re: Beware of carrying bags of chips in your carry on through TSA security

Apply online and then schedule an interview. They ask a few routine questions and take a photo of you. They'll give you your known traveler ID number before you leave.

You'll be sent a card for car travel into Mexico and Canada. Once you have your known traveler ID number you will need to edit each of your airline frequent flyer programs with the known traveler ID. If you don't edit the profiles with the known traveler ID you will NOT get TSA Pre-Check. Once you've entered and saved it you should only have to do it once.

Your passport is the vehicle used for Global Entry. It's a very simple process when you re-enter the country. We're usually out of the airport while other people are still waiting in the customs line.