Contents
- 1 Global Entry & TSA PreCheck Features
- 2 Best Mid-Tier Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
- 3 Best Premium Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
- 4 Best Hotel Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
- 5 Best Airline Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
- 6 Best Business Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
- 7 Additional Guides
Even if you travel only once in awhile, you know how annoying the airport security process can be. And if you’re a global jetsetter, then you’ve dealt with the crazy lines at immigration and customs on your way home. But did you know? There are ways to cut your time at airport screenings: Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
See our best credit card bonuses here.
These trusted traveler programs aren’t free, but you can avoid their fees with the right credit card. We’ll cover the best cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck below.
For additional reading, see our post Tips & Tricks For Getting Through Airport Security Fast.
Global Entry & TSA PreCheck Features
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are both trusted traveler programs. In order to apply, you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident.
Below are the similarities and differences between the two programs:
| GLOBAL ENTRY | TSA PRECHECK |
| $100 application fee | $85 application fee |
| Valid for 5 years | Valid for 5 years |
| Applies to domestic & international flights with participating airlines & airports. | Applies to domestic flights with participating airlines & airports |
| Benefits include: TSA PreCheck Faster immigration & customs screening Expedited processing at land borders | Benefits include: Shorter lines Keep shoes, belt & jacket on Leave laptop & liquids in your carry-on |
| Requirements: Online application, in-person interview & background check | Requirements: Online application, in-person interview & background check |
In general, we recommend applying for Global Entry rather than TSA PreCheck, because Global Entry covers both programs. If you have a credit card that reimburses you for the application fee, that’s one more reason to shoot for Global Entry.
Best Mid-Tier Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card offers a statement credit every four years for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee when you charge it to your Venture Card. This credit can take up to two billing cycles to appear.
Capital One Venture is one of the best flat-rate travel cards on the market. It’s got a very simple rewards structure with double miles on all your purchases. You’ll also enjoy a solid sign-up bonus, waived annual fees for your first year and no foreign transaction fees.
You can easily redeem the miles you earn with your Venture card at $0.01 per mile. Or, you can transfer them to partner airlines for maximum value.
CAPITAL ONE® VENTURE® REWARDS CREDIT CARD
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card currently earns 100,000 bonus miles when you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening. Or if are unable to meet the $20k spending requirement, you can still earn 50,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. These bonus miles are equal to $1000 or $500, respectively, in travel and are easy to redeem as a statement credit towards the cost of your travel purchases. Take advantage of Capital One’s travel partners and these up to 100k miles can be worth around $1400 in value.
This card will earn an ongoing 2 miles for every dollar you spend on all purchases. 100 miles is equal to $1 in travel rewards. If you don’t redeem towards travel purchases, your miles will have less value.
The annual fee is $95.
With the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card, you’re eligible for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years. The credit takes just seven days to post to your account.
BofA Premium Rewards was designed for the jetsetting foodie with double points on both travel and dining. The card also comes with a decent sign-up bonus and statement credits every year for airline incidentals. Plus, Preferred Rewards members earn 25% to 75% more points on every purchase.
You can use your Premium Rewards points for cash back, statement credits, travel and gift cards at $0.01 apiece.
BANK OF AMERICA® PREMIUM REWARDS CREDIT CARD
The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card offers a sign-up bonus of 50,000 points when you spend at least $3,000 within the first 90 days. These points have a $500 redemption value.
The card offers unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Also, consider the Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card if you would like the following travel benefits:
- $100 Airline Incidental Statement Credit annually.
- $100 Airport Security Statement Credit towards TSA Pre✓ or Global Entry Application fee, every four years.
It’s especially worthwhile if you’re a Preferred Rewards client, where being a loyal customer translates into attractive relationship bonuses.
There are no foreign transaction fees and the annual fee is $95 for this card.
Best Premium Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
The Platinum Card® from American Express is unique because it extends the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit perk to authorized users. It takes under eight weeks for the credit to post to your account.
The Platinum Card is a great option if you’re looking for rewards on air travel. It gives a generous sign-up bonus, points on flights, airline incidental fee credits every year, Global Lounge Collection access and much, much more.
You can use your Membership Rewards points for travel, statement credits, gift cards and more. But to maximize their value, we recommend transferring your points to travel partners.
THE PLATINUM CARD® FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Platinum Card® from American Express has a special offer for 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in purchases within your first 6 months.
