While the masses continue to subject themselves to long security lines, a handful of pre-screening programs available to U.S. travelers are picking up steam as they are shown to significantly ease the hassle of traveling.

The Transportation Security Administration recently announced its PreCheck program reached a milestone 1 million members. Launched in 2011, membership costs $85 for a five-year enrollment and allows members to keep their shoes, coats and belts on and laptops in their bags while passing through designated PreCheck security lines. The expedited service is currently available at 133 airports across the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently announced its similar pre-screening program for international travelers, Global Entry, enrolled its 2 millionth member. Pre-screened, low-risk members are allowed to proceed with little or no delay into the United States by using automated kiosks at 44 U.S. airports and 13 preclearance locations, including Canada, Ireland, Abu Dhabi, Aruba and the Bahamas. Membership costs $100 and makes members eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, only 9 percent of all international air arrivals are using the expedited program.

CLEAR provides members with access to exclusive CLEARlanes at airport security checkpoints, allowing them to skip the long lines and go straight to screening no matter what airline they are flying. Membership for the privately operated pre-screening program costs $179 per year.

Benet Wilson, air travel expert, About.com, attests to the efficiency and convenience of Global Entry, according to a report from TheStreet. “I usually travel through Washington Dulles, where a lot of international flights arrive at the same time, so you have all these large planes dumping hundreds of people at once,” said Wilson. “With global entry, you go through a separate gate, you stick your card in, and you hand in your slip of paper. I timed it. I got off a plane at 3:30 one time and by 4:10 I was in my car. And every trip I’ve taken since then has been much shorter.”

Has PreCheck, Global Entry and/or CLEAR contributed to an easier airport experience for you? Have you ever had a bad experience with any of the programs? Email us. Please include your full name and location with your email.