May 4, 2017, 12:01 am
Last edit by: drewguy
US Airports
Atlanta (ATL)
E concourse/transfer passengers
Global Entry kiosks are on the left wall as you enter the immigration area (the queues for the non-GE are to the right). After completing with the kiosk (facial recognition, no reset), continue to the far side of the room and turn right for the GE exit booths. Your face will be matched visually by the agent (against a line up of those recently through the kiosks) and you proceed to baggage claim. If you have no problems with your connecting flight (and no reason to open the bags) move them over to the drop off belt. There are two queues at security. Sometimes one is set up as TSA Precheck, sometimes they are both regular. Amusingly, when they have a Precheck line, there's usually nobody in the other one.
Boston (BOS)
All passengers follow a first hallway, then a bend, entering a second hallway; at that point you see the non-GE situation to your left through the glass. GE kiosks are at the far end to the left, with one (or two) immigration agents checking for slips with an X, then downstairs to baggage claim. GE customs exit, easy to miss, at far end (left side as you face luggage belts).
Charlotte (CLT)
No MPC. Customs exit has two booths. There is a dedicated GE customs lane with signage on the left. May have to walk past (and get dirty looks) general customs queue to see GE signage.
Chicago (ORD)
The kiosks are immediately apparent as you come down to the immigration/customs area, although sometimes long lines for "regular" immigration can slow access to the kiosks. After baggage claim there is a single exit to transfer/arrivals, with a specific desk for GE customers sometimes staffed.
Denver (DEN)
After the long walk from your gate, signs for global entry point you straight down the escalator (non-GE get forms checked and may queue). Kiosks to right using 2.0. If an X or to declare a sign points to agent. Otherwise proceed to baggage reclaim area. Give slip to agent at exit and proceed to airport main entrance.
Houston (IAH):
There is a single, roped off separate area on southern (terminal E) end of the arrivals hall with kiosks as you enter the hall, and an additional bank of kiosks near officers at a desk that check (and keep) GE receipts as one is entering the central immigration area. Proceed to the bag claim escalator past agents that may pull people for further questioning. After claiming bags downstairs, proceed directly to recheck. Agents in the area may pull you aside for bag inspection. There is no GE or standard exit queue.
Los Angeles (LAX):
International arrivals come into the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). After the walk to escalators, GE lines are well marked. LAX uses GE 2.0 facial recognition - just smile at the camera and it will tell you what to do next. You'll then go past an agent with whatever interaction they deem necessary. On to baggage claim and either taxis or a connecting flight.
Miami (MIA):
The kiosks are in the centre of the hall, between US and Tourists. Turn left when you have cleared and down the stairs/escalator to Customs. Turn left at the bottom and your GE Customs line is there.
New York (JFK):
T8
After receiving your "non-X" GE slip, you proceed to baggage area (if you have any), then head for the customs agent. There is a sign on a stand: "GLOBAL ENTRY EXIT", this lets you bypass any "others" waiting to see an agent.; There is a CPB agent who checks your pp (after collecting your slip). You then go to collect your luggage (if you have any), unless you are singled out for extra scrutiny, you are free to leave.
Once you are in baggage collection area, it seems all pax have "equal status" since GE no longer have their slips. [GE pax would still have their GE cards to show if needed.]
T7
Upon arrival in the Immigration area, the kiosks are on the back wall, facing the front of the inspectors booths. Turn left and you may have to walk right across the area to get to them. There is a special exit for Customs.
Philadelphia (PHL):
Global Entry kiosks are immediately on the right if arriving from an A-East gate (A2-A13). After successful facial recognition take your receipt to the Global Entry cubicle next to the kiosks. Hold up your receipt as your pass the GE officer in the cubicle and tell them if you have anything to declare. After claiming checked luggage, exit the FIS through the GE customs line, and give the officer your receipt.
San Francisco (SFO):
International arrivals G concourse - United/*A
Corridor from planes with floor and ceiling markings for different categories (GE, MPC, US, Foreign) that ultimately end up in lanes demarcated with tensa-barriers. GE is to the far left, where the kiosks are along the wall. Use kiosk, wait for agent, who will ask any questions, then pickup any bags and head past all carousels. Connecting flights to left; exit to right.
