What is the point of Carry E-Z?
Dec 16, 2014 | 2:20 am
#16
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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nly happens at a couple of airports, though.
Dec 16, 2014 | 1:00 pm
#17
Original Poster
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If one does not have checked bags, yes one skips the second step. At IAH last Sunday that would have saved someone at least 40-45 minutes with the customs lines and the possibility of a second interview or secondary.
If one is int'l-to-int'l with checked bags same thing. No need to wait on bags nor go via the second check in customs. It saves time and is more convenient.
Even with the separate GE exit at customs, I save time by just exiting after the kiosk and walking out of the FIS. At IAH at least saves time and keeps some people and bags out of the customs area.
I have not used it recently at ORD, nor the E-Z system at DFW but at IAH certainly saves time even for GE.
If one is int'l-to-int'l with checked bags same thing. No need to wait on bags nor go via the second check in customs. It saves time and is more convenient.
Even with the separate GE exit at customs, I save time by just exiting after the kiosk and walking out of the FIS. At IAH at least saves time and keeps some people and bags out of the customs area.
I have not used it recently at ORD, nor the E-Z system at DFW but at IAH certainly saves time even for GE.
Using the baggage claim exit took the same amount of time.
So Carry E-Z doesn't save any time at DFW for a GE member.
It might save time for a non-GE member.
Dec 16, 2014 | 8:05 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Yes, that's it.
So at DFW again few days I go, I didn't use Carry E-Z (it was roped off, despite a CBP officer staffing the Carry E-Z booth), and so used the normal Global Entry system and exited through baggage claim.
Using the baggage claim exit took the same amount of time.
So Carry E-Z doesn't save any time at DFW for a GE member.
It might save time for a non-GE member.
So at DFW again few days I go, I didn't use Carry E-Z (it was roped off, despite a CBP officer staffing the Carry E-Z booth), and so used the normal Global Entry system and exited through baggage claim.
Using the baggage claim exit took the same amount of time.
So Carry E-Z doesn't save any time at DFW for a GE member.
It might save time for a non-GE member.
Joshwex90 you are correct at most US airport transit pax must claim and recheck bags at customs. IIRC in the "new era" of airport security and TSA non-sense IAH was the first to get the new through check a few years ago initially as a trial. Now several others are starting to offer the service.
As an aside, Sunday night at IAH the GE line was backed up around the corner, not due to the kiosks (IAH has 15 in row and the were working quickly) but due to the slowness of the officer taking the receipts for his check before allowing people to pass. It took about ten minutes and they finally brought another agent out to help. Longest GE line I have seen though still 500% faster than the mainline.
Feb 21, 2018 | 3:53 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SGN/SIN
Posts: 44
Arrived in DFW on an international flight. For once, the Carry E-Z Lane was open.
Score right?
So, with GE, it was a normal immigration entry. No additional customs exit. Then followed the exit signs (maze actually) and exited ultimately to terminal D - Landside.
What. Was. The. Point?
I expected to emerge in D airside. Instead I have a ten minute walk to the nearest operating TSA Pre lane.
Carry E-Z might save 60 seconds, because I don't have to walk through baggage claim and the GE customs exit. If TSA Pre is operating Landside next to the Carry E-Z exit. Which it was not on a Sunday afternoon.
Apologists on the forum for explaining screened pax entering the USA get rescreened state that the reason is that arriving pax have access to their checked bags.
What is the excuse now? Trot out the excuse that many origins have bad security screening? If so then all such flights should be forced to land in rural area on the coast or border. Ludricous excuse. Third world countries IME have more rigorous screening.
E.g., today in PTY everyone going to DFW had to experience an secondary screening far more rigorous than a non Pre pax on a U.S. domestic flight endures. I had to have my tablet out. Everyone through the WTMD at the gate received a thorough pat down from security agent (as an aside, why is it PTY has females patting down males, but the TSA does not? Why must us males in the USA suffer?).
So why was I screened again by the TSA?
What a waste of money. Jeh, you are an idiot.
Score right?
So, with GE, it was a normal immigration entry. No additional customs exit. Then followed the exit signs (maze actually) and exited ultimately to terminal D - Landside.
What. Was. The. Point?
I expected to emerge in D airside. Instead I have a ten minute walk to the nearest operating TSA Pre lane.
Carry E-Z might save 60 seconds, because I don't have to walk through baggage claim and the GE customs exit. If TSA Pre is operating Landside next to the Carry E-Z exit. Which it was not on a Sunday afternoon.
