renewals cost $66.75 via Idemia, $79.95 via Clear or $70 via Telos.
To pay for application fees, be sure to use one of the roughly 40 cobranded airline, hotel and other credit cards that offer up to $120 in statement credit reimbursement for the fees associated with Trusted Traveler Programs, including TSA PreCheck. Some popular travel rewards cards that cover TSA PreCheck application fees include:
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® (see rates and fees)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees)
- United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees)
- United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees)
A full list of credit cards with this feature is available here.
Additionally, some loyalty programs allow you to use points or miles to cover the membership fees. However, the return per point or mile is usually less than the current TPG points valuations, so we would suggest using a credit card to get a statement credit instead.
Related: The best credit cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
Does TSA PreCheck save you time at the airport?
TSA PreCheck can save you the time you would otherwise spend waiting in line for security.
Not only can I personally attest to this, but 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers reported waiting less than 10 minutes at airport security checkpoints nationwide, per TSA data.
There may be rare occasions when there is a wait at the TSA PreCheck line, particularly during high travel seasons or at certain airports. However, on average, this should not be the case for most TSA PreCheck users.
Personally, I pass through TSA PreCheck security in three minutes or less at the airports I frequently fly from, including Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington, D.C.
Is TSA PreCheck worth it?
I could sing the praises of TSA PreCheck all day long, but don't just take my word for it. I'm not alone in my enthusiasm for TSA PreCheck; TPG's Clint Henderson said it saved him "hours of waiting time over the years," including on a previous trip to Hawaii.
"I absolutely love TSA PreCheck," he said. "I traveled to Hawaii with my family members who didn't have PreCheck. I took my nieces and nephews in the PreCheck lanes while my brother had to wait in the regular line. We beat him through security by about 20 minutes, and it was a similar story on the way back."
That's because travelers 12 and younger may use TSA PreCheck lanes when traveling with a parent or guardian who has it.
As our staffers have experienced, the benefits of TSA PreCheck are particularly clear when traveling with people who aren't enrolled in the program.
"A friend and I flew from Houston to Miami and didn't really think through how busy the airport would be during spring break. I had PreCheck; my friend didn't," TPG contributing editor Matt Moffit said. "I got to the gate with about five minutes to spare before boarding ended. My friend was 20 minutes behind me. Luckily, our flight was delayed by 40 minutes, so we both made it, but it was a good lesson in how valuable the perk is."
If you know you're going to pass through a particularly busy airport or are just traveling at a busy time of year, such as during the holidays, TSA PreCheck can be a lifesaver.
"Every time I go through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), especially during the holidays, I'm very happy I have TSA PreCheck. I take one look at the normal line — which is often looping back on itself many times — and am happy I don't have to wait in it," TPG senior writer Katie Genter said. "It's not just Atlanta — I have similar experiences in many U.S. airports and am always annoyed when I'm flying an airline that doesn't participate in PreCheck."
TPG senior editor Christine Gallipeau is also grateful for TSA PreCheck since she usually waits less than five minutes in line.
"Every time I fly home to Orlando for the holidays, I'm always grateful to have TSA PreCheck. Typically, I wait no more than five minutes, whereas the regular TSA line is often substantially longer," she said. "In the days before PreCheck, I was a solo traveler stuck waiting behind all the families, so I'm very relieved to be able to get to the gate faster so I can try to grab a hard-to-find seat as I wait to board."
Bottom line
TSA PreCheck is just one tool that truly makes navigating air travel and airports much easier, quicker and overall more efficient than it would be without it.
If you are considering purchasing TSA PreCheck, remember that Global Entry also includes a five-year membership to TSA PreCheck, so you can reap the benefits of both programs for an extra $43.25 (as of August 2025). Global Entry provides preapproved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S. from abroad at more than 75 airports.
Related reading:
- 8 ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear
- What to do if a boarding pass isn't marked TSA PreCheck
- TSA PreCheck hits record 20 million members — up 33% since last year
- It's official: Travelers no longer have to remove shoes at TSA checkpoints
- Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which is more beneficial?