Membership Rewards® points are some of the most valuable in the market. Redeeming these points by booking travel through American Express or by redeeming for gift cards will give you a standard 1 cent per point value. The 100k bonus points are worth $1,000 going this route.
You can potentially get more value by transferring your points to Membership Rewards travel partners. Using this strategy can get you up to an average value of 2 cents per point. Get around $2,000 in value with 100,000 points this way. Read more on this here.
With this card, earn 10X Membership Rewards Points for eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S. (up to $25,000 in combined purchases) during your first 6 months of Card Membership
5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
The biggest drawback to this card is the $695 annual fee (see Rates & Fees, Terms Apply), which puts it in the premium class of credit cards. The card has a market because it offers premium travel benefits, such as 5X points for flights (up to $500,000 on these purchases) and eligible hotels, access to 40+ Centurion Loung and Studio locations worldwide, up to $200 airline fee credit annually, and an annual Walmart+ membership. These benefits are given as statement credits.
For frequent travelers, the added benefits make sense in terms of value and added luxury.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® includes the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck waiver every four years. You’ll see the credit post within 24 hours of paying the application fee.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a strong rewards program with valuable, premium perks. In addition to generous points on travel and dining, you’ll get an annual travel credit, complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, waived foreign transaction fees and more.
You can redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for a wide variety of things, but we recommend using them for travel via the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal for $0.015 each. Or, transfer them to a travel partner to get the most value out of your points.
CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is offering 50,000 bonus points (worth up to $1,000 in travel per our valuations). You’ll need to spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening to qualify for the bonus. These 50k points are redeemable for $750 toward travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
This is a premium travel card with a premium annual fee of $550. But, you’ll receive premium benefits such as 5X points on air travel, 10x points spent on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit, access to 1,300+ airport lounges with Priority Pass Select, 3X points on all other travel and dining, and 50% more in travel redemption through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For all other purchases, it’s 1 point per dollar spent.
Other nice features include an application fee credit (up to $100) for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®, and complimentary Lyft Pink and complimentary DashPass subscription from DoorDash. Also, with Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 50% more for existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
You’ll earn Ultimate Rewards points with this card, which can be pooled together with certain other Chase cards. Examples include the Chase Freedom®, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and all the Chase Ink Business cards. Read more on this here.
Best Hotel Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card offers a statement credit for the Global Entry (every four years) or TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years) application fee. The credit will hit your account within eight weeks from the charge to your card.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is loaded with premium perks which more than make up for its hefty annual fee. You’ll enjoy a big sign-up bonus, points on Marriott spending, points on dining and flights, Gold elite status, Priority Pass Select membership, Marriott credits, and much more.
MARRIOTT BONVOY BRILLIANT™ AMERICAN EXPRESS® CARD
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has an offer for 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. We value these 75k points at around $675. Also, earn up to $200 in Statement Credits for eligible purchases at U.S. Restaurants within the first 6 months.
This card earns 6 points per $1 at hotels participating in the Marriott BonvoyTM program and 3 points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. You’ll receive 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
You’ll get a Free Night Award (redemption level up to 50,000 points) every account anniversary year, and up to $300 in statement credits each year for eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott BonvoyTM program. Resort fees may apply. Other benefits include unlimited airport lounge visits with the Priority Pass Select membership and no foreign transaction fees.
This premium card comes with an Annual Fee of $450. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
With the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, you can take advantage of one Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years. The credit will post to your account within 24 hours of the charge to your card.
As a mid-tier card, IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card comes with loads of benefits. Including a big sign-up bonus, extra points on IHG, gas station, grocery store and restaurant purchases, complimentary Platinum Elite status, one Reward Night each year and more.
IHG® REWARDS CLUB PREMIER CREDIT CARD
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card has an offer for 125,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months. Our valuation puts these 125k points at around $625.
This card earns 25 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Earn 1 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
After each account anniversary year you’ll get a Free Night at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights and you get a free reward night.
Also, get a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fee Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card.
Get automatic Platinum Elite status with this card. The annual fee is $89 a year.
Best Airline Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
The United℠ Explorer Card includes the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck waiver every four years. You’ll see the credit post within 24 hours of paying the application fee.
United℠ Explorer Card waives the annual fee for your first year and gives a generous sign-up bonus, double miles on United, hotel stay and restaurant purchases, your first checked bag free on United flights and more.
