Trusted Traveler Machines in EU countries-when will GE/Nexus cardholders use them?
Oct 2, 2014, 5:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
Trusted Traveler Machines in EU countries-when will GE/Nexus cardholders use them?
I guess that some EU countries have a similar trusted traveler program as the Global Entry or Nexus programs. I have seen such machines in Amsterdam, and just yesterday, similar machines in Munich.
I wonder which other EU countries have similar trusted traveler programs.
I wonder when there will be a reciprocal agreement between the EU and each of USA and Canada about getting access to the respective trusted traveler programs (or do some EU countries already have that agreement with USA?).
I wonder which other EU countries have similar trusted traveler programs.
I wonder when there will be a reciprocal agreement between the EU and each of USA and Canada about getting access to the respective trusted traveler programs (or do some EU countries already have that agreement with USA?).
Oct 2, 2014, 7:37 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
I guess that some EU countries have a similar trusted traveler program as the Global Entry or Nexus programs. I have seen such machines in Amsterdam, and just yesterday, similar machines in Munich.
I wonder which other EU countries have similar trusted traveler programs.
I wonder when there will be a reciprocal agreement between the EU and each of USA and Canada about getting access to the respective trusted traveler programs (or do some EU countries already have that agreement with USA?).
I wonder which other EU countries have similar trusted traveler programs.
I wonder when there will be a reciprocal agreement between the EU and each of USA and Canada about getting access to the respective trusted traveler programs (or do some EU countries already have that agreement with USA?).
There are also a couple trusted traveler variants. GE/Nexus have easy access to the Dutch version Privium which requires an additional enrollment and fee. There's apparently a German version that's accessible. From what I've read you have to find a particular office landside in the Frankfurt office to get enrolled. Also the Europeans are finicky about their silly entry/exit stamps.
Oct 4, 2014, 1:25 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
The US doesn't bother to line up entry/exit stamps anymore, and has made the I-94 or whatever electronic.
There's a problem for foreigners in Europe that enter via some trusted traveler portal. They need to ensure they get an entry stamp as the EU folks are very particular about making sure they find your entry stamp when you have an exit control
There's a problem for foreigners in Europe that enter via some trusted traveler portal. They need to ensure they get an entry stamp as the EU folks are very particular about making sure they find your entry stamp when you have an exit control
Oct 4, 2014, 3:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Luxembourg
Programs: KLM/AF Platinum for life, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,026
They look for the stamp, but there is no requirement. You could be a resident, you could be a Privium member and enter via AMS, you could have replaced your passport. The list goes on.
Oct 6, 2014, 11:45 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 642
The US doesn't bother to line up entry/exit stamps anymore, and has made the I-94 or whatever electronic.
There's a problem for foreigners in Europe that enter via some trusted traveler portal. They need to ensure they get an entry stamp as the EU folks are very particular about making sure they find your entry stamp when you have an exit control
There's a problem for foreigners in Europe that enter via some trusted traveler portal. They need to ensure they get an entry stamp as the EU folks are very particular about making sure they find your entry stamp when you have an exit control
Oct 7, 2014, 11:29 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
I have entered into Europe a few times recently without receiving a stamp on my US passport (always in southern Europe... Italy, etc... they sometimes either wont take my passport & wave me through or hand it back to me without opening it). Have not have any issues on departure (on two occasions I departed from German airports and was not asked any questions there either - I have noticed that the Germans are pretty good at exit stamping near the entry stamp but all was normal without an entry stamp).
Oct 8, 2014, 9:26 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
I recently flew Switzerland to the UK which is especially weird. Switzerland is a Non-EU, Schengen country, outside the customs union & the UK is an EU, non-Schengen country, inside the customs union. Makes immigration and customs weird.
Oct 9, 2014, 12:17 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 86
I think there are entire threads and Wikipedia pages on the complicated exception countries of the EU, the customs union, Schengen, etc.
I recently flew Switzerland to the UK which is especially weird. Switzerland is a Non-EU, Schengen country, outside the customs union & the UK is an EU, non-Schengen country, inside the customs union. Makes immigration and customs weird.
I recently flew Switzerland to the UK which is especially weird. Switzerland is a Non-EU, Schengen country, outside the customs union & the UK is an EU, non-Schengen country, inside the customs union. Makes immigration and customs weird.
I did have a problem in Munich from Switzerland where I had declared some business equipment and the customs guy in Munich had a fit over it and confiscated it. My company had a local employee come out and help me but we ended up never getting it out of customs. The ATA carnet had some issue. I ended up being escorted by armed customs agents to check the device back to the US and was never able to get it out in Munich so my trip there was wasted. Plus it didn't help I was there over a holiday weekend so any agency that could have helped was closed.
Oct 12, 2014, 4:57 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
You're probably conflating two separate things here. Many European countries just have simple e-passport gates. They're open to the general population by and large.
There are also a couple trusted traveler variants. GE/Nexus have easy access to the Dutch version Privium which requires an additional enrollment and fee. There's apparently a German version that's accessible. From what I've read you have to find a particular office landside in the Frankfurt office to get enrolled. Also the Europeans are finicky about their silly entry/exit stamps.
There are also a couple trusted traveler variants. GE/Nexus have easy access to the Dutch version Privium which requires an additional enrollment and fee. There's apparently a German version that's accessible. From what I've read you have to find a particular office landside in the Frankfurt office to get enrolled. Also the Europeans are finicky about their silly entry/exit stamps.
Oct 13, 2014, 8:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
Oct 15, 2014, 2:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 61
That's not entirely correct – Canadians "enjoy Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program" but are not necessarily "in" GE (http://www.cbp.gov/global-entry/about/eligibility).
FLUX is a Dutch/US agreement so you need to have a Dutch or US passport.
FLUX is a Dutch/US agreement so you need to have a Dutch or US passport.
Oct 19, 2014, 12:55 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
One of my ongoing rants - EU travelers get to use the automated passport gates at most (notable exception being France) EU airports without any GE type vetting. And their entry is as easy, if not easier, than GE is for Americans.
You're probably conflating two separate things here. Many European countries just have simple e-passport gates. They're open to the general population by and large.
There are also a couple trusted traveler variants. GE/Nexus have easy access to the Dutch version Privium which requires an additional enrollment and fee. There's apparently a German version that's accessible. From what I've read you have to find a particular office landside in the Frankfurt office to get enrolled. Also the Europeans are finicky about their silly entry/exit stamps.
There are also a couple trusted traveler variants. GE/Nexus have easy access to the Dutch version Privium which requires an additional enrollment and fee. There's apparently a German version that's accessible. From what I've read you have to find a particular office landside in the Frankfurt office to get enrolled. Also the Europeans are finicky about their silly entry/exit stamps.
Oct 19, 2014, 9:42 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
Yeah, the Europeans are so much more reasonable about passport control. They have their watchlists, if the passports match a watchlist or something else doesn't match, you get a secondary. The US seems to think that having a customs officer attempt to interrogate everyone that they'll somehow discover the next terrorist. Instead, I think we end up with a lot of people receiving poor customer service and no closer to stopping bad people.