Absolutely you want to do this. I've been in GE from close to the beginning, as has my wife. We are retired and travel internationally at least once a year, sometimes more. Next week we leave for Europe and the Christmas markets. This will be our 3 Intl this year. It is worth it and, as mentioned, there is no minimum on trips. You will be so thankful, both when you leave (expedited security w/o shoes and belt off...and no line/ at least on AA), and expedited entry and customs on the way in. Occasionally, there are snafu's, esp returning in MIA, which has always been a disaster. The application and interview process is interesting, like getting a military clearance...which was fine with us.

Customs IS expedited at LAX. Get in the right line! Just ask is you are confused. It's so frantic at Customs, it is easy to get confused. Even the Customs folks mess up occasionally.

Worked like a charm, thank you!

I'm glad it worked. ^

+1. You won't be declined for not having a lot of international travel.

You can also mention that eligibility for Pre-Check attracted you as well.

Any other recent experiences with the GE Customs line at IAD?

On a different note, has anyone used Global Entry at BWI since it debuted on 11/21?

CBP Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program Arrives at BWI

How recent? the last two times (this summer), there's a small sign on the left side (you might not see it) for GE members. Just go up that way--guy let me cut to the front one time. the other time is was 2a and we were the first from the flight to get our luggage, so no line anyway.

+1

That's been the case since 2010. CBP officer will stop the line to process GE pax. ^

Anyone here also enrolled in FLUX/Privium? If so do you get a passport stamp coming into NL? Do you think your entry is tracked in SIS if there is no stamp? Thanks for any feed back. Just don't want any issue with leaving from another schengen country without entry stamp.

Hi,

I am FLUX/Privium member. No, you do not get a stamp in your passport, since you go through an automated gate. I am sure that your entry is registered however.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Speaking of customs mess up, last week, going through MIA, Mrs. FlyMeToTheLooneyBin got the dreaded X. Some of the customs people said they've never seen it before and didn't know what to do, so they waved her through standard customs processing (with no line cutting), while I bypassed everything. I had to wait 45 minutes for her to come out! GE didn't work for us that time.

YUL at 5:05AM yesterday morning. After bypassing at least 150 pax and walking right up to the NEXUS agent/counter, I got the "additional screening". Had to sit for 25 minutes waiting while a power tripping CBP agent shuffled paperwork, sipped his Starbucks and generally abused the guy in front of me. He then proceeded to ask me the exact same stupid questions that the NEXUS agent asked me. At least 10 other agents seemed to be wandering aimlessly around the back room while another 6-7 pax joined us. GE/NEXUS works great when you're not flagged. But when you are, you see how dysfunctional CBP can be.

Isn't the proper procedure to report to passport control to resolve the X? I don't know how this would bar you from using the GE customs exit lane.

That is correct. The X also had a note saying report to passport control, which we did allowing us to bypass some lines. However, they didn't really know what to do with it so it took a while for her to get out of passport control. That took about 10 minutes or so. The really long part was after baggage claim. To be more specific, after you present the GE paper and walk out of baggage claim, there was a guy who decided whether you went to the left or right (I don't know how else to describe it) before ultimately being free. He told me to go left (no line and just a big scanner before out the door); she went right with a really long line and another scanner. That part took 45 minutes or so.

I've had X before in LAX and it wasn't this bad.

I had an annoying one recently at IAH (which, by the way, has a very nice setup of kiosks as you enter the passport area - best I've seen). My wife and I both GE and both cleared by our machines but my printer jammed and no ticket came out at all! There is an agent dedicated to the GE line so I asked if I could redo the entry on a different machine and he said no - have to fill out a manual blue form and have him stamp it, which he did. He seemed to know that that machine's printer was acting up already and from what I could tell he didn't go over to put and OOO sign on it. Not a real big deal but still an annoyance and not clear how customs would have worked if I had wanted to use the GE exit since I had a manual form. Still overall a great program.