Is it possible to never have been issued an actual GE card? I have a Nexus card, but have no recollection of a GE card. And pretty sure I didn't lose it.

So answer to your question, no don't carry it on domestic flights!

The airline has my KTN number which means my boarding pass will have PreCheck written on it, which is all the TSA cares about. Then I'll use my license to pass through security.

I keep my GE card with my passport but I don't think I've ever taken it out!

I've never been in a situation that required me to use my GE card as the ID, so it's just taking up space, as far as I'm concerned. One of these days, I'll walk from Canada to US by myself or with other GE holders.... one of these days...

I more than understand and agree with you in principle, I just know myself and I am not the best in those types of situations.

Personally, I did not have my card with me and rather than fight with the Airport Contractor, I just took the path of least resistance and waited in the general line. I did say something when I handed over the Automated Immigration Kiosk Receipt that everyone uses in Miami and he said that the airport authority is responsible for the line monitors and that I should talk to the airport authority about it. I said she was preventing those without Global Entry cards (on them) from using the Global Entry Kiosks and he said talk to the airport (so at least that particular Immigration Officer did not want to get involved) and then said NEXT.

That's me exactly as well. Many places/times/situations in air travel when I'll "stand my ground" to the point of *extreme* personal inconvenience on principal or to get what I want. If I'm sure I'm right, I'm not reticent to get demanding, ask/wait for supervisor and/or be impossibly stubborn or even loud.

But the Customs/immigration section of an airport is *not* where I'd ever choose to do that w/ the power-tripper in question. I'd take it up later with those who can effect change or at the very least make it widely know that policy is not being followed, etc.

When I got GE, there was a separate step you had to take to get the card. After you were approved and had your GE number, you had to return to the GOES website, type in the number, and request a card within 30 days.

I keep my GE card in a drawer and have never needed it for anything. The photo on it is awful, too - I wasn't aware the CBP agent was taking the photo at the time, so I wasn't really looking at the camera.

Even in a customs area you can ask for a supervisor if they are not following the established procedure. You can be firm and not have to be loud to make your point. The CBP website clearly says that the cards are to be used for entry by land or sea and not by air which is why you have the GE kiosks at the airports.

Also if I am not mistaken Global Entry members who joined prior to July 12, 2011 were not even issued cards and have to request them and pay a $15 fee. So if you are one of those people without a card you are screwed if a contractor at an airport tells you you have to wait on a regular line.

https://www.cbp.gov/faqs/must-i-obta...bal-entry-card
https://www.cbp.gov/faqs/can-i-use-m...al-entry-kiosk

I always use my GE card or passport for I/D at the security checkpoint for domestic flights as simply put, for me, there is no reason to show any I/D to the TSA which has anything more than my name, dob & gender as that is all that's required and anything else is none of their business

I hear ya-- and you're 100% right-- on all counts, factually. Mean time, for me personally, I spent 7 years and many thousands of dollars to finally get approved for GE, so I'm not busting any onions in/near/about customs any time in this lifetime.

Even barring that, I -still- say "pick your battles" and this isn't one I'd pick-- personal position-- even if I didn't have that background. Not important enough when I -do- have the card and I carry it. I'll let someone else "fix the system" :) And $15 to get a card doesn't seem like anything worth losing sleep over, IMHO, either.

I'd object if the airport contract employee were actually looking at the cards or comparing them to passports or boarding passes. They don't need to see your name or other personal details.

If someone claims to have GE but doesn't, the GE kiosks won't give them a receipt, so they gain absolutely nothing and then end up in the back of the regular lines. The problem is if they tie up the GE kiosks and prevent others from using these dedicated machines quickly.

Yes. When I applied, there were no GE cards. Later it was possible to request one for IIRC $15 if you had already been approved earlier for GE. Now I think new GE people get the cards automatically, although there might be a lag between approval and receipt of the card.

It lives in my briefcase, not my wallet, so (a) if I lose my wallet, I have another ID on me, and (b) I always use it when going through TSA domestically, and I almost never travel without my briefcase.

IMHO that is a separate issue. We are discussing airport contractors refusing people access to the GE kiosks. They are making up their own rules and not following the procedures set in place by CBP.

I'd complain to the airport's CBP office instead of the airport authority.

+1 ^

After all anything that takes place in a US Customs area is under their authority!