Seattle
Just before taking the escalator to the baggage hall the GE kiosks are on the right. New software so no receipts. After baggage collection join queue to the left for GE passengers. Agent asks questions as well as checks you for the GE kiosk record.
Washington (IAD):
Main Terminal
The kiosks are around the corner to the far right after you come down the escalator from the moon rover, behind a metal swinging gate marked for crew and GE.Starting Spring 2017 After using the kiosk, you'll enter a lane to for an agent to review your slip and to make any declarations (food, etc.), and then you proceed out a central door to the baggage claim area. There is no further check after this point. Post-2021: Using GE 2.0 and agents tend to take more time studying passport; door to baggage area a bit closer to GE checkpoint. Spring 2023: New facial scanners in place that are touchless - just look at screen, it images face, and directs you (in most cases) to proceed to the line. CBP agent confirms identity and checks passport, and asks if anything to declare.
Midfield (transfers) terminal (UA-UA only; limited hours)
The GE terminals are against the wall, on the left, immediately that you enter the arrivals immigration area. Do not join the barricaded area as you have gone too far. After you have your receipt you walk down the back of the inspectors booths to Customs. Note: No TSAPre available here.
Foreign Preclearance Airports
Montreal (YUL)
(All US bound flights)After CATSA security, the GE machines will be in your left. Facial recognition and no receipts will be issued just instructions to proceed to US or GE officer.
Vancouver (YVR)
(Most daytime US-bound flights. Not available for late-evening / night US-bound flights) GE/Nexus get expedited access to security, although it takes a bit of talking to convince the line guard to grant access because there is no reason to carry the GE card for air travel. Post security, the GE machines are in a dedicated area off to the left. After getting the receipt, you hand your receipt, passport and boarding pass to an available agent. Agent scans your boarding pass and if you have checked bags, a picture of your bag is displayed to the officer. American Citizens are waved past with ease. Non-American citizens are required to answer the standard "Where are you going / what are you doing" questions that apply to non-American citizen travellers. Non-American business travelers using GE at YVR can expect all the standard probing immigration-related questions regarding the nature of your business in the USA.
Dublin (DUB)
Preclearance:
After security, find 3 or 4 GE kiosks located on the left hand side. After getting the receipt, walk up to the CBP agent on the far left (from the passengers' point of view). Need to stop at CBP agent's desk and hand over passport + receipt + boarding pass. The BP is scanned to bring up picture(s) of bag(s) (in case bags were checked).
Atlanta (ATL)
E concourse/transfer passengers
Global Entry kiosks are on the left wall as you enter the immigration area (the queues for the non-GE are to the right). After completing with the kiosk (facial recognition, no reset), continue to the far side of the room and turn right for the GE exit booths. Your face will be matched visually by the agent (against a line up of those recently through the kiosks) and you proceed to baggage claim. If you have no problems with your connecting flight (and no reason to open the bags) move them over to the drop off belt. There are two queues at security. Sometimes one is set up as TSA Precheck, sometimes they are both regular. Amusingly, when they have a Precheck line, there's usually nobody in the other one.
Boston (BOS)
All passengers follow a first hallway, then a bend, entering a second hallway; at that point you see the non-GE situation to your left through the glass. GE kiosks are at the far end to the left, with one (or two) immigration agents checking for slips with an X, then downstairs to baggage claim. GE customs exit, easy to miss, at far end (left side as you face luggage belts).
Charlotte (CLT)
No MPC. Customs exit has two booths. There is a dedicated GE customs lane with signage on the left. May have to walk past (and get dirty looks) general customs queue to see GE signage.
Chicago (ORD)
The kiosks are immediately apparent as you come down to the immigration/customs area, although sometimes long lines for "regular" immigration can slow access to the kiosks. After baggage claim there is a single exit to transfer/arrivals, with a specific desk for GE customers sometimes staffed.
Denver (DEN)
After the long walk from your gate, signs for global entry point you straight down the escalator (non-GE get forms checked and may queue). Kiosks to right using 2.0. If an X or to declare a sign points to agent. Otherwise proceed to baggage reclaim area. Give slip to agent at exit and proceed to airport main entrance.
