mendel k

I've always flew into the country thru atl. I noticed that there really is no point in getting a global entry pass because even after passport control, I still had to wait for my suitcases. Im going thru jfk soon and was wondering if a global entry pass will save me time or will I just be waiting around the luggage carousel longer instead of being in line. (Sorry if this shouldn't be in the dl forum. I don't know if jfk has a seperate passport control/customs for dl or if the entire airport is together)

rwoman

When entering the US, you always clear passport control (via a person or GE) then have to reclaim baggage. If there are no queues for a CBP agent, then GE does not save you as much time...H OWEVER, when the wait is long for passport control (there are horror stories at various gateways, including JFK and ATL), GE is invaluable...there may be a wait for bags, but it's going to be less total time getting out of the airport unless there's a baggage problem.

cmaas

The order is the same of course, passport control then luggage.

Now this is coming from a guy who avoids checking bags at almost any cost but in my experience at these two airports (frequent arrivals / infrequent arrivals with bags) JFK is quicker getting bags out than ATL - although that's faint praise.

GES, in my opinion, is worth it even if you have to wait on bags because you at least get to spread out and avoid the violations of personal space and other offenses (like, say, standing by the guy who avoids checking bags and is thus a little ripe after a week on the road!)

Of course, if you are DM like me (DYKWIA), you get a greeter / escort through passport control and security, so GES really doesn't matter. Nothing like that in ATL for sure.

ShopAround

It depends on how long you have to wait for your luggage. I find that when the priority tags work, with GE I'm out the door while many of the people on my flight are still in line for passport control.

mendel k

Totally agree with u about how annoying it is being in line and waiting and waiting, especially next to someone with airplane bo (who doesn't stink after a long flight), but unless it'll save me more than 5 min by having my bags on the carousal as soon as I clear passport control with ge, im not interested in paying money (nonrefundable) for them to 'consider' if im eligible

mendel k

That's what I was wondering, it seems there was always bag problems at atl. Id clear passport control and still wait 10 min for the bags to start coming. Was wondering if jfk was better

mendel k

Not sure about u, but it seemed to me that in atl the priority tags were made to purposefully came out last. It was ridiculous how long I've had to wait there for my bags. Jfk for domestic wasn't so bad. Have no idea about int'l, though. That's my question

rwoman

The wait for bags at JFK can really vary - I've had it take less than 10 minutes and I've had it take 20-30 minutes...

ShopAround

JFK is my home airport and I arrive there from international flights 4-5 times a year. More often than not, the priority tagged bags come out first. How long you have to wait is hit-and-miss - there have been times when the entire flight is through passport control and we're all waiting and waiting for bags and there are times like last Saturday, when I arrived from FCO, was finished with the GE kiosk while people from my flight were still straggling to passport control and was out the door after a surprisingly brief wait for my bag, which was in the first batch on the carousel. It's unpredictable and uncontrollable... if you don't want to spend the money for GE because you're not sure it's worth it, then don't do it.

TerryK

I concur. It depends on how many other flights arrive around your flight arrival time. It depends on actually arrival time that day, not schedule and is completely unpredictable. I have waited anywhere from 3 to 40 minutes.

mendel k

Thanks, so i'll try to get it. Seems like it'll save me some time (hopefully) In atl it took me at least1&1/2 hours (no exageration) from getting off the plane to passport control, waiting for suitcases, customs, and then security. Hopefully ge (if I get accepted) will make it faster

mendel k

Now not so sure anymore. Im taking the tlv-jfk flight which gets in at 5 am. Does that help to know of there a good chance of it being quick or not. (This's the only tatl flight i take, used to go through atl but can't anymore)

Global_Hi_Flyer

Last two times I had to check bags inbound to JFK (silly me for buying some wine that's not available in the States) even with the PRIORITY tags the bags were the last ones off the ship. CDG and BUD.

Having said that, GE is still worth it as it avoids some of the questioning that can happen at immigration.

One other note on GE at JFK: when I came through Customs, the guy working the line labeled for Global Entry didn't realize he was supposed to handle same. After telling me I should have used another line, he went ahead and took the receipt.

mendel k

[QUOTE=Global_Hi_Flyer:1745737

Last two times I had to check bags inbound to JFK (silly me for buying some wine that's not available in the States) even with the PRIORITY tags the bags were the last ones off the ship. CDG and BUD.

Having said that, GE is still worth it as it avoids some of the questioning that can happen at immigration.

One other note on GE at JFK: when I came through Customs, the guy working the line labeled for Global Entry didn't realize he was supposed to handle same. After telling me I should have used another line, he went ahead and took the receipt.[/QUOTE]

Only thing they ask me is how much money im carrying, and after my vacations the answer is $20

rubesl

We just came in through JFK Monday morning using GE and it took us about a minute to get through immigration (we both have GE). It took our friends who were with us about 25 min., and our 744 was the only arriving plane at T4 at 5 a.m. On the other hand, TSA at T2 was a nightmare when we got there a little before 6 a.m. for our connection - two doc checkers for 10,000 people in line, surly TSA agents, and incompetent supervisors.