Applying for Global Entry is getting more expensive this October, but many of the major credit card issuers are boosting their Global Entry benefits for some of their most popular travel rewards cards.
Citi announced in April that it would increase its Global Entry statement credits on two of its top cards to $120 every four years. Chase quickly followed, and now Amex and Capital One have announced they will do the same for many of their popular cards.
The move comes after TPG was first to report that the price of applying for a five-year Global Entry membership would rise from $100 to $120 from Oct. 1. In announcing the fee hike, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which oversees Global Entry, cited rising costs to operate the program.
Here’s what to know about this change and the full list of cards that will see changes.
Offsetting the higher Global Entry fee
As valuable an option as Global Entry is for travelers, the application fee isn’t a drop in the bucket. However, some travel credit cards will reimburse the fee when it comes time to apply.
But many of those cards’ benefits include specified credits of up to $100 to cover the existing Global Entry expense. (Exact terms differ from card to card.)
CBP’s fee hike, planned for later this year, raised questions about whether card issuers might adapt their Global Entry benefits to account for the new, higher fee.
Now, Amex, Capital One, Citi and Chase have done just that, ensuring Global Entry remains essentially a free perk for travelers who carry its high-end cards.
Which Capital One cards are raising their Global Entry credit?
Capital One is the latest issuer to announce it will also increase its Global Entry statement credit, applicable for the following cards:
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If you’ve got one of these cards, you’ll be able to continue enjoying Global Entry at no additional cost to you.
Which Amex cards are raising their Global Entry credit?
An American Express spokesperson has confirmed to TPG that the following cards will see an increase in their Global Entry statement credits:
Additional terms apply.
*The information for these cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Which Citi cards are raising their Global Entry credit?
Starting on Oct. 1, Citi will raise its Global Entry fee statement credits for two cards: the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) and the Citi Prestige® Card.
The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Though the Citi/AAdvantage Executive card has a hefty $595 annual fee (see rates and fees), it carries strong value for regular American flyers as it’s the only card that provides complimentary Admirals Club access.
Cardholders can earn 4 AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile for every dollar spent on other purchases. You’ll earn Loyalty Points on everyday purchases, too, which helps you work your way toward AAdvantage elite status.
That’s on top of other perks such as Lyft and Grubhub credits, as well as the Global Entry (or TSA PreCheck) statement credit once every four years; that credit will now rise from $100 to $120 for Global Entry applicants to cover the program’s hiked fee.
Meanwhile, cardholders of the Citi Prestige card (no longer available to new applicants) can receive a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment fee credit every four years. As of October, that credit will also cover up to $120 for applications to the latter program. The card carries a $495 annual fee.
Which Chase cards are raising their Global Entry credit?
Also starting on Oct. 1, Chase cardmembers will raise its Global Entry fee statement credits for the following cards:
Some of these cards, like the Sapphire Reserve and IHG One Rewards Premier, are among the most popular Chase offerings on the market. If you have one of the listed cards or are thinking about applying for one, keep in mind that your Global Entry fee will continue to be fully covered even when the cost increases later this year.
The information for the J.P Morgan Reserve Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
What is Global Entry?
Global Entry provides travelers with an expedited trip through passport control following an international flight. It’s available at more than 75 airports, most of which are in the U.S.; there’s also a handful of international preclearance facilities.
The program also gives travelers access to the TSA PreCheck lanes at airport security checkpoints.
Though Global Entry applicants have faced delays in recent years, from long processing times to challenges finding an interview, wait times are improving for the vast majority of travelers, CBP said in a recent interview with TPG.
Bottom line
Now, all eyes will be on the remaining credit card issuers to see if they will follow in the big issuers’ footsteps and raise their Global Entry statement credits to account for the program’s higher fee. The higher fee takes effect in October.
Because of the changes to make Global Entry more efficient and technologically advanced — not to mention the fact that children of members or applicants can apply for free as of October — it’s a great time to consider joining. This is especially the case if the adults in your family can get their application costs reimbursed or offset through an eligible travel credit card.
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