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Most airport regulars know of reliable ways to avoid the most egregious lines. Those who fly often enough to qualify for the higher ranks of airline frequent flyer status can typically bypass ticketing lines and head straight to the counter. Those with coveted airport lounge memberships — often a perk of elite flyer status — don’t need to wait for counter service at public terminal eateries and watering holes.
And those willing to endure a lengthy vetting process may qualify for two federal programs that confer expedited entry privileges at airport security checkpoints and U.S. points of entry: Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.
Unlike frequent flyer status and airport lounge privileges, expedited entry isn’t an automatic perk of high-end travel rewards credit cards. Everyone must go through the same application and vetting process, with no guarantee of approval.
Best Credit Cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
But many premium travel rewards credit cards extend a financial incentive to TSA PreCheck and Global Entry applicants: a credit against the programs’ application fees. With Global Entry application fees clocking in at $100 and PreCheck’s at $85, and both programs requiring reapplication every five years, this credit is worth up to $20 per year.
Unless noted otherwise, each card credits only the first application fee charged to the card: $85 for TSA PreCheck or $100 for Global Entry. Cardholders generally cannot receive credit for more than one application fee within a five-year period. Credits appear on card statements, usually within one statement cycle of payment.
Without further ado, these are the best credit cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fee credits.
1. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
2x Miles on All Eligible Purchases
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a general-purpose card that’s great for frequent travelers who prefer not to remain loyal to one or two travel merchants. With all purchases earning miles at the same rate, there’s no practical difference between travel and nontravel spending here.
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend at least $3,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Earning Rewards: Earn unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent on all eligible purchases, every day.
- Redeeming Rewards: The best way to redeem is for statement credits against prior travel purchases, such as car rentals and hotel stays, always at a flat $0.01-per-mile rate. Other redemption options include cash-back statement credits and gift cards, but those methods may undervalue points.
- Introductory APR: None.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $95. There is no foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: In lieu of redeeming for statement credits, you can transfer your miles to any of about 10 participating travel partner programs at favorable ratios. Plus, enjoy value-added travel benefits like complimentary rental car coverage when you pay for the rental in full with your card, plus shopping benefits such as extended warranties.
See our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply for this card here.
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2. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
$300 Annual Travel Credit; Complimentary Airport Lounge Access at 1,000+ Locations
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card is one of the most generous general-purpose travel credit cards on the market.
Sapphire Reserve’s signature benefit is a $300 annual travel credit that automatically applies to a wide range of primary and incidental travel purchases, including airfare and hotel bookings. When the credit is fully exploited, the $550 annual fee effectively drops to $250.
Another must-note benefit: the card grants complimentary airport lounge access at more than 1,000 locations worldwide through the Priority Pass Select program.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points when you spend $4,000 or more on purchases on your card within three months of your account opening date. That’s worth $900 when redeemed for travel bookings at the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
- Earning Rewards: Earn 3 points per $1 spent on eligible travel and dining purchases. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Redeeming Rewards: The best way to redeem Ultimate Rewards points earned through Chase Sapphire Reserve spending is for travel bookings (including hotels, airfare, and car rentals) at the Ultimate Rewards travel center. This method values points at $0.015 apiece, 50% more than the baseline. Other redemption options include cash back, point of sale purchase subsidies, gift cards, and general merchandise.
- Introductory APR: None.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $550. The fee for additional authorized users is $75 per user per card. There is no foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: Beyond the travel credit and Priority Pass Select benefit, Sapphire Reserve offers a generous point transfer arrangement with about a dozen Chase travel partners. Cardholders may transfer Ultimate Rewards points to participating loyalty programs at a 1-to-1 ratio, potentially multiplying their baseline value by two, three, or more.
See our Chase Sapphire Reserve Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply for this card here.
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3. U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
4x Points on Travel and Gas Station Purchases; Annual Streaming Service Credit; Great Welcome Bonus
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card delivers a $100 application fee credit for TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry® members every four years. The card also earns 4 points per $1 spent on eligible travel and gas station purchases (see rates & fees) and 2 points per $1 spent on purchases made at the grocery store and grocery delivery, restaurant dining, and streaming purchases.
