Big changes have been rolling out at security and customs checkpoints at airports across the United States.
Earlier in July, the TSA ended its shoes-off policy for travelers in the regular security line, making the screening process in that lane faster and less of a hassle. Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection has launched a new program called Enhanced Passenger Processing, which allows travelers a faster screening option using facial recognition at nine U.S. airports and two international airports, even if they’re not Global Entry members.
But with TSA’s and CBP’s normal lanes getting faster and easier, does that mean that programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are losing their value? We asked air travel experts for their thoughts on whether travelers should still shell out for the known traveler memberships.
One thing to keep in mind is that even though keeping shoes on will help regular TSA lines go faster, the screening process is still more complicated. PreCheck is still “different than the regular line considering you don't have to remove large electronics, and you go through a metal detector, which doesn't require emptying your pockets the same way as in the regular line,” says Brett Snyder, president of air travel assistance firm Cranky Concierge.
Indeed, PreCheck lines are still faster than the regular lane even after the shoe policy change, with PreCheck wait times averaging less than 10 minutes, according to TSA.
Snyder also points to another PreCheck perk that’s not as obvious: access to Touchless ID, the program that allows travelers to use a facial scan to access the security screening area instead of showing an ID and boarding pass. Touchless ID is an ultra-fast option, but is only offered to fliers with PreCheck flying on airlines and through airports that participate in the program. (American Airlines, Delta, United, and Alaska Airlines all participate in the program at 14 major U.S. airports.)
Plus, TSA has a long way to go before its expedited memberships become obsolete. “We’ve dispensed with the shoe carnival, but the war on water continues,” says Gary Leff, an airline expert and author of the aviation blog View From the Wing. “That might change – it would be a huge win! – but it’s difficult to predict. Although PreCheck members are subject to the same 3-1-1 liquid restrictions as travelers in the regular line, they at least don’t need to remove their liquids, which shaves off a precious few moments. “In the past TSA has said they won’t lift liquid restrictions until the 2040s, when they finish rolling out new scanning technology. That should be an embarrassment to the agency, that it will take them another 15 years. But the DHS Secretary says it could come soon. Who knows?”
Some say that even when the dreaded liquid rule is eventually overturned, and other hassles like removing large electronics go by the wayside, PreCheck lines will still be worth it. “Usually, the TSA Pre-check lines are shorter,” says Michael Boyd, president and CEO of aviation analytics firm Boyd Group International. “Yes, plan on the liquid restrictions going away for everyone. Plan on the nonsense of taking out laptops to go away. But still the lines at Pre-Check in terms of numbers of people will be less.”
Although PreCheck memberships seem like they will hold their value for years to come, it’s not clear if the same will be true for Global Entry. “At this point, I think most people will still find value in TSA Precheck, but fewer and fewer will see Global Entry as important,” Snyder says. Thanks to programs like the CBP’s Enhanced Passenger Processing, which is making regular customs checks faster. The program photographs “travelers using auto capture technology to provide a complete customs assessment (biometric confirmation, eligibility, enforcement) before they reach the CBP officer,” according to a CBP news release.
The experts believe that security and customs processes will only continue to become more streamlined, with more and more new technology making checkpoints faster. One recent example is the just-launched One Stop Security program, which allows travelers on certain connecting international flights to bypass a second security screening. Both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have joined the initiative for some of their flights to and from London. “We’re already seeing tests of checked bags not having to be collected and dropped back off for connecting passengers arriving off of international flights, and tests of not having to pick up bags or even re-clear security,” Leff says. “I don’t expect rapid expansion of these projects, but both help bring us more in line with better processes from abroad.”
For the time being, each flier needs to assess their travel habits to know whether PreCheck and Global Entry memberships are still worth it. “Whether or not you want to go through the trouble of PreCheck depends on how frequently you travel,” Leff says. “If you’re a several-times-a-year-international traveler, Global Entry (or even better, Nexus) is a no brainer. A once-a-year traveler might find it a break-even proposition, unless the cost is rebated through a premium credit card.”
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