Credit Cards with TSA Precheck/Global Entry Credits and CLEAR Credits

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One of my favorite “easy wins” in the points world? Letting your credit cards pay for airport fast passes.

Many travel credit cards offer statement credits that can cover Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and even CLEAR+. It’s one of the easiest travel perks to use—and one that can save you both money and time at the airport.

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What is The Difference in These Programs?

• TSA PreCheck speeds you through airport security when departing from U.S. airports.
• Global Entry includes all the benefits of TSA PreCheck plus expedited customs when returning to the U.S. from another country.
• CLEAR+ is different—it verifies your identity so you can skip the ID check line. It does not replace TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, but it works great alongside them.

My recommendation: If your credit card reimburses Global Entry, that’s the option I’d choose since it includes TSA PreCheck. If you only travel domestically, TSA PreCheck is still a great choice.

Credit Cards That Cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Many travel credit cards reimburse your application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (up to $120 every 4–5 years). Here are a few of my favorites:

See the entire list on the TSA site, here.

You’ll usually make back most of (or all) of the credit card’s annual fee with just one statement credit from the right travel card.

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Credit Cards That Cover CLEAR

Other cards that offer CLEAR+ credits include the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the American Express® Green Card.

These typically offer up to $209 per year in credits for CLEAR membership. 

Some airline cards (like United/Delta) don’t fully cover it—but they discount the membership.

Both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry last 5 years.
CLEAR+ is an annual membership.

How to use your credit card benefit

1. Apply for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR+.
2. Pay the application fee with an eligible credit card.
3. The statement credit usually appears automatically within a few days to a few weeks.

For those of us with many cards that have these credits:
You can use your statement credit to pay for someone else’s application, too—it doesn’t have to be your own.

Traveling with kids?

• Kids 12 and under can use the TSA PreCheck lane with a parent or guardian who has TSA PreCheck
• Kids 13–17 may also receive TSA PreCheck when traveling on the same reservation, but it isn’t guaranteed
• For Global Entry, every traveler needs their own membership—even babies. The good news? Minors under 18 can apply for free when a parent or guardian is enrolled (or applying).

Quick Note on Touchless ID (This Is Growing Fast)

More airports now offer Touchless ID, which lets you verify your identity with a quick facial scan instead of handing over your driver’s license. If you’re flying an airline that supports it and have TSA PreCheck with a passport saved in your airline profile, you’ll often be invited to use it. It’s incredibly fast and could eventually reduce the need for CLEAR at some airports.

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Final Take

If you have the right cards, you should never be paying out of pocket for these.

Important: After you’re approved for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, add your Known Traveler Number (KTN) to every airline reservation. Otherwise, you may not receive TSA PreCheck on your boarding pass.