Houston (IAH):
There is a single, roped off separate area on southern (terminal E) end of the arrivals hall with kiosks as you enter the hall, and an additional bank of kiosks near officers at a desk that check (and keep) GE receipts as one is entering the central immigration area. Proceed to the bag claim escalator past agents that may pull people for further questioning. After claiming bags downstairs, proceed directly to recheck. Agents in the area may pull you aside for bag inspection. There is no GE or standard exit queue.
Los Angeles (LAX):
International arrivals come into the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). After the walk to escalators, GE lines are well marked. LAX uses GE 2.0 facial recognition - just smile at the camera and it will tell you what to do next. You'll then go past an agent with whatever interaction they deem necessary. On to baggage claim and either taxis or a connecting flight.
Miami (MIA):
The kiosks are in the centre of the hall, between US and Tourists. Turn left when you have cleared and down the stairs/escalator to Customs. Turn left at the bottom and your GE Customs line is there.
New York (JFK):
T8
After receiving your "non-X" GE slip,
Once you are in baggage collection area, it seems all pax have "equal status" since GE no longer have their slips. [GE pax would still have their GE cards to show if needed.]
T7
Upon arrival in the Immigration area, the kiosks are on the back wall, facing the front of the inspectors booths. Turn left and you may have to walk right across the area to get to them. There is a special exit for Customs.
Philadelphia (PHL):
Global Entry kiosks are immediately on the right if arriving from an A-East gate (A2-A13). After successful facial recognition take your receipt to the Global Entry cubicle next to the kiosks. Hold up your receipt as your pass the GE officer in the cubicle and tell them if you have anything to declare. After claiming checked luggage, exit the FIS through the GE customs line, and give the officer your receipt.
San Francisco (SFO):
International arrivals G concourse - United/*A
Corridor from planes with floor and ceiling markings for different categories (GE, MPC, US, Foreign) that ultimately end up in lanes demarcated with tensa-barriers. GE is to the far left, where the kiosks are along the wall. Use kiosk, wait for agent, who will ask any questions, then pickup any bags and head past all carousels. Connecting flights to left; exit to right.
Seattle
Just before taking the escalator to the baggage hall the GE kiosks are on the right. New software so no receipts. After baggage collection join queue to the left for GE passengers. Agent asks questions as well as checks you for the GE kiosk record.
Washington (IAD):
Main Terminal
The kiosks are around the corner to the far right after you come down the escalator from the moon rover, behind a metal swinging gate marked for crew and GE.
Midfield (transfers) terminal (UA-UA only; limited hours)
The GE terminals are against the wall, on the left, immediately that you enter the arrivals immigration area. Do not join the barricaded area as you have gone too far. After you have your receipt you walk down the back of the inspectors booths to Customs. Note: No TSAPre available here.
Foreign Preclearance Airports
Montreal (YUL)
(All US bound flights)After CATSA security, the GE machines will be in your left. Facial recognition and no receipts will be issued just instructions to proceed to US or GE officer.
Vancouver (YVR)
(Most daytime US-bound flights. Not available for late-evening / night US-bound flights) GE/Nexus get expedited access to security, although it takes a bit of talking to convince the line guard to grant access because there is no reason to carry the GE card for air travel. Post security, the GE machines are in a dedicated area off to the left. After getting the receipt, you hand your receipt, passport and boarding pass to an available agent. Agent scans your boarding pass and if you have checked bags, a picture of your bag is displayed to the officer. American Citizens are waved past with ease. Non-American citizens are required to answer the standard "Where are you going / what are you doing" questions that apply to non-American citizen travellers. Non-American business travelers using GE at YVR can expect all the standard probing immigration-related questions regarding the nature of your business in the USA.
Dublin (DUB)
Preclearance:
After security, find 3 or 4 GE kiosks located on the left hand side. After getting the receipt, walk up to the CBP agent on the far left (from the passengers' point of view). Need to stop at CBP agent's desk and hand over passport + receipt + boarding pass. The BP is scanned to bring up picture(s) of bag(s) (in case bags were checked).
How does Global Entry work for You?
