6 TSA PreCheck Credit Cards from Chase – NerdWallet

TSA PreCheck can be a benefit to any kind of traveler, including both casual and frequent flyers. It saves you from waiting so long in airport security lines, allowing you to spend more time at home or in an airport lounge. It’s even more beneficial when you can get a membership for free by using a credit card to cover the enrollment cost.

Did you know you can pay for TSA PreCheck with certain credit cards from Chase and get a free membership for five years? We’ll go over which cards are eligible so you can choose the right one for you.

The TSA PreCheck program lets pre-approved passengers queue up in a dedicated — and usually short — airport security line. As a TSA PreCheck program member, you can keep the following items in your carry-on bag or on your person:

The Department of Homeland Security, which runs the TSA PreCheck program, estimates that the wait time is five minutes or less for about 95% of passengers. More than 200 U.S. airports participate in the program, and the cost is $85 for five years.

Many credit cards cover the cost of TSA PreCheck membership, so you can get it, essentially, for free. If you’re a Chase customer, take a closer look at the benefits — it’s possible your card comes with a statement credit that covers the price of enrollment in the program.

TSA PreCheck credit cards from Chase include:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card.

• United Club℠ Infinite Card.

Use any of these cards to pay for your TSA PreCheck membership and receive a statement credit back in your account once every four years. If you hold multiple cards on the list, you can use the credit to enroll a family member or friend, but you will have to accompany them to their TSA PreCheck appointment.

It’s worth noting that all credit cards on this list also reimburse the cost of Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck membership and costs $100 for five years. If you travel internationally, you can save time and money by applying for Global Entry instead.

Here are more details about each of the cards that offer reimbursement of the TSA PreCheck application fee.

With the Aeroplan® Credit Card, you can get one free checked bag when you fly with Air Canada, preferred pricing on reward flight and no foreign transaction fees.

You also get complimentary 25K status with Air Canada for the first year you hold the card as well as the following calendar year.

• Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can enroll in Priority Pass Select membership, which includes access to more than 1,300 airport lounges and restaurants at no cost.

The card also comes with a $300 annual travel credit, a DoorDash DashPass subscription for the first year and monthly $10 Gopuff credits.

• Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card comes with several useful perks for Southwest Airlines flyers, including 9,000 anniversary Rapid Rewards points at card renewal, four upgraded boardings per year, 365 in-flight Wi-Fi credits and a fee waiver of up to $500 per year for points transferred to another Rapid Rewards member.

You also earn 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent on the card.

• Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium card option for United Airlines flyers.

As a card holder, you’ll receive complimentary United Club lounge membership, first and second checked bags free when you fly United, Premier Access travel services and 25% back as a statement credit on in-flight purchases. Additionally, Premier upgrades are available on award tickets for those who have the United Club℠ Infinite Card.

• Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The United℠ Explorer Card is designed for the casual United flyer. It offers the primary cardholder and one companion one free checked bag, priority boarding and 25% off in-flight purchases.

You’ll also get two one-time United Club passes per year and access to Premier upgrades on award tickets.

• Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

• Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95.

United’s mid-range rewards credit card option is the United Quest℠ Card.

With it, you get up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases, two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits after taking a United flight booked with MileagePlus miles, and two free checked bags. You’ll also have access to priority boarding, get 25% back on in-flight purchases and be eligible for Premier upgrades on award tickets.

• Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

If you hold one of the aforementioned credit cards, there’s no reason not to enroll in TSA PreCheck. Being able to breeze through security in a U.S. airport without having to remove your shoes or take your laptop or liquids out of the bag is a blessing. The only thing that makes it better is getting TSA PreCheck for free with the right credit card.

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2022, including those best for: