Originally Posted by
MSPGabe
Yep. Gave me the third degree at the exit to customs. I believe the questions were:
"Where did you go?"
"How long were you gone?"
"Who were you with?"
"Why such a short trip?"
"Why no checked bags?"
"Are you bringing contraband back into the US?"
Honestly. Yes, it was a short trip. All of mine are. I've done AMS two times last year for the DAY (5AM arrival, 5PM departure) and it didn't cause too much issue. My coworker (also an employee) doesn't have GE, and breezed through.
Oy.
I had a somewhat related experience at IAH about 5 years ago, before they built the one-stop lane and the dedicated GE exit lane for carry on only, when I only had just a carryon after a "long trip" overseas. (I have had GE almost since the start when it was just three airports including IAH).
The guy at the customs exit saw that I only had a carryon and asked how long I had been gone, and could not believe I did not have checked bags for "such a long trip" even though I was living at my overseas home at that time and go back and forth often. He was shocked and I kept asking him, how many bags should I carry so I will know for next time and he just kind of mumbled. I told him I was not at liberty to discuss in public what I did but they had it on file with GE and he let me go. One of the more odd GE trips, but again this was early on when not even everyone at IAH seemed to know about it. Interestingly this agent had a very thick French accent.
In the end, it seems there is no right answer. The agent can develop suspicions for too few bags, too little, and 100 things in between.
Overall the program has still been a huge positive for me and I like compared the other available options out there...give it time and it should still work out nicely.
As for the feckless TSA, well, good luck with that