Aug 3, 2016, 6:50 pm
#91
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
I couldn't find the exact site for posting this, but since I recently underwent the interview process (after flying to Newark for $508), I thought I'd tell my story of first time use coming home from Greece to BOS. The kiosks were clearly marked apart from other lanes, and I had read my mini handbook. Beware, however, if you have arthritic hands and fingers like me. It kept telling it me the read on my last two fingers was bad or fair. At some point it may also have told me to look up for my photo but I was too busy trying to get the fingerprints. It ended up giving me my slip of paper with half my face (bottom part) cut off and glasses on. The way out in BOS is through the same lane as used by crew and diplomats so it was a breeze. And the agent had no problem at all with my half face -- he even joked that it did indeed look like the top of my head!
Aug 5, 2016, 8:32 am
#92
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
Aug 7, 2016, 9:40 am
#94
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
I couldn't find the exact site for posting this, but since I recently underwent the interview process (after flying to Newark for $508), I thought I'd tell my story of first time use coming home from Greece to BOS. The kiosks were clearly marked apart from other lanes, and I had read my mini handbook. Beware, however, if you have arthritic hands and fingers like me. It kept telling it me the read on my last two fingers was bad or fair. At some point it may also have told me to look up for my photo but I was too busy trying to get the fingerprints. It ended up giving me my slip of paper with half my face (bottom part) cut off and glasses on. The way out in BOS is through the same lane as used by crew and diplomats so it was a breeze. And the agent had no problem at all with my half face -- he even joked that it did indeed look like the top of my head!
Aug 7, 2016, 9:54 am
#95
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,018
Global Entry is wonderful. It is always unclear to me where to go after I use the machine. Often times there is not a dedicated line or person to collect the receipt. So I have to sort of "cut" the line and wait behind someone who is going through customs normally. Other than this - I love the program.
Aug 7, 2016, 11:43 am
#96
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
Depends on citizenship. US citizens already don't need passport stamps (but some officers give them out anyways), GE therefore means no stamps at all. As a foreigner you'll get a receipt replacing the stamp, unless you get X'd in which case the officer processing you still stamps you.
Aug 7, 2016, 1:23 pm
#97
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: ORF
Programs: UA Silver, MR titanium
Posts: 2,020
Depends on citizenship. US citizens already don't need passport stamps (but some officers give them out anyways), GE therefore means no stamps at all. As a foreigner you'll get a receipt replacing the stamp, unless you get X'd in which case the officer processing you still stamps you.
and as a 6 months old required to get a GE? website does specify.
Aug 7, 2016, 2:08 pm
#98
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,652
Aug 7, 2016, 2:19 pm
#99
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 3
Bahamas Experience
Bahamas has a Global Entry line in its US pre-clearance area upon returning to the states. It has only one dedicated agent to review the receipt that seems to be shared with the non-US citizen line. 
With the new kiosks in the general area, the Global Entry turned out to be slower than the general line because the family before us had technical difficulties and the general line agents won't pull from the Global Entry line. Even the CBP office agreed GE doesn't do much for you in the Bahamas.
With the new kiosks in the general area, the Global Entry turned out to be slower than the general line because the family before us had technical difficulties and the general line agents won't pull from the Global Entry line. Even the CBP office agreed GE doesn't do much for you in the Bahamas.
Aug 7, 2016, 2:33 pm
#100
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 21
I just got GE, used it for the first time last month. It did save me time on entry, although my flight must have been the only one arriving at that time because the normal lines weren't that long. But I imagine if several flights were getting in at the same time, then it would save me quite a bit of time.
But the big thing for me is that it also gets you TSA-Pre. I don't live at a hub so when I re-enter the US I am generally on my way to a connecting flight, which means going through security again. My last trip was through Newark, and I was able to go through immigration and customs, take the train to Terminal A, and re-enter through the TSA-Pre line in 45 minutes total. That's never happened before! Now that I have GE I feel better about taking shorter connections when reentering the US.
Also, they do still give out cards, but the cards are generally useless -- even the CBP agent who interviewed me said so. It proves you're in the program, in case there is some snafu, but that's it. I has my interview only a few days before leaving, so I didn't have my card with me, and nobody cared.
But the big thing for me is that it also gets you TSA-Pre. I don't live at a hub so when I re-enter the US I am generally on my way to a connecting flight, which means going through security again. My last trip was through Newark, and I was able to go through immigration and customs, take the train to Terminal A, and re-enter through the TSA-Pre line in 45 minutes total. That's never happened before! Now that I have GE I feel better about taking shorter connections when reentering the US.
