You not want TSA PreCheck to maintain your footwear on by means of airport safety today. So is it nonetheless price signing up?
The brief reply: For normal vacationers, sure.
In July 2025, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) airport safety checkpoints stopped requiring passengers to take away their footwear. For years, that comfort was reserved for members of trusted traveler packages, like TSA PreCheck. Now, it is not a differentiator.
However it will be untimely to put in writing off this system simply due to that change. Even with updates to the shoe rule, TSA PreCheck nonetheless presents important worth for many who fly greater than a few instances per 12 months.
What’s modified and what hasn’t
In its July 2025 assertion in regards to the shoe coverage change, the TSA says that it has been rolling out new screening expertise that makes normal safety strains function a bit of extra like TSA PreCheck lanes. This gear meets the federal company’s safety requirements with out requiring passengers to take away their footwear.
Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem additionally introduced that the federal company is wanting into liquid limitations, although she did not present any particulars. At present, vacationers can convey liquids in containers of not more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) every, all of which should slot in a quart-sized bag.
Vacationers going by means of normal safety strains should additionally:
Separate their liquids from their luggage.
Take away their belts, jackets and different outerwear.
Take away their laptops from their luggage for separate screening.
TSA PreCheck time financial savings nonetheless matter
Whereas conserving your footwear on is not unique to TSA PreCheck, the service can nonetheless save vacationers important time at airport safety.
Based on the TSA, roughly 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait 10 minutes or much less. Listed below are another methods this system can prevent time:
Belt removing. Common safety strains require passengers to take away belts with steel buckles or {hardware}, which may create delays. With TSA PreCheck, you possibly can preserve your belt on.
Jacket and outerwear removing. Within the TSA PreCheck line, there isn’t any must strip all the way down to your base layer. In distinction, normal passengers should take away jackets, blazers, hoodies and heavy sweaters, then spend the time to dress once more afterward.
Laptop computer removing from luggage. Common vacationers are required to separate laptops from their luggage, which may maintain up the road. With TSA PreCheck, electronics can keep packed in your carry-on.
Liquid removing. Whereas the liquid restrictions are the identical, you don’t should take away yours out of your bag.
Devoted strains. PreCheck lanes persistently transfer sooner as a result of fewer folks have entry to them, and the screening course of is extra environment friendly.
A few of these variations might sound individually insignificant, however they add as much as a smoother airport expertise.
Households can even profit as a result of kids aged 17 and beneath can accompany dad and mom by means of PreCheck lanes with out their very own membership. This makes household journey considerably much less disturbing.
When TSA PreCheck is price the fee
Relying on which supplier you employ, TSA PreCheck membership can price between $76.75 and $85 for 5 years. That comes out to as little as $15.35 yearly. When you take a median of two round-trip home journeys per 12 months, that is lower than $4 per airport expertise.
The extra incessantly you fly — whether or not for enterprise or pleasure — the fee turns into more and more price it.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Underneath a brand new partnership between the TSA and CLEAR, you possibly can apply for TSA PreCheck at one in all nearly 50 taking part CLEAR enrollment areas with out an appointment. Submit your utility on-line first, then end the method at a CLEAR kiosk at a taking part airport. CLEAR will submit your TSA PreCheck utility in your behalf; anticipate to listen to again in three to 5 days.
When you’re nonetheless involved in regards to the value, the excellent news is you could get the appliance price reimbursed with the proper bank card.
The New United℠ Explorer Card
NerdWallet’s scores are decided by our editorial workforce. The scoring method takes under consideration the kind of card being reviewed (similar to money again, journey or steadiness switch) and the cardboard’s charges, charges, rewards and different options.
Charges & Charges
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
NerdWallet’s scores are decided by our editorial workforce. The scoring method takes under consideration the kind of card being reviewed (similar to money again, journey or steadiness switch) and the cardboard’s charges, charges, rewards and different options.
Charges & Charges
Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
NerdWallet’s scores are decided by our editorial workforce. The scoring method takes under consideration the kind of card being reviewed (similar to money again, journey or steadiness switch) and the cardboard’s charges, charges, rewards and different options.
Annual price
$0 intro for the primary 12 months, then $150.
Profit
Assertion credit score of as much as $120 as reimbursement if you cost the appliance price for TSA PreCheck, World Entry or NEXUS to the cardboard. Accessible as soon as each 4 years.
Assertion credit score of as much as $120 as reimbursement if you cost the appliance price for TSA PreCheck, World Entry or NEXUS to the cardboard. Accessible as soon as each 4 years.
Assertion credit score of as much as $120 as reimbursement if you cost the appliance price for TSA PreCheck or World Entry to the cardboard. Accessible as soon as each 4 years.
When it is not price it
Whereas TSA PreCheck presents significant time financial savings and diminished stress for a lot of vacationers, it’s not ultimate for everybody. It isn’t match for:
Rare vacationers. When you fly fewer than two instances per 12 months, the price will not be well worth the restricted alternatives to make use of the profit. The comfort is actual, however the fee per use can rapidly outweigh the financial savings in the event you not often journey.
Smaller airports. Not all airports have devoted TSA PreCheck lanes, particularly regional or smaller ones. Even when out there, restricted staffing or working hours could make it much less reliable.
Worldwide-only vacationers. TSA PreCheck solely accelerates the home airport screening course of. If most of your journey is worldwide and begins outdoors the U.S., the advantages received’t apply.
Bear in mind, TSA PreCheck isn’t a one-size-fits-all program. Whether or not it’s price it to you comes all the way down to your private journey habits and availability on the airports you frequent.
Earlier than making use of, take a second to judge how typically you journey, which airports you employ most and whether or not a program like World Entry could be a greater match to your wants.
Why World Entry could also be a more sensible choice
TSA PreCheck is not the one program that may pace issues up on the airport. In lots of circumstances, it might make sense to go for World Entry as an alternative, which prices $120 each 5 years.
World Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) program that enables preapproved vacationers to expedite their reentry into the U.S. after worldwide journeys. As a substitute of ready in lengthy customs strains, World Entry members can use automated kiosks at choose airports to confirm their id and full customs declarations rapidly.
What’s extra, this system consists of TSA PreCheck advantages. That makes World Entry particularly beneficial for frequent worldwide vacationers who need to save time each when departing and returning dwelling.
So, do you have to join?
Regardless of modifications to plain safety screening, TSA PreCheck stays beneficial for frequent vacationers. The mix of shorter strains, streamlined screening and comfort justifies the modest annual price for most individuals who fly usually.
For vacationers who cross worldwide borders, although, World Entry presents superior worth by offering all TSA PreCheck advantages plus important time financial savings at customs. When you fly domestically at the very least twice per 12 months, TSA PreCheck may be nicely price it. However in the event you journey internationally even as soon as yearly, World Entry may very well be the smarter funding.