After the first year, expect to pay a $95 annual fee for your Altitude Connect privileges. But $30 in annual credits against eligible streaming service purchases, including Netflix and Spotify®, softens the blow. So does an attractive sign-up bonus with qualifying spend.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. This bonus is worth up to $500 at redemption.
- Rewards Rate: Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible travel and gas station purchases. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at the grocery store and on eligible grocery delivery, dining, and streaming purchases. All other eligible purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent. As long as your account remains open and in good standing, your points won’t expire.
- Redeeming Rewards: Redeem for a variety of items, including travel, gift cards, merchandise, cash back, and more.
- Introductory APR: None.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $95. There is no foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: Enjoy $30 in annual statement credits against eligible streaming purchases, including Netflix and Spotify® and get up to $600 in cellphone protection coverage (for a lost or stolen device) when you pay your monthly cellphone bill with your card.
- Terms and Conditions Apply: See rates & fees.
Learn more about this card and find out how to apply for this card here.
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4. The Platinum Card® From American Express
$200 Annual Airline Fee Credit (Enrollment Is Required and Terms Apply); Complimentary Airport Lounge Access at 1,000+ Locations (Enrollment Is Required and Terms Apply); Great Welcome Bonus
The Platinum Card® from American Express can’t quite match Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual travel credit. Its $200 airline fee credit (enrollment required and terms apply) applies only to fees charged by one airline of the cardholder’s choice, so it’s much more restrictive.
But Platinum’s overall travel benefits package is more than a match for Sapphire Reserve’s, with an expansive array of airport lounges in its complimentary access program and up to $200 in Uber ride credits each year (enrollment required).
- Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend at least $6,000 within six months of opening your account. Plus, earn 10 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S. during the first six months your account is open (up to $25,000 in combined purchases).
- Earning Rewards: Earn 5 points per $1 spent on airfare purchased directly with airlines and prepaid hotel and airfare bookings made through the American Express travel portal. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Redeeming Rewards: The best way to redeem your accumulated rewards is for travel bookings made through American Express’s travel portal. This option values points at $0.01 apiece under normal circumstances. Other redemption options include cash, purchases with partner merchants, general merchandise, and gift cards. Redemption minimums and ratios vary.
- Introductory APR: None.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $695. There is no foreign transaction fee. See this card’s rates and fees page.
- Other Perks: Enjoy potentially valuable perks at participating partner hotels and resorts, such as flexible check-in and room upgrades where available. Claim complimentary Gold and Gold Elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, respectively (enrollment required). Other benefits abound.
See our Platinum Card from American Express review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply for this card here.
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5. Mastercard® Black Card
$100 Annual Airline Credit; Complimentary Access to 1,000+ Airport Lounges Worldwide
The Mastercard® Black Card is the middle child of the three-product Luxury Card family. It’s by no means the best value on the market, but the $100 annual airline credit and complimentary access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide help justify the annual fee.
The return on airline redemptions isn’t bad, either, although it can’t compete with Amex Platinum, Citi Prestige, or Chase Sapphire Reserve.
- Sign-Up Bonus: There is currently no sign-up bonus. Check Luxury Card’s website for up-to-date promotion information.
- Earning Rewards: All eligible purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent, with no caps or restrictions on how much you can earn.
- Redeeming Rewards: Double your redemption power (2% return on spending) when you redeem for airfare. Cash-back redemptions offer a 1.5% return on spending.
- Introductory APR: See terms for the latest introductory promotions.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $495. Authorized users cost $195 per user per year. There is no foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: This card comes with a slew of travel protections, including trip interruption and cancellation coverage, baggage delay reimbursement, and complimentary car rental coverage when you pay for the rental car in full with your card.
See our Mastercard Black Card review for more information. (For a more exclusive experience, consider upgrading to the Mastercard Gold Card, but mind the $995 annual fee.) Learn more about this card and find out how to apply for this card here.
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6. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
1 Free Night at Participating Marriott Bonvoy Properties Each Year; Complimentary Silver Elite Status
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is the best hotel credit card for brand-loyal travelers seeking TSA PreCheck and Global Entry application fee credits. Its signature benefits include automatic Silver Elite status, whose perks include a 10% boost on base point earnings and flexible check-in where available.