Apologists on the forum for explaining screened pax entering the USA get rescreened state that the reason is that arriving pax have access to their checked bags.
What is the excuse now? Trot out the excuse that many origins have bad security screening? If so then all such flights should be forced to land in rural area on the coast or border. Ludricous excuse. Third world countries IME have more rigorous screening.
E.g., today in PTY everyone going to DFW had to experience an secondary screening far more rigorous than a non Pre pax on a U.S. domestic flight endures. I had to have my tablet out. Everyone through the WTMD at the gate received a thorough pat down from security agent (as an aside, why is it PTY has females patting down males, but the TSA does not? Why must us males in the USA suffer?).
So why was I screened again by the TSA?
What a waste of money. Jeh, you are an idiot.
Mar 1, 2018 | 3:20 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: HEL
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Posts: 163
As a non-US citizen who travels with carryon baggage only, this service is amazing. Instead of waiting a long time (often 30+ minutes) in the general foreigner passport control line and customs exit lines, I have been able to get straight thru without any waiting. I was extremely pleasantly positively surprised when I was able to use this the first time at ORD.
Another time I could have made my connecting flight easily from a slightly delayed international flight, if this line had been open. The long usual lines meant I missed the connecting flight and had to be rebooked for the next day.
Maybe most of you are US citizens and/or have access to Global Entry, so this doesn't help much?
I'm wondering a bit how useful this service is overall, as it can not be used by most arriving international travelers with checked bags. But it is definitely great service for carryon-only travelers to/thru the US.
Another time I could have made my connecting flight easily from a slightly delayed international flight, if this line had been open. The long usual lines meant I missed the connecting flight and had to be rebooked for the next day.
Maybe most of you are US citizens and/or have access to Global Entry, so this doesn't help much?
I'm wondering a bit how useful this service is overall, as it can not be used by most arriving international travelers with checked bags. But it is definitely great service for carryon-only travelers to/thru the US.
May 31, 2018 | 7:02 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: QDF
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I thought FTers in this forum would have heard of Carry EZ.
Anyway, the idea is that if you arrive on an international flight with NO checked luggage, then instead of going through the passport control lanes that lead to baggage control, instead you go through the Carry EZ Lane (which in DFW does have global entry kiosks but does NOT have passport scanners for the non GE folks). There you present your passport or GE receipt + passport to the CBP officer who is empowered to clear you for passport control and customs, if he wants.
You might still be given a secondary inspection, in which case I imagine you would directed to the baggage claim area.
Otherwise you are directed to the Carry EZ exit, which in DFW is a maze of halls and elevators that dumps you out Landside in terminal D no where near a Pre security entrance.
Anyway, the idea is that if you arrive on an international flight with NO checked luggage, then instead of going through the passport control lanes that lead to baggage control, instead you go through the Carry EZ Lane (which in DFW does have global entry kiosks but does NOT have passport scanners for the non GE folks). There you present your passport or GE receipt + passport to the CBP officer who is empowered to clear you for passport control and customs, if he wants.
You might still be given a secondary inspection, in which case I imagine you would directed to the baggage claim area.
Otherwise you are directed to the Carry EZ exit, which in DFW is a maze of halls and elevators that dumps you out Landside in terminal D no where near a Pre security entrance.
Sep 20, 2019 | 2:05 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Austin, TX
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Posts: 265
If EZ carry dumped you out airside it would be great but it did put me ahead of people leaving the baggage claim area a few years ago.
Just transited through DFW from abroad and the EZ carry signs are gone so that's that. Posting here since I found this thread before I left and was wondering about this.
Just transited through DFW from abroad and the EZ carry signs are gone so that's that. Posting here since I found this thread before I left and was wondering about this.
Sep 27, 2019 | 10:43 am
#24
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We just cleared US CBP in Ireland. There is a US screening.
After you go through regular security you're dumped into the Duty Free mall.
Then, you go through a second screening run under TSA standards that is stricter - there is no precheck lane, so it's shoes off and stuff out of your bag fpr everyone.
After that you're effectively within the US for all intents and purposes and you can't leave after you've passed through the 2nd screening. This qualifies as "you've been screened to US standards." That's why there's no check at the US arrival airport - it's already happened.
I actually had to get an exception after I'd gone through immigration, since I'd left a bag behind, but it was after the US screening on the belt, so they let me grab it and continue. An immigration officer walked me through the process. - and asked me to identify a few things inside to prove it was mine. No biggie.