Originally Posted by
TropicalTripper
Also, I think there is some speculation that the cards might be necessary when the TSA trusted traveler program starts its roll-out later this year, since supposedly GE, SENTRI, and NEXUS members will be able to opt into the program.
No card will be needed for the TSA program based on what's on their website.
http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/expedited_screening.shtm
Q. What do participants need to do?
A. Members of CBP’s Global Entry program are assigned a participant ID. To participate in TSA’s pilot program, these passengers must place their CBP participant ID in the ‘Known Traveler Number’ field while booking their reservations. That number is then passed to TSA’s Secure Flight system and taken into consideration during the pre-screening processing.
Selected frequent flyers will ‘opt-in’ through their airline’s system to participate in TSA’s program. Under this process the passenger will not need to input a Known Traveler number during the reservation process. Once the passenger opts-in, the airline identifies the individual as a participant when submitting the passenger reservation information to TSA’s Secure Flight system.
Q. Will participants get a membership card or something to shows they have been cleared for expedited screening?
A. No. Passengers who volunteer will be pre-screened each time they fly. At no point would participation automatically qualify a passenger for permanent, expedited screening. Passengers are always subject to random, unpredictable screening measures.
So you don't need the card for TSA, and it won't help. You put your Global Entry number in the known traveler field when making a reservation, and your boarding pass will (once your airport/airline supports it) have a bar code that'll determine whether you go through the normal line or expedited line. The Global Entry card is good for inbound (but not outbound) NEXUS lines from Canada, and inbound SENTRI lines from Mexico, but only if you're not in a car (unless you get your car inspected).