Also, they do still give out cards, but the cards are generally useless -- even the CBP agent who interviewed me said so. It proves you're in the program, in case there is some snafu, but that's it. I has my interview only a few days before leaving, so I didn't have my card with me, and nobody cared.
Aug 7, 2016, 2:39 pm
#101
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
I just got GE, used it for the first time last month. It did save me time on entry, although my flight must have been the only one arriving at that time because the normal lines weren't that long. But I imagine if several flights were getting in at the same time, then it would save me quite a bit of time.
But the big thing for me is that it also gets you TSA-Pre. I don't live at a hub so when I re-enter the US I am generally on my way to a connecting flight, which means going through security again. My last trip was through Newark, and I was able to go through immigration and customs, take the train to Terminal A, and re-enter through the TSA-Pre line in 45 minutes total. That's never happened before! Now that I have GE I feel better about taking shorter connections when reentering the US.
Also, they do still give out cards, but the cards are generally useless -- even the CBP agent who interviewed me said so. It proves you're in the program, in case there is some snafu, but that's it. I has my interview only a few days before leaving, so I didn't have my card with me, and nobody cared.
But the big thing for me is that it also gets you TSA-Pre. I don't live at a hub so when I re-enter the US I am generally on my way to a connecting flight, which means going through security again. My last trip was through Newark, and I was able to go through immigration and customs, take the train to Terminal A, and re-enter through the TSA-Pre line in 45 minutes total. That's never happened before! Now that I have GE I feel better about taking shorter connections when reentering the US.
Also, they do still give out cards, but the cards are generally useless -- even the CBP agent who interviewed me said so. It proves you're in the program, in case there is some snafu, but that's it. I has my interview only a few days before leaving, so I didn't have my card with me, and nobody cared.
Also, the card isn't entirely useless - see the following thread if you really want to know the details, but the short version is you'll want to carry it for Canada->USA trips, and also at land borders:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trust...-required.html
Aug 7, 2016, 3:10 pm
#102
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 21
Yes, I am flying UA mostly.
At IAD, they have a separate security line for international transfers to get back into the terminal (is that what "midfield transfer" means?), they don't throw you back with the general population like they do at Newark and ORD. So even though there's no TSA-Pre line, I've found the lines to generally be shorter than the general lines at other airports. IAD was my preferred United hub for re-entering before I got Global Entry. I am Flying through IAD in a few weeks, (on a 2-hour layover) so maybe my opinion will change.
At IAD, they have a separate security line for international transfers to get back into the terminal (is that what "midfield transfer" means?), they don't throw you back with the general population like they do at Newark and ORD. So even though there's no TSA-Pre line, I've found the lines to generally be shorter than the general lines at other airports. IAD was my preferred United hub for re-entering before I got Global Entry. I am Flying through IAD in a few weeks, (on a 2-hour layover) so maybe my opinion will change.
Aug 7, 2016, 6:29 pm
#103
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: KSUX
Posts: 906
Your 6 month old will need a his/her own passport and be approved for GE as well. Everyone must apply for and be approved for GE before using the kiosks. It's not like the TSA's pre-check where kids 12 and under can accompany their parents through the pre line.
Aug 8, 2016, 12:42 pm
#104
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,419
I made the mistake at ORD of inserting my passport before getting posed for the photo. As a result it was taken while I had my glasses on and was looking down and didn't match so I got the X. I was sent to stand by a pillar with a "stand here" sign on but was ignored until I asked and was told to stand between the pillar and the CBP lane and go in the next time the officer who had been studiously ignoring me was free. Apart from that it was quick and painless!
(And, yeah, the photos are silly - the top of my head was cut off and only my daughter's scalp showed when we used GE this past weekend - oh how we laughed about it while waiting behind the non-GE line cutters at the customs check).
Aug 8, 2016, 1:53 pm
#105
Join Date: May 2013
Location: New York
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott LTPP, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 1,079
Every departure using GE through YUL US preclearance has involved at least a few questions, and regardless of whether or not the GE photo is good they want to eyeball my boarding pass and passport in addition to the receipt).
(One time the officer turned his screen to me and asked me to verify that a bag was mine [photo on screen]. I guess that's a product of the automated baggage system for the transborder gates at YUL!).