wow, I've never seen it that crowded, thanks for hte trip report! Two LHR flights come into IAH very close in the afternoon thus that could be up to 500 people at once going through plus the central American flights.

As I mentioned IAH only has the one big bank of 15 kiosks with the officer(s) at the end. If you have no luggage you bypass the bag belts and can exit without having to see the customs guy around the back (via the secondary channels). Other articles posted on the Houston airport webpage have noted IAH also has the highest membership #s (which I presume they mean interviewees...). I often see nearly every UA pilot and crew member going via GE now.

IAH set up:
http://system.gocampaign.com/imgs/0/1141735

If you do have checked bags, does the officer at the end hand back your receipt, so you can present it at the normal customs exit?

In my experiances, yes. You go right and walk down to the baggage claim and then use the GE lane to the right at baggage claim exit. If not you snake around and get to watch all the secondaries as you walk out.

*Note- The area is all under construction at the moment so this could change.

(Please fogive me if this is the wrong thread for this question.) Presuming one does NOT choose to use their GE card as a form of ID, is there any reason to actually carry the card when traveling?

No. From the CBP website: A Global Entry card is only required for use at the SENTRI and NEXUS lanes coming into the United States.

The card can be used in New Zealand to gain access to dedicated border queues.

Arriving in New Zealand

Aussie Smart Gate Trial for Global Entry Members (ePassport Only)

http://www.customs.gov.au/smartgate/

If you are a US Global Entry Program member you may be eligible to use SmartGate from 1 November 2012. Please refer to the US Global Entry Program Trial page for more details.

CBP Australia Brochure: http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/re...r2012FINAL.pdf

Only question I have: US Citizens are still required to obtain a Visitor ETA? ($20 Fee)
http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/976/

A week or so ago at SFO, got off from the very back of a KL MD-11. Immigration queues were very long (an Emirates flight had just arrived before us). Two GE kiosks, and exactly one other person from my flight using it. Was through immigration in 90 seconds, then got to wait 10 minutes for my checked luggage before proceeding through customs. Totally worth it.

Slightly OT I suppose, but does anyone have a list of pre-clearance GE machines in other airports, such as Canada? I know YYZ has them (a couple), but just wondered if there's any others. I haven't found a list on their site - only which domestic airports have them.

YUL and YVR are two for sure. Suspect that all pre-clearance facilities have them.

Here is the answer! http://bit.ly/WpjQ3k

8 Canadian Airports: Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today that all eight preclearance airports in Canada now have Global Entry kiosks. The newest kiosks were installed at Edmonton International Airport in Edmonton, Alberta and have been processing travelers since Tuesday, June 19.

Global Entry also exists in Ireland at SNN and DUB.

Also in Many other small Canadian airports like Ottawa.

Post 2996 (three or four above) has that. :)

Incidentally Ottawa isn't all that small of an airport. 4.6M pax.

Yes it is...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...senger_traffic
Even YYZ at only 30M is small compared to big US airports.