Is Global Entry worthwhile?
#3166



Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat & 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 8,704
I was referring to the non-GE kiosks that CBP is rolling out for pre-processing non-GE travelers before they see an agent. Question was how these will expedite clearance when agents already take only 15-30 seconds for passengers with no issues.
#3168

Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: SAA, DL, BA, UA, IHG, SPG
Posts: 162
If that happens in the future, you can use the crew lane if it is nearby, or otherwise jump to the front of the nearest primary queue - GE provides you with head of line privileges in the event of a kiosk failure. If jumping to the head of a primary queue, it may help to hold up the back of your passport with your GE sticker, or hold up your GE card so that the officer knows that you have GE.
#3169
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1
Hello, just wanted to share a Global Entry report. I applied last year (Boston) took a few months, but got it. This time I wanted to get my 18 year son into the program. He had just received his passport in the mail. We applied online--(Big mistake--paid by e-check which adds 5 days) in early August. In about 10 days on 8/18 he was conditionally approved, 5 days after the e-check went through. I listed his employment as Student.
He has not ever moved so perhaps that made things easier. Perhaps the fact that dad is already approved made it go easy.
Anyway, as it turns out he was flying today with a 2 hour layover in IAH. I could see that IAH (the one INSIDER Terminal E) has tons of availability but they won't book less than 24 hours in advance.
I told him just to find the IAH office INSIDE the Terminal E sterile area. (It is near Ruby's Diner which is near the security checkpoint.) After a little confusion,
he didn't use the term walk-in and they slightly scolded him for not having an appnt, but they took him and now is (will soon be) officially approved. Total time 3 weeks max.
He has not ever moved so perhaps that made things easier. Perhaps the fact that dad is already approved made it go easy.
Anyway, as it turns out he was flying today with a 2 hour layover in IAH. I could see that IAH (the one INSIDER Terminal E) has tons of availability but they won't book less than 24 hours in advance.
I told him just to find the IAH office INSIDE the Terminal E sterile area. (It is near Ruby's Diner which is near the security checkpoint.) After a little confusion,
he didn't use the term walk-in and they slightly scolded him for not having an appnt, but they took him and now is (will soon be) officially approved. Total time 3 weeks max.
#3170




Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: Various
Posts: 6,558
FYI, there will be GE interviews at the Pittsburgh airport during Nov. 4-6 this year: http://www.pitairport.com/PIT_Will_B...w_Nov_4-6_2013
#3171
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 18,346
I arrived at IAD off LH 418 yesterday during what I hear is the busiest time at IAD. MCT from my flight to another international flight is set at close to 2 hours. Every one in F had GE so the LH rep walked us to the kiosks. Followed the instructions as usual, got my slip and walked past the mile long line of people trying to get to customs. Walked right through, made my way through the crowd in the arrivals area, to the main terminal and went through precheck lane and arrived at the gate for an earlier flight. Time to get from plane to gate of next flight under 30 min. 10 min of the 30 min was waiting for the moving lounge to fill up.
According to coments from other people this saved at least an hour or more. Not to mention by same day change to earlier flight due to the quick process saved me another 5 hour layover.
According to coments from other people this saved at least an hour or more. Not to mention by same day change to earlier flight due to the quick process saved me another 5 hour layover.
#3172



Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat & 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 8,704
#3173
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2
Here's a tip. I was conditionally approved and looked at appointments for the interview. At DFW it was out until the middle of October. Last Friday evening I checked and there were openings on Monday. So I was able to get in early. Houston and some of the smaller airports tend to have decent availability.
Check on Friday evenings, as I hear that's when they release appointments that have had to cancel.
Check on Friday evenings, as I hear that's when they release appointments that have had to cancel.
#3174
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AMEX Platinum, Global Entry, Priority Pass, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,594
#3175
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 53
It was quick for us. We just got our passports. Applied for GE on Friday, conditional approval on sat, appointment made for 2 months out. checked on Monday for earlier appointment and got one the next day. Both of us had approval by tuesday afternoon. Cards were received saturday. Total time, 8 days.
#3177


Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,781
applied for GE friday (8/30), conditionally approved the following labor day sunday (9/1) - shocked it got done in 48 hours in the middle of the holiday weekend.
my issue now is that the office in BOS doesn't have interviews available until mid-january. i guess i'll try to follow the lead of others and keep checking for cancellations.
my issue now is that the office in BOS doesn't have interviews available until mid-january. i guess i'll try to follow the lead of others and keep checking for cancellations.
#3178
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
applied for GE friday (8/30), conditionally approved the following labor day sunday (9/1) - shocked it got done in 48 hours in the middle of the holiday weekend.
my issue now is that the office in BOS doesn't have interviews available until mid-january. i guess i'll try to follow the lead of others and keep checking for cancellations.
my issue now is that the office in BOS doesn't have interviews available until mid-january. i guess i'll try to follow the lead of others and keep checking for cancellations.
#3179
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
YES, GE is worth it
I arrived around 1 pm today (9/8/13) at JFK T8 (AA). I got through the GE terminal step in about 2 minutes and headed with my GE slip to customs (I had only carry-on).
I've arrived on AA64 (zrh-jfk) often, and generally this is the only flight that has arrived at 1 pm--today it must have been on the tail end of other flights; the customs line(s) were huge* (and would have gotten larger once 64's luggage reached the carousels).
I walked right up to the first customs agent I saw (by-passing the lines) and was out within a few seconds.^ [It looked like there was a special lane (for use by GEer's
--which I took--but it was not marked in any special way, except for the words EXIT.]
*even before GE, the lines at JFK for customs (out of nearly 50 arrivals) have never had more than 5 people...either customs is understaffed or this was a fluke occurrence.
PS: Could I have used the crew lane instead?
I've arrived on AA64 (zrh-jfk) often, and generally this is the only flight that has arrived at 1 pm--today it must have been on the tail end of other flights; the customs line(s) were huge* (and would have gotten larger once 64's luggage reached the carousels).
I walked right up to the first customs agent I saw (by-passing the lines) and was out within a few seconds.^ [It looked like there was a special lane (for use by GEer's
--which I took--but it was not marked in any special way, except for the words EXIT.]*even before GE, the lines at JFK for customs (out of nearly 50 arrivals) have never had more than 5 people...either customs is understaffed or this was a fluke occurrence.
PS: Could I have used the crew lane instead?
Last edited by nrr; Sep 8, 2013 at 6:52 pm
#3180
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ICN / 평택
Programs: AA, DL Gold, UA Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 8,713
So I'm considering enrolling in either GE or NEXUS.
It looks like NEXUS is a little cheaper, although I don't travel to Canada often at all, so I don't really need it. I might travel to Canada more if I had NEXUS, as there are some places in Canada I'd like to visit. I don't have anything that would disqualify me for entry into Canada. Plus, having NEXUS does double as GE for US immigration purposes.
On the other hand, although the initial fee is a little more expensive for GE, I can probably schedule the interview with much greater ease since I live about 25 minutes from DEN. To go NEXUS, I'd have to plan a trip specifically into Canada for the interview.
So to sum it up, GE is a little more expensive but certainly more convenient. NEXUS offers more travel options, but is a bit of a pain in that it would require more of a dedicated trip just for the interview.
My next international flight isn't until January, so time isn't a huge issue yet. Are there any compelling reasons I haven't considered to choose one option over the other?
It looks like NEXUS is a little cheaper, although I don't travel to Canada often at all, so I don't really need it. I might travel to Canada more if I had NEXUS, as there are some places in Canada I'd like to visit. I don't have anything that would disqualify me for entry into Canada. Plus, having NEXUS does double as GE for US immigration purposes.
On the other hand, although the initial fee is a little more expensive for GE, I can probably schedule the interview with much greater ease since I live about 25 minutes from DEN. To go NEXUS, I'd have to plan a trip specifically into Canada for the interview.
So to sum it up, GE is a little more expensive but certainly more convenient. NEXUS offers more travel options, but is a bit of a pain in that it would require more of a dedicated trip just for the interview.
My next international flight isn't until January, so time isn't a huge issue yet. Are there any compelling reasons I haven't considered to choose one option over the other?