With the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, you can take advantage of one Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years. The credit will post to your account up to eight weeks after the charge to your card.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum earns miles on Delta and hotel purchases as well as miles at restaurants and supermarkets. It offers a companion certificate each year upon card renewal, letting you bring a travel buddy along on a domestic itinerary in Main Cabin for free (plus taxes and fees).
DELTA SKYMILES® PLATINUM AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has an introductory offer for 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. We value the 50k SkyMiles to be worth around $600. Additionally, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants with your card within the first 3 months of account opening.
This card earns 3 miles per $1 on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. It also earns 2 miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets. You’ll earn 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Upon renewal of your card each year, you will receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. The cost of government imposed taxes and fees will be no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments).
You and up to 8 travel companions get your first checked bag free on Delta flights. You’ll also receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.
You’ll also get an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓. There are no foreign transaction fees and the annual fee is $250. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® offers a statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every five years. The credit will hit your account within eight to ten weeks from the charge to your card.
Citi / AAdvantage Executive is American Airlines’ premium co-branded option, with Admirals Club access for you and your family members or up to two guests, one free checked bag on domestic AA flights, priority boarding and much more.
CITI® / AADVANTAGE® EXECUTIVE WORLD ELITE MASTERCARD®
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has a 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles offer. Make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening to earn this bonus. See our valuation of AAdvantage miles are worth. You’ll easily receive at least $500 in value from these bonus miles.
The card earns 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
You’ll receive expected perks like no foreign transaction fees and your first checked bag for free on domestic American Airlines flights. Up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation will also receive this free checked bag perk.
The main reasons travelers choose this $450 annual fee card are:
- Complimentary Admirals Club lounge access
- 10,000 AAdvantage Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
Best Business Credit Cards For Global Entry & TSA PreCheck
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business offers a statement credit every four years for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee when you charge it to your card. This credit can take up to two billing cycles to appear.
Spark Miles cardmembers enjoy a solid sign-up bonus, miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, miles on all other purchases and free employee cards.
You can easily redeem the miles you earn with your Spark Miles card at $0.01 per mile. Or, you can transfer them to partner airlines for maximum value.
CAPITAL ONE SPARK MILES FOR BUSINESS
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business card offers a bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One TravelSM using this card. Capital One has 10+ transfer partners, potentially making your miles worth even more. Using the strategy of transferring your miles to these travel partners, we estimate 50k miles to be worth around $700.
This card earns unlimited 2X miles all purchases. Another benefit is one credit, up to $100, for a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ application fee.
The annual fee is waived for the first year and is $95 after that.
With the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, you’re eligible for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years. The credit takes just 24 hours to post to your account.
Southwest Performance Business includes a big sign-up bonus, points on Southwest purchases, points on social media and search engine advertising as well as internet cable and phone services, an anniversary bonus, four upgraded boardings every year, and inflight WiFi credits.
SOUTHWEST® RAPID REWARDS® PERFORMANCE BUSINESS CREDIT CARD
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card has a 80,000 bonus points offer when you spend $5,000 within the first 3 months. We value these 80k points to be worth around $1,200.
The card earns 4 points for every $1 on Southwest Airlines, 3 points for points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, and 2 points for every $1 on rideshare, social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable and phone services.
You’ll also receive perks such as:
- Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available ($30-$50 value each).
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ Fee credit.
- Free 1st & 2nd checked bags.
- No change fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
The annual fee for this card is $199.
Like the Platinum Card, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express extends the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit perk to authorized users. It takes under eight weeks for the credit to post to your account.
Amex Business Platinum has many premium benefits that take your travel to the next level, including airline fee credits every year, access to lounges in the Amex Global Lounge Collection, automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold statuses, and more.
You can use your Membership Rewards points for travel, statement credits, gift cards and etc. But to maximize their value, we recommend transferring your points to travel partners.
THE BUSINESS PLATINUM CARD® FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a welcome offer for 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of Card Membership. We value 120k points to be worth around $2,400.
This card earns 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Also earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else. Cap applies.
Use Membership Rewards Pay with Points for all or part of a flight with your selected qualifying airline, and you can get 35% of the points back, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year. Also, get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline. You will also get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership when you use your Card.
This is a premium business card with a $595 annual fee ($695 if application is received on or after 1/13/2022). See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
Additional Guides
While we focused on credit cards for young professionals in this post, you may want to consider other cards with additional earning potential that matches your spending behavior. Click here for our guide on the best credit cards in other categories or check out these other posts:
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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Disclaimer: These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. It is not the bank advertiser's or any other entity's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.