00:00:00:02 - 00:00:07:13
Chris
Most people hear TSA PreCheck and think they know the whole story. But the new touchless tech is changing how fast you can get through security.
00:00:07:15 - 00:00:13:09
Katie
And if you're not using mobile passport control and international trips, you're leaving time on the table.
00:00:13:11 - 00:00:17:12
Chris
Today, we're sharing the tools that actually make airport lines move faster.
00:00:17:13 - 00:00:28:03
Katie
Some of them are free, and most travelers don't even know they exist.
00:00:28:05 - 00:00:31:10
Chris
Hey, I'm Chris. Welcome to the Upgraded Points podcast.
00:00:31:12 - 00:00:40:02
Katie
And I'm Katie, and today we are taking a closer look at two little known programs that can help you breed through customs and TSA security.
00:00:40:04 - 00:00:49:20
Chris
Yeah. That's right. We talk a lot about TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. While Mobile Passport and TSA PreCheck touchless always get seem to be pushed to the side.
00:00:49:22 - 00:01:08:22
Katie
But today, we're taking a closer look to see if these two programs are worth your time, or if you can just skip those lines and move right on by. So let's get started with mobile passport control, Chris. What is mobile passport control? Because I'm sure so many people have walked right by these lanes and have no idea what they are.
00:01:09:00 - 00:01:32:02
Chris
It's true. And I'm guilty of this as well, mostly because I have. Yeah, we both have Global Entry. But mobile passport control is freeze free program. You may see referred to as MPC, and it's offered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. And the idea is to help you get through customs faster. So this is available at most U.S airports.
00:01:32:02 - 00:01:48:10
Chris
And this is going to help you keep your family and group together, especially when you know, maybe only you or a couple of people have Global Entry and a bunch of other people don't. This is for those, you know, maybe those big excursions or family trips, or maybe you haven't signed up your kids for Global Entry yet.
00:01:48:16 - 00:02:12:16
Chris
You want to stick it all together. You can all use this mobile passport control instead of using the Global Entry. Now, the best part is that it's free. There's no enrollment required. There's no background check, and it's available to all US citizens. Us lawful permanent permanent residents, Canadian B1, B2 citizen visitors and returning visa Waiver Program travelers with approved Esta.
00:02:12:18 - 00:02:33:01
Katie
That's amazing that it's free and doesn't require any sort of background check like Global Entry or interview like Global Entry. It's just that that's pretty shocking. I think a lot of people don't realize that. So let's talk about how you actually use this mobile passport control now that you know that exists. So they have an app you need to download the app.
00:02:33:03 - 00:02:54:21
Katie
Then the first time you use it you'll want to scan your passport. Once you've done that, you can save that information in the app and use it for future use. So that's a one time thing. So then up to four hours before you land, or immediately after you land after an international trip, you will open your app. You take a photo of yourself and then answer a few questions in the app.
00:02:54:23 - 00:03:19:12
Katie
If you have anything to declare, you can do that in the app as well. Then you submit that the submission is valid for up to four hours. And like Chris was talking about earlier, it's great if you're traveling with a big group and not everyone has global Entry. You can submit up to 12 people on one, one phone, one application, and you can all go up to the line and to the agent together.
00:03:19:12 - 00:03:41:18
Katie
You don't have to each go through separately. So that's going to be really handy for big families. Big groups, you know, mixed groups. We're not everyone has the same type of situation happening. Once you've done that in the customs area, you will go to a mobile passport control line and you'll show your passport to the, to the customs and border control agent.
00:03:41:20 - 00:04:05:01
Katie
And and that's it. And the beauty of this program right now is that most people don't know it exists. I have seen these lines, and for a long time I didn't know what they were because I always have Global Entry and I just. I got a global entry. But even so many people don't know what it is that these lines are often very empty.
00:04:05:03 - 00:04:25:06
Katie
So at least now, before everyone knows about it, do this. It is free. It doesn't require any background check. And you can get in, go through customs faster and you'll have everyone looking at you going, oh, what do they do to get into that line? They listen to the upgraded points packet.
00:04:25:08 - 00:04:27:11
Chris
That's all there. Larry Wise.
00:04:27:11 - 00:04:29:15
Katie
Exactly.
00:04:29:17 - 00:04:55:16
Chris
Okay, so that's a, a cool program that a lot of people don't know about. Here is one that you maybe have seen on your travels recently. This is TSA PreCheck touchless I.D., and now this is available for TSA PreCheck members with a valid passport. And it's available at select airports with participating airlines including Alaska, American, Delta, southwest and United.
