**TSA Gold+ Is HERE: Your Wallet Just Got Slimmer, Your Wait Time? Maybe Not.**

TSA Gold+ is HERE: Your Wallet Just Got Slimmer, Your Wait Time? Maybe Not.

Attention travelers, pack your patience and your credit card. The TSA has officially rolled out TSA Gold+, a new “premium” screening tier that promises to get you through security in under 5 minutes—but only if you’re willing to pay a staggering $349.99 per year.

Here’s the wallet punch: This is not replacing your standard PreCheck ($85). It’s a new top tier. You still need PreCheck and this Gold+ add-on. That’s $434.99 total just to skip one line. For a family of four, we’re talking nearly $2,000 a year simply to avoid taking off your shoes.

What you get (that you didn’t before?):

• A dedicated “VIP” metal detector.
• Kiosks that scan your retina (privacy concerns? You’ll sign them away).
• A “concierge” to carry your bag to the conveyor (tipping expected, apparently).

The real gut punch: Early adopters are reporting the Gold+ line is longer than PreCheck, because everyone with a corporate expense account is jumping on it. Meanwhile, the standard PreCheck lane—the one you already pay for—is being understaffed. Your current PreCheck wait times are about to get worse.

Bottom line: The TSA is creating a problem (slow general PreCheck) to sell you the solution (Gold+). Your wallet is the target, and your existing travel perks are the collateral damage. Before you swipe, check your credit card benefits—your premium card might already cover standard PreCheck, but Gold+ is an out-of-pocket cash grab.

Verdict: Your travel stress just went up, and your bank account is about