Dubai Stu

I've been pulling the red X out of the GE machine repeatedly. Each time customs says that shouldn't be and lets me into the country in six seconds. I don't want to rock the boat and get my card pulled, but am wondering what happens.

I cross land borders with Canada all the time (my lifetime record was set two months ago with five border crossings in one day). I never have a problem.

What gives?

GUWonder

How many X results out of of how many GE kiosk uses?

Have you tried the APC kiosks at ORD for example? I would be curious what you would get there.

TWA884

The "Dubai" in your FlyerTalk user name? (j/k)

dan1431

While not an X, the last two times through (at two different airports) the machine crashed before I could complete the formalities.

Each time the machine would freeze and then reboot, I was unsure if I was supposed to start again or see an officer.

I erred on the side of caution and saw an Officer and each time I got something to the effect of, where is your receipt and I would reply that I do not have one as the machine stopped working before I could obtain one.

Each time the guy would look at his CPU and then call a Supervisor who would I am guessing would undo my Global Entry attempt and I would be "manually" entered into the country.

While not the same thing as a X, I am wondering why the machines always seem to crash when I use them.

Dan

nkped

Two arrivals each at SEATAC and DFW and one at Honolulu. Worked like a charm each time.

mikemoli8

I just got approved for global entry and I'd like to know how often you get an X on your slip even if you're not declaring anything. What happens then? Do they send you to secondary inspection? Do they open your bags?
Thanks

nrr

The only time I had an "X", I was escorted to a "special room", after waiting 5 minutes, the agent I spoke with cleared me immediately--he thought the "X" was fingerprint related. A few days later I got an email from GE, asking me to describe the problem I encountered--I got the feeling that my issue was a "glitch", and they want the system to be pleasant for GEer's.

From other posts here on FT, some "X"'s are "random", and most customs related...most pax are cleared rapidly.

PS: Now if they aren't satisfied with the fingerprints they give you another attempt. In the instance where I got "X", it never got as far as asking me to verify my flt. info--it spit out an "X" slip early.

Mats

I had it once due to a bad fingerprint read. The agents were effusively apologetic, and it took them just seconds to fix it. I'm now much more careful to make sure I wipe off the screen and get a good fingerprint read.

The rumor is that NEXUS is more likely to give you a random "selectee" status.

dan1431

Same here, had a bad fingerprint capture and the Agent could not have been nicer and after a second I was on my way.

Dan

dustman81

That doesn't make any sense. NEXUS members have to pass background checks and threat assessments conducted by both the US and Canada.

Points Surfer

...likely because people with clean records are recruited for that reason and use NEXUS for the wrong reason's. At least that's what random checks seem to have found.

drewguy

Never an X, 10+ uses.

maverickflyer

i've only used GE once, at YYZ, and i got an X. i think the fingerprint scan worked. i was asked to go to a second screening room. there were a few people waiting, but i was seen right away. the officer there looked at the X and asked why i was sent there. i told him i don't know - this was the first time i had used GE.

he asked me a few questions, checked the contents of my bag, complimented how well organized it was (tom bihn brain bag with a brain cell + macbook air, and a hardback book in the one compartment; a packing cube with clothes inside + clear quarter packing cube with toiletries inside in the other compartment), and sent me on my way.

Bear4Asian

No "Xs" in 1 re entry from Europe and @ 10-15 re entries from Asia to US.

JDiver

In three years and many entries, even arriving in MIA from HAV, not once.