Also of note: you’ll earn one automatic free night per year at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Earn three free nights (with each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases, plus earn 10x total points on eligible purchases in select categories.
- Earning Rewards: Earn up to 17x points per $1 spent on purchases at Marriott Bonvoy locations and 2x points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Redeeming Rewards: The best way to redeem accumulated points is for free nights at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties. Redemptions start at 7,500 points per night for budget-friendly Category 1 hotels and range as high as 85,000 points for high-end Category 8 properties. If you don’t have enough points to redeem for a full night’s stay, you can combine points and cash to make up the difference.
- Introductory APR: None.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $95. There is no foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: Earn 15 Elite Night credits toward status qualification. Automatically attain Gold Elite status when you spend at least $35,000 on your card in a calendar year, even when you fail to meet stay requirements.
See our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply for this card here.
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7. IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Fantastic Sign-Up Bonus and First-Year Spending Bonus
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card packs a big punch for a hotel credit card with a sub-$100 annual fee. The TSA PreCheck and Global Entry application fee credit is just the beginning. Cardholders also enjoy opportunities to earn multiple free nights each year and take advantage of an unusually generous rewards program.
IHG has a huge network too — including thousands of Holiday Inn, Staybridge Inn, and Candlewood Suites properties — so you’ll have little trouble finding places to earn and redeem.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 150,000 bonus points when you spend at least $3,000 on eligible purchases during your first three months of card membership.
- Earning Rewards: Earn 25 points total per $1 spent at IHG hotels. Earn 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Redeeming Rewards: Redeem for free nights at participating IHG properties, starting at 10,000 points for the lowest-tier properties and 70,000 points for the highest-tier properties. Alternatively, combine points and cash to subsidize nightly stays.
- Introductory APR: None.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $89 after the first year (when the introductory annual fee is $0). There is no foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: When you book a reward stay of at least four nights and pay entirely with points, you’ll get the fourth night free. Earn 10,000 bonus points when you spend at least $20,000 on purchases and make one additional purchase in a calendar year. Enjoy one free reward night each year after your cardmember anniversary.
See our IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply for this card here.
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More Credit Cards With Global Entry and TSA PreCheck Credits
These credit cards don’t make our list of the best cards with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fee credits, mainly because their non-entry benefits aren’t as compelling or their use cases are limited for cardholders not loyal to specific airlines and hospitality families. But they’re worth noting here nonetheless.
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express is the small-business card companion to the consumer Platinum Card. It’s well worth the $595 annual fee — the Global Entry and TSA PreCheck fee credit is way down the list of perks here.
For more, read our review of the Business Platinum Card from American Express. See this card’s rates and fees page.
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
Like Amex Business Platinum, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has many perks more valuable than free application to these two popular trusted traveler programs. Highlights include a $300 annual statement credit against qualifying Marriott purchases and complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which confers free access to hundreds of airport lounges worldwide.
See this card’s rates and fees page.
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Capital One Spark Miles for Business
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business card earns 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases, every day. Points are worth $0.01 apiece when redeemed for travel, making for a 2% return on spending — more than enough to justify the $95 annual fee when you make this your primary credit card.
Learn more about this card and find out how to apply here.
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Final Word
Earning a $100 credit every five years may not seem like a big deal. The subsidy works out to $20 per year, small change compared with luxe travel cards’ $200 to $300 annual travel credits. Still, every dollar counts when you’re trying to save money on travel.
Saved time is the real perk of expedited entry status. With its guarantee you’ll whisk past busy security lines at U.S. airports, TSA PreCheck allows you to cut your airport arrival time a little closer. If you’re a regular at U.S. points of entry, Global Entry makes the back ends of those exhausting return journeys a bit more bearable — welcome relief when your fuse is shorter than usual.
Are TSA PreCheck and Global Entry worth the application fee? For frequent travelers, the answer is probably yes. For those who qualify for one of the credit cards on this list, it’s a definite yes.
For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this rates and fees page.
For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this rates and fees page.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, please visit this rates and fees page.
Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Source: moneycrashers.com