Is Global Entry now pointless?
Mar 12, 2015, 12:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: DTW & CDG
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 77
Is Global Entry now pointless?
I may be speaking from a unique situation, as I have only arrived at DTW from international flights recently... but it appears that they have abandoned the process of stopping to talk to Customs after retrieving your baggage (instead using the system the rest of the world seems to use where you voluntarily declare, with random searches).
They also now have kiosks that seem to operate the same as GE kiosks, available to all travelers.
So, is there any benefit to GE once this becomes commonplace? With a checked bag, the dedicated Customs line was really the only benefit left anyway, as speeding through Immigration was rendered moot by waiting for a bag anyway. Thoughts?
They also now have kiosks that seem to operate the same as GE kiosks, available to all travelers.
So, is there any benefit to GE once this becomes commonplace? With a checked bag, the dedicated Customs line was really the only benefit left anyway, as speeding through Immigration was rendered moot by waiting for a bag anyway. Thoughts?
Mar 12, 2015, 4:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: RSW, MGA, DCA, CSX, HKG
Programs: Still working on being loyal
Posts: 154
I use global entry monthly back to the states. Still worth it at every airport I've arrived. I'm off the plane and in the car at most places in under 6 mins with carry on. I time it! ^
Mar 13, 2015, 3:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: GCM
Programs: SPG Plat AA EXP 2.5MM
Posts: 219
Mar 14, 2015, 8:11 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Delta SkyMiles PM, Starwood SPG Platinum, Hilton HH Honors, UA MP Silver, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 652
Absolutely still worth it, even at a less busy international airport you are still going to get through faster than everyone. JFK, MIA, and ATL have always been my typical points of entry and GE gets me through in minutes and I'm almost always the first (along with any other GE members from my flight) at the baggage carousel while other passengers arrive 5-10 mins later (which may not seem like a long time to some). The benefits of having Pre-Check and also a much shorter line at customs is also a big plus. Anyone that has arrived at JFK during busy times when several international flights arrive knows just how much it helps.
Mar 15, 2015, 9:59 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
Programs: COdbaUA 1K MM, AA EXP, Bonbon Gold, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, NEXUS and GE
Posts: 5,837
Its very worth it. Removes nearly all need to talk to CBP agents, except at the airports that seem to try and follow their own rules (ORD comes to mind).
Mar 15, 2015, 10:30 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA & IHG Plat, SWAlist, Frontier 100k, Marriott Titan, IHG-Hilton-Hyatt-Wynd Gold, Nat EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 445
It is definitely still worth it in the situations where you want to get past the crowds, and you get TSA Pre to boot.
-Patrick
-Patrick
Mar 16, 2015, 9:45 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
That's not been my usual experience at ORD, which is my home airport. They did once have a table set up for CBP to check your GE receipt, but that was definitely the exception and not the rule. I guess it depends on timing and what other thing they have going on that day, but that could be said for ANY re-entry point.
Mar 16, 2015, 11:57 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 209
Took direct CUN-MKE Delta flight last Saturday. Flight attendants did not hand out forms to US citizens so I assumed MKE had APC kiosks. When I got there, I saw 2 Global Entry kiosks (MKE not listed as GE airport) so I used one. Out the door in about 2 minutes with carryon.
The rest of passengers were rather upset to find out no APC and handed forms to fill out.
ps. GE kiosk spit out form that was at least 2 feet long..... must have been new machine.
The rest of passengers were rather upset to find out no APC and handed forms to fill out.
ps. GE kiosk spit out form that was at least 2 feet long..... must have been new machine.
Mar 16, 2015, 1:03 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,122
GE is typically faster for me than APC when I come home via ORD. I time it as many of my coworkers do not have GE.
If you fly domestically, you have to include the benefit of a high percentage of Pre-Check as well.
All in all I think is definitely worth it.
If you fly domestically, you have to include the benefit of a high percentage of Pre-Check as well.
All in all I think is definitely worth it.
Mar 16, 2015, 2:34 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
You can think of it as a $15 add-on to PreCheck at this point, right?
Mar 16, 2015, 3:25 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
GE costs $100 and TSA-PRE costs $85. Both for 5 years. That amounts to $3/year presuming you want PRE for departures. If you fly once every 2 months, that amounts to $0.50 per departure for GE over Pre.
Not particularly much.
Not particularly much.
Mar 17, 2015, 5:00 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 472
Nexus is even cheaper. $50 for 5 years. If you time it right by getting it right after your birthday, you might get it for 5 years, 11 months.
Mar 18, 2015, 12:53 am
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
I have yet to see a line for the GE machines. I see them more times than not for the APC machines, and they're not helped by people no having a clue what they're supposed to do at the APC machines, although that will change over time. Once I've cleared the GE machine in ~2 minutes I'm out through the GE customs line in ~3 minutes including walking, while the APC users line up as usual. In most instances I'm out of the airport in under 7 minutes - or 10 minutes for DFW because they make you walk further for no good reason.