Is Global Entry worthwhile?
#2492
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Aug 2002
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Don't know but it depends on travel patterns even if so. I would probably pay $100 a year if I had to. Just walked through JFK last night in about 10 minutes or so. Longest ever on GE but shorter than the best time without it.
Originally Posted by Kent Wang
Does GE expire? Paying $100 every five years or whatever makes it a lot less worthwhile.
#2493

Join Date: May 2001
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: UA 1K 3 Million/ex-many year GS, AA PLT/2 Mil, AS MVPG, HH Dia, Starwood Life Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,401
Perhaps if you only use it once a year. But as someone who uses it say 3 times a year it amounts to about $6 per use to avoid 30-60 minute lines. I, at least, find that very worthwhile. Of course YMMV.
#2494

Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
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Don't know but it depends on travel patterns even if so. I would probably pay $100 a year if I had to. Just walked through JFK last night in about 10 minutes or so. Longest ever on GE but shorter than the best time without it.
Don't know but it depends on travel patterns even if so. I would probably pay $100 a year if I had to. Just walked through JFK last night in about 10 minutes or so. Longest ever on GE but shorter than the best time without it.
To each their own on value. I would actually pay $100 for one trip. If I'm able to get out of the no mobile phone zone 10 minutes earlier and talk to a client, it has paid for itself for me.
By the same token, if I'm lucky enough to be going home and it gets me 10 more minutes with my kids, it's also worth it.
Greg
#2495
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Join Date: Aug 2002
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I believe it is $100 every five years.
To each their own on value. I would actually pay $100 for one trip. If I'm able to get out of the no mobile phone zone 10 minutes earlier and talk to a client, it has paid for itself for me.
By the same token, if I'm lucky enough to be going home and it gets me 10 more minutes with my kids, it's also worth it.
Greg
Yea. On occassions where I have made connections I wouldn't have made otherwise or made earlier connections that got me home hours earlier it is hard to overestimate the value.
Originally Posted by greg99
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Don't know but it depends on travel patterns even if so. I would probably pay $100 a year if I had to. Just walked through JFK last night in about 10 minutes or so. Longest ever on GE but shorter than the best time without it.
Don't know but it depends on travel patterns even if so. I would probably pay $100 a year if I had to. Just walked through JFK last night in about 10 minutes or so. Longest ever on GE but shorter than the best time without it.
To each their own on value. I would actually pay $100 for one trip. If I'm able to get out of the no mobile phone zone 10 minutes earlier and talk to a client, it has paid for itself for me.
By the same token, if I'm lucky enough to be going home and it gets me 10 more minutes with my kids, it's also worth it.
Greg
#2496
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: EWR, USA, AA 1MM Gold, United Premier Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 1,476
Very worthwhile...my whole family has it...arrived into EWR Terminal C at around 5ish this afternoon...immigration lines were easily about an hour long...we were thru the GE kiosks in 3 minutes...LOVE it...
#2497
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
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#2498
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: MSP
Programs: DL, UA, HHonors, SPG
Posts: 41
#2499
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
#2500




Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA 1K/0.828MM, WN ALP, Hyatt Diamond, MR Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC,AA Gold
Posts: 5,666
My wife and I have used it exactly once. It allowed us to make a tight connection at IAH. Otherwise we would have had to wait around another 2 hours for the next flight. I think 2 hours of my time is worth at least $100, therefore, already broke even and still have over 4 years left (plus the upcoming PreCheck benefits). Will use it again at LAX this August.
#2501
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 18,346
Used my GE for the first time today in SFO. I took my time gathering my stuff, got my picture taken in one of the new Global First suites. Also took a few cabin pictures and then exited the plane The lines were short so maybe saved me 10 min. What it did save me was from being grilled about why I was only traveling to Asia for a weekend. I'm looking forward to pre-chek as long as UA gets its butt in gear. Oh well ill get a taste on my Alaska trip next month.
#2502
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
- Applied on 4/10/12 (took 20 mins)
- Continuously checked GOES for updated status on application & approval
- Noticed my application went from pending approval to conditionally approved
- scheduled interview the very next open slot after being conditionally approved
- Interviewed on 4/22/12. Arrived an hour early of my appointment, it didn't matter--just a few follow up questions, left FIVE MINUTES LATER fully approved.
- Arrived back at my residence before the time of schedule start of interview!
^^
- Continuously checked GOES for updated status on application & approval
- Noticed my application went from pending approval to conditionally approved
- scheduled interview the very next open slot after being conditionally approved
- Interviewed on 4/22/12. Arrived an hour early of my appointment, it didn't matter--just a few follow up questions, left FIVE MINUTES LATER fully approved.
- Arrived back at my residence before the time of schedule start of interview!
^^
I was in and out of the Kiosk in 30 seconds with No "X" on the receipt. Also got to bypass the luggage retrieval crap! So smooth of a process, I wanted to do it again to piss people off j/k.Verdict: If you're an impatient, don't like to wait, get it-- it's worth the $100
#2503
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
GOES is a no go
It's hit or miss. I applied when it first became available, and was approved. I've had five trips to Europe since. When trying to re-enter the U.S. not only am I not approved at the kiosk, I'm taken to a separate room where I have to wait for them to bring an agent to give me an interview. That whole process takes about an hour, then I have to go through regular customs. I never had a problem going through regular passport lines before I joined Global Entry. The last time this happened I asked the agent why they keep doing this. He said it was something in my record. I asked him why they approved me to get into the program if there was something in my record, and why they now put me through a longer re-entry process than someone who isn't in the program and just goes to the regular passport control line.
I cannot figure out what it is, and he said he couldn't tell me. He told me it's an error, and I need to call the GOES office where I had my approval interview, and tell them to remove it. I called them, and that office said I had to send an email to the main office in Washington, explaining the situation. That was last September, and I still haven't heard back.
A few months ago I tried to log onto their website to see if there was anything I could do there. I have my ID number written down, but didn't remember my password. I tried what I thought my password was, and after a couple of failed attempts to log on I tried a password recovery. Instead of sending me a link to generate a new password, I received a message saying that because I typed in the wrong password too many times (3X's), I'm suspended. It said to contact Support to get them to do a password reset. I sent support an email a few months ago, and never heard back that was in January.
The program sounds great when it works, but it's also possible to get swept into a federal bureaucratic nightmare.
I cannot figure out what it is, and he said he couldn't tell me. He told me it's an error, and I need to call the GOES office where I had my approval interview, and tell them to remove it. I called them, and that office said I had to send an email to the main office in Washington, explaining the situation. That was last September, and I still haven't heard back.
A few months ago I tried to log onto their website to see if there was anything I could do there. I have my ID number written down, but didn't remember my password. I tried what I thought my password was, and after a couple of failed attempts to log on I tried a password recovery. Instead of sending me a link to generate a new password, I received a message saying that because I typed in the wrong password too many times (3X's), I'm suspended. It said to contact Support to get them to do a password reset. I sent support an email a few months ago, and never heard back that was in January.
The program sounds great when it works, but it's also possible to get swept into a federal bureaucratic nightmare.
#2504

Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 157
It's hit or miss. I applied when it first became available, and was approved. I've had five trips to Europe since. When trying to re-enter the U.S. not only am I not approved at the kiosk, I'm taken to a separate room where I have to wait for them to bring an agent to give me an interview. That whole process takes about an hour, then I have to go through regular customs. I never had a problem going through regular passport lines before I joined Global Entry. The last time this happened I asked the agent why they keep doing this. He said it was something in my record. I asked him why they approved me to get into the program if there was something in my record, and why they now put me through a longer re-entry process than someone who isn't in the program and just goes to the regular passport control line.
I cannot figure out what it is, and he said he couldn't tell me. He told me it's an error, and I need to call the GOES office where I had my approval interview, and tell them to remove it. I called them, and that office said I had to send an email to the main office in Washington, explaining the situation. That was last September, and I still haven't heard back.
A few months ago I tried to log onto their website to see if there was anything I could do there. I have my ID number written down, but didn't remember my password. I tried what I thought my password was, and after a couple of failed attempts to log on I tried a password recovery. Instead of sending me a link to generate a new password, I received a message saying that because I typed in the wrong password too many times (3X's), I'm suspended. It said to contact Support to get them to do a password reset. I sent support an email a few months ago, and never heard back that was in January.
The program sounds great when it works, but it's also possible to get swept into a federal bureaucratic nightmare.
I cannot figure out what it is, and he said he couldn't tell me. He told me it's an error, and I need to call the GOES office where I had my approval interview, and tell them to remove it. I called them, and that office said I had to send an email to the main office in Washington, explaining the situation. That was last September, and I still haven't heard back.
A few months ago I tried to log onto their website to see if there was anything I could do there. I have my ID number written down, but didn't remember my password. I tried what I thought my password was, and after a couple of failed attempts to log on I tried a password recovery. Instead of sending me a link to generate a new password, I received a message saying that because I typed in the wrong password too many times (3X's), I'm suspended. It said to contact Support to get them to do a password reset. I sent support an email a few months ago, and never heard back that was in January.
The program sounds great when it works, but it's also possible to get swept into a federal bureaucratic nightmare.
Hopefully that will jog someone else's memory in order to find that post.
#2505



Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,819
Did my interview at ORD on Memorial Day. Got a really curt guy, classic immigration-officer surliness. He didn't appreciate my knowing as much as I did. When I asked him about jumping the line at Customs, he was emphatic that it wasn't allowed; after a few seconds he acknowledged (seeing as how I was looking at him with disbelief) that it was allowed at certain airports, but (he claimed) not at ORD.