00:04:55:18 - 00:05:10:03
Chris
Now, to use this new service, you need to you need to opt in with the airline. And the touchless ID allows travelers to move through through a separate security line that uses facial recognition instead of a traditional boarding pass or ID.
00:05:10:05 - 00:05:34:19
Katie
Yeah, and so this does vary a little bit from your regular TSA PreCheck line. To use a touchless ID, the first thing you have to do is to update your airline profile. So in those five airlines that Chris mentioned, you go into the app, you update your profile, you have to include your known traveler number or I forget the other one because the known traveler number is what you have with Global Entry.
00:05:34:19 - 00:05:52:07
Katie
And there's a different number, the redress. Yes, I think that's it. And so that number that you get when you apply for TSA or Global Entry, you end up with that number and you put your passport number in, fill out, you know, where your yeah, your country of origin and all that good stuff. Then you have to opt in.
00:05:52:09 - 00:06:16:05
Katie
And I did this, before we recorded because I wanted to see how it worked for each of these airlines. And I was able to find it very easily in my United app and my southwest app. And we'll put up some screenshots so you can see where to find it. I could not find any mention of touchless ID in Delta, American or Alaska.
00:06:16:06 - 00:06:37:07
Katie
I did fill out my information, and so maybe it's something that'll pop up later. Maybe I was looking in the wrong spot. But for those three airlines, I could not find it. So if you found it, let us know, because that would be really helpful. Yeah, but United in Southwest, it was right there. And it's something that I think so many of us would just gloss right over, not even think about it.
00:06:37:11 - 00:07:01:12
Katie
But it was right there. It was like, oh, here, click opt in. An easy little button. Opt in. Made tons of sense. So make sure you do that first. Then you will see the TSA PreCheck. Mobile. I'm sorry, TSA PreCheck, touchless ID lines. You'll see that logo on your boarding pass, and then you will see those lines in the airport.
00:07:01:12 - 00:07:25:20
Katie
And they are different from the regular TSA PreCheck lines. They are not in every airport. They're in select airports. Generally a lot of those hubs, the bigger airports for those five airlines, when you go into that line, you will get a face scan. And that is how they determine your ID. You don't have to show ID, although you always still have travel with an ID because they can ask you for your ID at any point.
00:07:25:20 - 00:07:45:15
Katie
So don't travel without an ID, but you should just be able to walk up, scan your face, and then move on with your life. And so the beauty of those lines again right now is that most people don't know this exists. So those lines tend to be a lot quicker than the regular TSA PreCheck line. So do it now at the beginning of the year.
00:07:45:17 - 00:07:58:02
Katie
Enjoy that. And then maybe other people will catch on and those lines won't be as quick later in the year. But do it now and you're going to be way ahead of most of the game. Have you used either of these programs, Chris?
00:07:58:04 - 00:08:13:23
Chris
No, I have not. I mean, I've always had Global Entry. I've heard great things in Mobile Passport, and I actually just saw this touchless one at JFK and everyone was avoiding it. And I had no idea what it was, so I bought it to. I don't know if I should have tried it out. Probably should it.
00:08:14:01 - 00:08:30:18
Katie
Yeah, yeah, I've seen the lines too, and I haven't tried them just because I, you know, I had my global Entry and TSA PreCheck and I went on my merry way. So, good information for the new year. Give those a try. Let us know. I would love to hear your experiences with those two programs. Okay, let's take a quick break.
00:08:30:18 - 00:08:40:05
Katie
And then we have a fun quiz for you to see how closely you've been paying attention.
00:08:40:06 - 00:09:04:17
Chris
You. Okay. Welcome back. This is another new segment that I just invented. This one is called Airport Fast Pass Quiz. And somehow Katie has to answer all the questions. But if you've been paying attention at home, you can participate as well. We're going to ask these questions to Katie, and then you're going to count how many you you got right at home and drop them in the comments.
00:09:04:19 - 00:09:06:08
Chris
Are you ready, Katie?
00:09:06:10 - 00:09:18:08
Katie
I'm ready. Let's do it. And I'm just going to go out and say, you know what, next time I'm answering or I'm asking the questions to you, I don't know how. This is the second time in a row I've gotten the answering the questions job.
00:09:18:10 - 00:09:21:18
Chris
Well, I'll just wait. And then the cards fill. This time, we'll see.
00:09:22:00 - 00:09:24:08
Katie
You know.
00:09:24:10 - 00:09:34:00
Chris
All right. Don't worry. It's beginner friendly. Okay? Okay, here we go. Question number one. True or false? Mobile passport is free.
00:09:34:02 - 00:09:48:20
Katie
Okay, we'll give you guys a second to get your answer. Do do do do do do do. So I'm not going to do that. Every question I'm sorry. My answer is mobile passport is free.
