Which credit cards cover TSA PreCheck fees
Several premium credit cards reimburse the TSA PreCheck process fee of $78 to $85, depending on when you renew. The cards that offer this benefit are mostly in the travel and premium categories, and the reimbursement typically appears as a statement credit after you submit your receipt. Not all premium cards include it, so the specific card matters more than the tier.
The most common cards offering TSA PreCheck reimbursement are the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Platinum, American Express Gold, and Capital One Venture X. Each has different annual fees, spending categories, and other travel perks, so the right choice depends on how much you travel and what you spend on.
Some cards reimburse TSA PreCheck or Clear (a faster airport security line service) but not both. A few cards, like the American Express Platinum, reimburse either TSA PreCheck or Clear, meaning you pick one per year. Read the card's benefits guide before explore to confirm the exact reimbursement structure.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Platinum, American Express Gold, and Capital One Venture X all reimburse TSA PreCheck fees as a statement credit.
- Reimbursement amounts typically match the TSA PreCheck process fee, which is $78 to $85 depending on renewal timing.
- Some cards reimburse either TSA PreCheck or Clear per year, not both, so confirm the exact benefit before you explore.
- The card's annual fee must be weighed against the TSA PreCheck reimbursement and other travel benefits to determine whether it saves you money.
Chase cards with TSA PreCheck reimbursement
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has an annual fee of $550 and reimburses the full TSA PreCheck or Clear fee once per year. It also includes trip cancellation insurance, travel accident insurance, and a $300 annual travel credit that can cover airfare, hotels, rental cars, and some other travel expenses. The card earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has an annual fee of $95 and reimburses TSA PreCheck or Clear once per year. It does not include the $300 travel credit that the Reserve offers, but it earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. For someone who travels occasionally but does not spend heavily on dining, this card can deliver the TSA PreCheck benefit at a lower cost.
Both cards require you to submit your TSA PreCheck receipt to Chase to receive the reimbursement. The credit typically posts within one to two billing cycles. If you do not submit a receipt, you will not receive the reimbursement, so keep documentation of your process or renewal.
American Express cards with TSA PreCheck or Clear reimbursement
The American Express Platinum has an annual fee of $695 and reimburses either TSA PreCheck or Clear once per year, not both. You choose which benefit to use each year. The card includes numerous travel perks: airline fee credits, hotel elite status, lounge access, and trip cancellation insurance. It earns 5 points per dollar on airfare and hotels booked through American Express Travel.
The American Express Gold has an annual fee of $250 and reimburses TSA PreCheck or Clear once per year. Unlike the Platinum, the Gold does not include as many travel perks, but it earns 4 points per dollar on dining and airfare and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. The Gold is often chosen by people who dine out frequently and want the TSA PreCheck reimbursement without paying for the Platinum's higher annual fee.
American Express typically requires you to charge the TSA PreCheck or Clear fee directly to the card for the reimbursement to post. The credit usually appears within one to three billing cycles. Check your card's current benefits guide, because American Express occasionally adjusts which benefits are included.
Capital One Venture X and other options
The Capital One Venture X has an annual fee of $395 and reimburses TSA PreCheck or Clear once per year. It earns 10 points per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 points per dollar on flights booked the same way. The card also includes hotel elite status, lounge access, and travel insurance.
Some business credit cards also include TSA PreCheck reimbursement. The American Express Business Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business both offer the benefit, though business cards typically have higher annual fees and are designed for people with significant business spending.
A smaller number of cards, such as certain versions of the Citi Prestige or regional bank premium cards, may include TSA PreCheck reimbursement, but availability and terms change frequently. Check the card issuer's website or call their customer service line to confirm the current benefit before you explore.
How to use the reimbursement
The process for claiming a TSA PreCheck reimbursement varies slightly by card, but the general steps are the same. First, explore for or renew TSA PreCheck through the official TSA website or at an enrollment center. Pay the fee with the credit card that offers the reimbursement. Keep your receipt or confirmation email showing the amount you paid.
