3 Best Cards for Global Entry and TSA Precheck

Airport security is probably the worst part of traveling — and let’s not even talk about getting through customs if you’re traveling internationally.

Thankfully, TSA Precheck and Global Entry are two ways to vastly improve your airport experience:

• TSA Precheck lets you skip the main security line at the airport and go directly through the typically much shorter TSA Precheck line.  The fee is $85 for five years.
• Global Entry includes TSA Precheck in addition to allowing you to skip the customs line upon reentering the United States.  The fee is $100 for five years.

Obviously Global Entry is more robust than TSA Precheck since it includes TSA Precheck and then some — and for only $15 more.

But with the right credit card, your cost can be zero.

Here are the best credit cards on the market today offering reimbursement for Global Entry and TSA Precheck fees.

3 Best Cards Offering Global Entry and TSA Precheck

Are the cards I detail below the only three cards offering reimbursement for the Global Entry / TSA Precheck fee?  No.

But they are the best, in my opinion, because they either 1) don’t have an annual fee or 2) provide better rewards than other cards offering Global Entry and TSA Precheck reimbursement.

If you don’t travel often, I would recommend going with the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card since it doesn’t have an annual fee.

If you’re a frequent traveler in the market for a premium card, compare the benefits below of both the Amex Platinum Card (lots of benefits at the airport) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve (lots of benefits at home) and go with the one that fits your lifestyle the best.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Low Annual Fee

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  • Basics: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card gives you up to a $100 credit once every four years to put toward your Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee, assuming you put the fee on the card. There is a low $95 annual fee and a welcome offer of 75,000 miles with $4,000 spend within the first three months from opening the account, equal to $750 in travel.
  • Rewards: You get two miles per dollar spent on the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Since Capital One Miles can be redeemed for a penny each, you're essentially earning 2% back on spend. The easiest ways to redeem Capital One Miles are to either receive a statement credit for travel purchases made on the card within the last 90 days or to book travel through Capital One travel. Note that transferring your miles to one of Capital One's airline partners could increase (as well as decrease) the value of your miles.
  • Bottom Line: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great credit card for those who value simplicity when it comes to rewards, but at the end of the day you're getting 2% rewards with a $95 annual fee. The Citi Double Cash, on the other hand, can earn you 2% cash back without an annual fee. That said, the Double Cash does not reimburse your Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee and comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee. The Venture Rewards does not have a foreign transaction fee, so if you spend more than $3,166.67 ($95/3%) abroad per year, you would come out ahead with the Venture Rewards, assuming you value simplicity and just want one go-to card for everything.
  • Welcome Offer

    75,000 miles with $4,000 spend within first three months from opening account, equal to $750 in travel.

  • Annual Fee

    $95

  • Perks

    • Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ every four years
    • No foreign transaction fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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  The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for Perks

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  • Basics: The American Express Platinum Card is chock-full of perks to justify its $695 annual fee, and there is a welcome offer of 100,000 points with $6,000 spend within first six months from opening account. Terms Apply. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Rewards: The American Express Platinum Card gives you five Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly from the airline as well as on airfare and hotels booked through Amex Travel and one point per dollar spent on other categories. Each point is worth 1 cent each when you redeem for travel through Amex Travel, making your return 5% on the specified travel spending described previously and 1% on other categories. Terms Apply
  • Bottom Line: If you're both a frequent flyer and a frequent diner who will also put all of its generous perks to work, the American Express Platinum Card is a phenomenal premium travel card. Yes, there is the complimentary access to Global Lounge Collection, average total value of $695 with Fine Hotels & Resorts(R) program at over 1,100 properties, up to $200 annual Uber credit, the $100 statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue, and more. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Welcome Offer

    100,000 points with $6,000 spend within first six months from opening account. Since 100,000 points is worth approximately $1,000 when they are redeemed for travel through Amex Travel, this results in a 16.67% return on spend from the bonus alone. Terms Apply (See Rates and Fees)

  • Annual Fee

    $695. Yes, this is tied with the Chase Sapphire Reserve for the highest annual fee among cards on this list, but you will get more than $695 of value if you use all the perks annually. Terms Apply (See Rates and Fees)

  • Perks

    • Up to $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings Program with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card(R). This benefit requires a minimum two-night stay.
    • Up to $240 in Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 each month when you pay for eligible purchases
    • Up to $200 in Uber Cash a year plus enjoy an Uber VIP Status
    • Up to $300 in Equinox Credits: Get $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships. Enrollment required
    • Up to $200 in Airline Fee Credit per year
    • Up to $100 credit once every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA Pre✓ once every four and a half years
    • Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit per year
    • Exclusive access to American Express Global Lounge Collection with more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries
    • Priority Pass, Delta, and Centurion lounge access
    • No foreign transaction fee (See Rates and Fees)
    • Terms Apply

Chase Sapphire Reserve

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  Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for Foodies

  • Basics: The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives you up to a $100 credit once every four years to put toward your Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee, assuming you put the fee on the card. The annual fee is a hefty $550 — with perks to justify it — and there is currently a welcome offer of 60,000 points with $4,000 spend within first three months from opening the account.
  • Rewards: The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives you five Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on air travel and ten points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R) immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Three points on all other travel and dining, and one point per dollar spent on all other categories. By our math (see below), each point is worth 1.5 cents each when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, making your return 4.5% on travel and dining spending and 1.5% on other categories. If you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R), you can use 60,000 points to cover $900 worth of travel. This comes out to a value of 1.5 cents per point. Because you earn three points per dollar spent on travel and dining worldwide, your return on spend is essentially 4.5% for these purchases since 1.5% x 3 = 4.5%.
  • Bottom Line: If you're both a frequent flyer and a frequent diner who will also put all of this card's generous perks to work -- including the $100 Global Entry / TSA Precheck benefit -- the Chase Sapphire Reserve could be the card for you.
  • Sign-Up Bonus

    60,000 points with $4,000 spend within first three months from opening account. Since 60,000 points is worth approximately $900 when they are redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, this results in an 22.5% return on spend from the bonus alone.

  • Annual Fee

    $550. This sounds steep, but keep in mind the perks whose value will easily exceed the annual fee if you use them all.

  • Perks

    • $300 travel credit
    • Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ every four years
    • Priority Pass lounge access
    • One year of complimentary Lyft Pink
    • Complimentary DashPass from DoorDash

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To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured, please visit the following links: American Express Platinum Card: See Rates and Fees