I got the GE X at SFO on Saturday morning so I went to the immigration booth next to the kiosks (the one crew uses). The agent asked if I was traveling on business or pleasure, and I said pleasure. He marked "A H" on the back of my printout. After picking up my bags, I was sent to the A line for agricultural inspection where 3 agents opened all of my bags. They did not take anything, but asked questions about where I had been and what agricultural products I had.
This is the second time I have had to go through agricultural inspection in the six times since I've had GE. The first time was when a wandering agent marked my printout in the baggage claim area. In that case, my luggage was scanned by the machine and I was allowed to leave; my bags were not opened.
Being stopped for agricultural inspection 2/6 times is a lot. Maybe I was just unlucky?
In the 50 trips in the last 10 years before I had GE, I have
never had my bags opened upon entry into the US, though I was questioned once after customs, after being flagged at the immigration booth (I assume the computer flagged me, not the agent). In that instance, not only were my bags not opened, I did not have my bags scanned by the x-ray machine. I was questioned by the CBP officer in the agricultural inspection area for about 10 minutes. It felt intrusive and was not pleasant.
