TSA Pre on passenger's boarding pass does also absolutely mean something in Canada: it means the passenger hasn't been hit with a <SSSS> flag on the boarding pass and thus won't be subject to Canada's version of <SSSS> screening, as required by the USG, for US-bound passengers with a <SSSS> boarding pass.

Went through YYC last Thursday (06:55 flight to Houston) and went through the TT lane. I just told the lady that I was GE and she waved me over. Still had to take out the laptop and liquids but got to stay dressed...

FWIW
DLM

This. A group of friends and I were driving back from Tijuana and the agent told us we were "selected by the computer" for secondary search.

After the car x-ray machine and a long process by another agent (it seems like something he was not familiar with), it was finally determined that the reason our car was pulled over was that my Global Entry card had not yet been activated. He politely explained it as though he also had just figured it out, and sent us on our way without a search.

I logged in today and, sure enough, there was a button to activate the card, right there. I had not known that this was even necessary. In fact, the acceptance letter says, in underlined text, "you can begin using your account immediately."

I guess so, since I use it 1-2 times per month!

I don't recall whether I had to activate my first one or not. I received it long after getting GE as cards weren't available then, but I was later able to request one and IIRc pay a bit extra for it.

For my renewal, I was approved without an interview shortly before departing on an international trip. I got SSSS on the return but was able to use GE, despite not having yet received the card and therefore not having had the opportunity to activate it. For my domestic connecting flight, I had PreCheck.

Some confusion is because your GE membership, and ability to use your passport at GE kiosks, is active the instant a CBP officer final approves your application. PreCheck privileges also become activated instantly.

The GE card, despite its name, is not used to obtain GE privileges, but only for use of fast lanes returning to the US (another bonus perk for GE members), and for this use requires separate activation, a confirmation the correct person received the card.

I am pretty sure when I received my Global Entry and NEXUS card, an accompanying letter asks me to activate my card immediately.

That was what happened with my GE renewal. It apparently arrives in the mail a week or two after your final approval, with instructions to go into GOES to activate it immediately. You're apparently required to do this within thirty days.

Moderator's Note:
 

Apologies for not having read all 273 posts on this thread, so if my question is answered somewhere else, please be nice!

I just renewed my GE status (painlessly, although without ever having received an email reminder...I happened to check on it only 5 weeks from expiry!). I'm now good for another five years, which is great. And now, for the first time, I was sent a physical card--but I've never had one before and never needed it. My question is: do I need to carry the card for any reason? What is it for? I'd have my passport with me for any trip out of the US in any case, so what does this card do?

Think of it as another form of official government photo ID that doesn't contain your home address, although others might not always not recognize it as readily as a passport card. If you don't carry your passport for domestic travel, you might want to use the GE card instead of your driver's license to show to TSA.

For transborder flights, the GE card can be necessary to prove that you have GE and thus are entitled to some privileges. It also can be handy if your international entry airport's GE kiosks are down and CBP staff are manually processing people but setting up separate lines for GE. (This happened to me once.)

If you drive back into U.S. from Canada, you need your Global Entry card in order to use NEXUS lane.

You also need the card to use the GE/NEXUS "precheck lane" through canadian airport security, which is wholly independent of the TSA precheck program and also has nothing to do with the GE/NEXUS kiosks you use to pass through US CBP immigration and customs.

There are also (rare) anecdotes about needing to show the card to access the GE kiosks at certain airports.

I carry my GE card around everywhere. It is useful as a second ID, I have used it at airport security in Canada, and you never know when you'll change pland and come back to the US via land/sea crossing.

Global Entry card required at YVR
 

I traveled twice this month from YVR to American airports (PHX and MSP). I headed for the Global Entry kiosks and was intercepted by three young women who asked if I had a Global Entry card. I told them I did and it was at home. They said I would not be able to use Global Entry without presenting the card. I told them that the card was only necessary for land border crossings. They explained to me that once my plane took off it would fly across the land boarder; therefore, I had to have the Global Entry card now. I also inquired if I could use TSA PRE which was stamped on my boarding pass. They didn't know.
I went through regular security and moved on to the Global Entry kiosks which worked just like the always do anywhere in the world I see them.
What is the matter at YVR?

That is one of the dumbest things I think I have heard someone in airport security say. And that is saying a lot.

Anyway, TSA precheck is only for US airports. YVR along with other Canadian airports have separate NEXUS lines that work like precheck. And you do need your NEXUS card (similar looking to a GE card) to get through them. Nothing is marked on a boarding pass. This is probably why the confusion by the agents. However, being that their job is working for airport security, they should know all this. It's not like YVR is a small airport in the middle of nowhere.