What the hell is going on at JFK? And thank you BA!
Jul 7, 2019, 1:22 am
#17
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,120
My experience on Friday - on the early BA flight:
- Global Entry now in the middle of the hall
- Several (new) machines roped off
- Some of the working machines did not actually work and so people had to use more than one machine
- All GE receipts checked with some people fingerprinted, photo'ed and questioned even with GE
- Staff allowed non-GE people to join GE queue where they had to be fingerprinted, photo'ed and questioned
- GE receipt takem by Immigration so could not be shown at Customs
- Through in 15 minutes from landing
- Global Entry now in the middle of the hall
- Several (new) machines roped off
- Some of the working machines did not actually work and so people had to use more than one machine
- All GE receipts checked with some people fingerprinted, photo'ed and questioned even with GE
- Staff allowed non-GE people to join GE queue where they had to be fingerprinted, photo'ed and questioned
- GE receipt takem by Immigration so could not be shown at Customs
- Through in 15 minutes from landing
Last edited by Markie; Jul 7, 2019 at 1:51 am
Jul 7, 2019, 5:57 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,829
They do of course use scheduled arrival info but as we all know.........with airline flights rarely are they exactly as scheduled. It only takes a few flights to get off track causing a perfect storm of a thousand people arriving at the same time that wasn't scheduled to be and all heck breaks loose, particularly during peak travel season. I am not saying things cant be done better but I sure wouldn't want to try and hit this moving target on the scheduling side.
Jul 7, 2019, 8:15 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
Jul 7, 2019, 8:29 am
#21
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,943
How would the CBP officer know you have GE (and use of the GE exit) if the GE receipt is not returned after immigration?
Jul 7, 2019, 9:42 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: BA Gold for Life
Posts: 1,401
I get two pieces of paper from the GE kiosks. The one with your photo which you hand in and another receipt which says KEEP FOR YOUR RECORDS and it states on this form it has come from a GE kiosk.
Jul 7, 2019, 9:56 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Alameda, CA, US
Programs: BAEC Gold (GGL/CCR), HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,346
Jul 7, 2019, 9:57 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Alameda, CA, US
Programs: BAEC Gold (GGL/CCR), HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,346
I have never gotten two pieces. Only the photo one, which a check mark or X on it, meaning just hand in or go to secondary.
Jul 7, 2019, 10:07 am
#25
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: BA Gold for Life
Posts: 1,401
I have just dug out a KEEP FOR YOUR RECORDS receipt. Perhaps only visitors get it as it also says VISA WAIVER and gives how long I am authorised to stay in the US. This form comes out second and suspect on my first use of GE I went off when the first receipt came out not realising more was coming.
Jul 7, 2019, 10:15 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,213
because at some US airports they have ended having someone collecting a piece of paper / blue customs form for any traveller - not just those with in GE - at customs point so it is more European style walk through
Jul 7, 2019, 10:45 am
#27
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,943
I appreciate the blue forms are no longer required at some airports, so at those airports does this mean there is no longer a GE exit from customs?
Jul 7, 2019, 11:25 am
#28
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Berkshire, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, VS Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 117
Last few times I’ve flown into IAD and JFK (albeit T4) then there is no customs check, so everyone just walks straight out (i.e. the “customs exit” is now just an exit)
Jul 7, 2019, 12:03 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,552
I was was very grateful to have GE that day, immigration took about a minute, others off the same flight waited 1.5-2 hours...
Jul 7, 2019, 12:53 pm
#30
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,943
Entering at LAX a few weeks ago (UK passport, GE & ESTA), I got 2 receipts as Rubecula describes above, no blue customs form and there was a separate GE exit at customs, where they took the receipt with the picture and I kept the other one.
I was was very grateful to have GE that day, immigration took about a minute, others off the same flight waited 1.5-2 hours...
I’m intrigued to know what the procedure is at airports where the blue form/GE receipt is not needed/given. From the responses above, it appears GE gets no priority/special treatment once through immigration.