How NOT to wait on lines - your input please
 

Inspired by the amount of time I've saved in the past 12 months since joining Global Entry (8 entries, average wait time, zero for Global Entry Kiosk versus what was probably 15-45 minutes waittime on regular lines), I wrote an article covering various things passengers can do to NOT wait on line (if we could do this at supermarkets, I'd buy the supermarket version of Global Entry or at least vie for Executive Plat there by the way).

I cover PreCheck, Global Entry, online check-in, and the various airline and airport (and third party) services that get you through without a wait.

Am I missing anything I should have thought of?

The article is online here for those who are interested.

http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler....49-300x199.jpg

Here's a good "trick" for getting past long customs lines. Always carry a small piece of chocolate or something that typically does not need to be declared (or if it does but is discovered is not likely to cause any issues. So no cheese or steaks. ;))

If the customs lines are long in the "nothing to declare" lines, then declare your chocolate as food. That line isn't usually long at all. When they ask what you are declaring, say chocolate. They will usually roll their eyes and be annoyed, but let you walk through.

Of course there are plenty of situations where ALL food should be declared, so then you have a choice. Ditch your chocolate ahead of time or take the chance that a customs officer will be having a bad day, discover it, and make an issue of it.

I recently traveled internationally with my 78-year old mom who cannot walk long distances so we had a wheelchair for her in all the airports we went through. The wheelchair assist just zoomed both of us through security and immigration and customs. Since I was capable of walking, I felt a bit guilty. Now I am not advocating that everyone get a wheelchair assist just to zoom through airports, but this was the fastest I have ever moved through airport lines.

It worked for my 82yrs young father who needs wheelchair assistance when I travel for pleasure with him.

Who's your audience for this article? It's hard to imagine that someone who doesn't yet know you can check in online would be also interested in Pre-Check and Global Entry.

Good question. The answer is that Frequent Business Traveler magazine's audience is both business and luxury travelers.

I agree that someone who doesn't know about OLCI is at a polar opposite from someone who is a likely candidate for PreCheck and GE but, when writing the piece, I thought of the OLCI as a reminder more than a main point. That's also why it's at the end.

Not sure what to think of this. Yes it does speed things up. But Global Entry and TSA Pre-check basically support a system of the "transparent citizen" not to call it the big brother state, that I'd hate to support even if it brings me convenience.

OTOH, the Gateway Special Services sounds good. They don't list prices on their website. Would you mind sharing how much the departure and possibly the arrival services cost?

Immigration in Europe is usually very fast but in the US it's horrible. So the arrival service would be better used in the US.

I can see the departure service being interesting in any case, particularly when you want to maximize time at the outgoing location or when you don't know the airport. I think it would be even more interesting for people who are not frequent travelers and who thus don't enjoy the perks and know-how that come with that status. For them it may really be worth the money.

I could see myself paying about $100 for arrival service in the US (especially if they provide assistance with luggage and customs if you have a continuing flight) and $80 or so for departure service. But maybe it's much more expensive....?

Please PM if you don't feel like discussing pricing online. Thanks!

Till

I just sent you an e-mail and I simply don't recall pricing from my one-time use of Gateway. My review of Gateway is online here however.

Just coincidental that the New York Times published a nearly identical article on April 18, while yours is date-stamped April 22?

I thought the Times article was a little misguided, for the same reason that nerd brought up. Reading the same information a second time, my impression hasn't changed.

I suppose so, since it was already submitted to the copy editor over a week before it appeared.

Wouldn't things like learning what peak times are at your airport of choice and choosing to fly outside those times, and not checking bags save you even more time?

Both good points. I never check a bag if I can avoid it.

Sure, but often we don't have the choice. There is a certain time we have to be a certain place and there are certain things we may need to carry. And it's not like there are endless options of good connections at any airport at any time.

The articles were about how one can make things go smoother and faster, regardless of things we cannot influence and how these measures may be seen as particularly helpful when the airport is actually very crowded or your connections are tight.

Till

I got two Monday morning YYZ to US departures: Apr 30 ATL SJO and May 14 JFK LHR. Any YYZ frequent flyer like myself will avoid that like a plague. Nexus only get you as far as the CATSA bottleneck.
I will be forever grateful that these are semi pleasure trip with dad who need wheelchair assistance through airport.

Some of us who live in the "other" part of the world can get the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Council) Business Travel Card which offers pre-approved visas for up to about 20 countries in the APEC. You get go thru special immigration lines at airports in those countries, including differing periods of permitted stay. Some airlines also offer "fast track" cards to their premium class pax, and in some airports, you can even buy special greet and meet to help you get to the front of line quicker.

So yes, your article is missing a lot.