Next, log into your credit card account online or call the card's customer service number. Most cards have a specific process for submitting reimbursement claims, often through a dedicated portal or by uploading your receipt. Some cards, like American Express, automatically reimburse if you charge the fee directly to the card. Others, like Chase, may require you to submit documentation.
The reimbursement typically posts as a statement credit within one to three billing cycles. If it does not appear after that time, contact the card issuer with your receipt and the date you submitted the claim. Keep records of your TSA PreCheck confirmation and the receipt for at least one year in case you need to follow up.
Comparing annual fees to the TSA PreCheck benefit
The TSA PreCheck fee is $78 to $85 for five years, or roughly $15 to $17 per year. When deciding whether a card's annual fee is worth it for the TSA PreCheck reimbursement alone, the math is straightforward: a $95 annual fee minus the $78 to $85 reimbursement leaves you paying $10 to $17 per year for the card itself. That calculation only makes sense if you use the card's other benefits, such as travel credits, points multipliers, or insurance coverage.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 per year is the lowest-cost option among major cards offering TSA PreCheck reimbursement. If you travel a few times per year and spend on dining, the points and travel protections may offset the annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum have much higher annual fees, but they include additional credits and perks that frequent travelers often use.
If you do not travel frequently or do not spend enough on the card's bonus categories to earn back the annual fee in points value, the TSA PreCheck reimbursement alone does not justify the cost. In that case, paying the TSA PreCheck fee out of pocket and using a no-annual-fee card may be the better choice.
TSA PreCheck versus Clear and other airport programs
TSA PreCheck lets you go through a dedicated security line at most U.S. airports and keeps your shoes, belt, and light jacket on during screening. Clear uses biometric scanning to skip the security line entirely and go straight to the TSA checkpoint. They are different services, and some cards reimburse one, the other, or either one per year.
TSA PreCheck costs $78 to $85 for five years and is available at most major U.S. airports. Clear costs $189 per year and is available at fewer airports, though the network is growing. Some travelers use both: TSA PreCheck for routine trips and Clear for high-stress travel days. If a card reimburses either one per year, you can choose based on your travel schedule.
Other airport programs, such as Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck and covers international travel), cost $100 for five years. Some premium credit cards reimburse Global Entry instead of or in addition to TSA PreCheck. If you travel internationally, Global Entry may be a better value, and you should check whether your card covers it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the credit card to pay for TSA PreCheck to get the reimbursement?
Yes, almost all cards require you to charge the TSA PreCheck fee directly to the card offering the reimbursement. If you pay with a different card or with cash, you will not receive the reimbursement. Some cards, like American Express, automatically credit the reimbursement if you charge the fee to the card. Others require you to submit a receipt.
Can I get the TSA PreCheck reimbursement every year?
Yes, the reimbursement is typically available once per year, every year you hold the card. Since TSA PreCheck lasts five years, you would use the reimbursement once during that five-year period. If you renew your TSA PreCheck in year five, you can use the card's reimbursement again in that year.
What if my card reimburses Clear instead of TSA PreCheck?
Some cards, like the American Express Platinum, let you choose between TSA PreCheck and Clear reimbursement each year. Others reimburse only Clear. If your card only covers Clear and you want TSA PreCheck, you would need to pay the TSA PreCheck fee out of pocket or switch to a different card.
Do I lose the reimbursement if I cancel the card?
No, the reimbursement credit posts to your account once it is approved, so canceling the card after the credit appears will not reverse it. However, if you cancel before submitting your receipt or before the reimbursement posts, you may not receive it. Submit your claim before you close the account.
Can I use the reimbursement for Global Entry instead of TSA PreCheck?
Some cards reimburse Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck, instead of TSA PreCheck alone. Check your card's benefits guide to see whether it covers Global Entry. If it does, you can use the reimbursement for Global Entry's $100 fee. If it only covers TSA PreCheck, you cannot use it for Global Entry.