How to Use the Global Entry Kiosk From a Wheelchair
Feb 22, 2017, 6:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 107
How to Use the Global Entry Kiosk From a Wheelchair
My spouse and I just received our Global Entry cards and are flying to Mexico in a few weeks. I am in a wheelchair and was wondering if anyone knows how the facial recognition works? I can't stand up and all of the pictures I've seen of the kiosks it appears that you need to be standing to use it? We will be coming back through Denver if that makes a difference.
It never crossed our minds to ask at the interview and I am hoping someone here might know how to manage.
It never crossed our minds to ask at the interview and I am hoping someone here might know how to manage.
Feb 22, 2017, 7:34 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Stupid question: I presume you were in the wheelchair for the interview? I ask only because I would "think" the GE interview agent would have said something to you if there was a issue specific to wheelchair users. But, then again, maybe not even if there was (agent might not even be aware if there are any issues). I googled and can't find anything, most replies deal with getting GE basically for TSA Pre/security screening purposes. I'm guessing that it must work ok in some way, as GE users are surely of wildly varying heights and the system is hopefully designed to account for that. I'm of about average human being height at 5'7 so I can't say that for sure though.
Feb 22, 2017, 11:13 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 107
Stupid question: I presume you were in the wheelchair for the interview? I ask only because I would "think" the GE interview agent would have said something to you if there was a issue specific to wheelchair users. But, then again, maybe not even if there was (agent might not even be aware if there are any issues). I googled and can't find anything, most replies deal with getting GE basically for TSA Pre/security screening purposes. I'm guessing that it must work ok in some way, as GE users are surely of wildly varying heights and the system is hopefully designed to account for that. I'm of about average human being height at 5'7 so I can't say that for sure though.
Since they took our pictures while we were sitting, I forgot to ask. Since I am always last off the plane, we were hoping that getting Global Entry would help us get through customs more quickly.
Feb 22, 2017, 12:01 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,439
My spouse and I just received our Global Entry cards and are flying to Mexico in a few weeks. I am in a wheelchair and was wondering if anyone knows how the facial recognition works? I can't stand up and all of the pictures I've seen of the kiosks it appears that you need to be standing to use it? We will be coming back through Denver if that makes a difference.
It never crossed our minds to ask at the interview and I am hoping someone here might know how to manage.
It never crossed our minds to ask at the interview and I am hoping someone here might know how to manage.
I wouldn't think a wheelchair user would have any trouble at all (though I admit I've never seen a wheelchair user use a GE kiosk).
Since you say you expect to be the last off the plane, even if everything fails and you get an X on the GE receipt, you'll still be out of customs long before the folks in the general lines. GE will be a big help.
Last edited by mnbp; Feb 22, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Feb 23, 2017, 8:40 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,194
I've seen a wheelchair user use the GE kiosks before and they didn't seem to have any issues. As mentioned above, the machine doesn't even use facial recognition.
Feb 24, 2017, 12:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,125
As others have said, the only bio-identification is through fingerprints. I think the photo is simply to help insure that the "receipt" the kiosk issues can only be used by the person it was issued to when making final exit after baggage claim.
Feb 24, 2017, 12:02 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
I'm pretty sure it is the same, just not sure if the distance from the camera that may be caused by the wheelchair could pose an issue. Then again, probable worst case there is that the customs agent just asks a few questions.
Mar 8, 2017, 10:16 am
#13
Join Date: May 2011
Location: California
Programs: UA 1K/MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 246
First time through the Kiosk for myself and my wife, she being only 5'0" and me forgetting to look at the camera resulted in pictures of her eyebrows up and the top of my head. The CBP officer, after appropriately laughing at us for a second, just asked to see our passports and we were on our way 10 seconds later.
Mar 8, 2017, 2:03 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
And OP, you probably know all the wheelchair tricks better than we, but I would think you could turn sideways to the machine so that you can get your arm/hand closer to the screen. Maybe look for one at the end of the row. For the picture you can turn your head.
(And like others I have a child who was luck to get the top of her ponytail in the picture)