00:09:49:01 - 00:09:49:15
Chris
Ding ding ding.
00:09:49:16 - 00:09:59:21
Katie
There is no interview, no background check. It's free. I don't understand how this exists and people don't know about it. It's it's pretty awesome for what it is.
00:09:59:23 - 00:10:13:05
Chris
That's true. Okay. Question number two. You're flying out of supported airport and you realize you left your wallet at home. Which one can still get you through security?
00:10:13:07 - 00:10:38:00
Katie
My answer for that is TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, because this uses a face scan instead of a physical ID to get you through security, you just have to keep your fingers crossed that it is not the one random time that the agent is going to ask you for your ID, and as long as that doesn't happen, you should be fine flying without your ID if you forget.
00:10:38:05 - 00:10:40:01
Katie
Yeah, don't make that ID habit.
00:10:40:03 - 00:10:46:04
Chris
Yeah. Don't make sure the flight you're following, the airport you're flying home from is supported as well. That's stuck somewhere.
00:10:46:04 - 00:10:50:10
Katie
That's a really good point.
00:10:50:12 - 00:11:04:11
Chris
All right, let's move on. Question number three. You just got off a long international flight and you see two lines regular passport control or mobile passport. Which one usually moves faster?
00:11:04:12 - 00:11:18:07
Katie
Get your question or get your answers in Ghana my answer would be mobile passport because most people don't know it exists, so most people don't use it, which means those lines are usually empty.
00:11:18:09 - 00:11:34:00
Chris
Always nice, always nice when the lines are empty. All right. Question number four. Which one helps you get out of the country faster? TSA PreCheck touch a touchless ID or mobile passport.
00:11:34:02 - 00:11:39:16
Katie
And give everyone a minute to get their answers.
00:11:39:18 - 00:11:54:17
Katie
My answer is TSA PreCheck touchless ID it will help get you through the security line faster. Mobile passport only helps when you are coming back from an international trip, so it will help you get into the country faster.
00:11:54:19 - 00:12:10:20
Chris
But not the very important. All right Katie, last one. Which one is harder to use? Mobile passport or folding a fitted sheet?
00:12:10:22 - 00:12:11:11
Katie
I was not.
00:12:11:11 - 00:12:16:04
Chris
Expecting.
00:12:16:06 - 00:12:17:00
Katie
00:12:17:00 - 00:12:17:06
Chris
That was.
00:12:17:07 - 00:12:22:19
Katie
That's a surprise, Chris. Okay, folding a fitted sheet, because that never works.
00:12:22:19 - 00:12:25:21
Chris
I could fold those, and I just put them all.
00:12:25:23 - 00:12:36:03
Katie
There's some, like, videos where it's like, oh, this is what you do in a moment. No, it never works. Never work. So it's no. Yep.
00:12:36:05 - 00:12:44:22
Chris
Yep. Every time it's a ball. Well that's it, that's the quiz. Hopefully this helps you remember which tools do what when you're traveling this year.
00:12:45:00 - 00:13:03:16
Katie
Okay. And let's move on. We have a question from our Facebook group that was perfect for this episode. So we wanted to squeeze this one in. This is from Justine from our Level Up Facebook group. And Justine asks, is Global Entry worth it if I can just use mobile passport for free?
00:13:03:18 - 00:13:25:18
Chris
Hello Justine, and that is a great question. The answer is is maybe, especially if you don't have a credit card that is going to cover the cost and reimburse you for a global entry. Or if you travel someone internationally that doesn't have Global Entry either. So I've seen the mobile passport lines that move so quickly. For the casual traveler, that's probably fine.
00:13:25:18 - 00:13:45:21
Chris
It's def it's definitely fine. And maybe wouldn't make sense to pay for Global Entry and then go through the whole interview process for someone that travels maybe once a year. When you have this mobile passport option for free. But just keep in mind that when you do apply for Global Entry, it does and you're approved. It does come with, TSA PreCheck.
00:13:45:21 - 00:13:51:04
Chris
So it's not just that international travel. It also comes with the domestic travel benefit as well.
00:13:51:06 - 00:14:14:21
Katie
Yeah, I think they're all great programs for different types of travelers. So it's good to know that they are out there. And you can pick the one that works the best for you. Well, that's the short and sweet episode. That's going to do it for us this week. Before we go, if you have questions that you want to submit to us for 2026, for the podcast, we would love to hear from you.
00:14:14:21 - 00:14:26:03
Katie
You can reach us at podcasts at Upgraded points.com, and be sure to like and subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. It helps other travelers find the show and otherwise. We will see you next week.