I have seen time it was worth it and some when it was not.

Myself taking a special trip to Chicago, and spending the day, that is a lot of time and money wasted. I'll take my chances.

It was a business decisions, nothing personal.

I got GE shortly after it started and as soon as Pre Check started, I've had Pre Check on hundreds of domestic flts on various airlines and recently on an international flt. I'm still batting 100%. Some posters have reported that getting it thru an airline is less than 100% certain.

Cost me not far off $800 as a Brit to get it what with the day trip from gcm- mia (lst minute fare = $500), police clearance courier charges etc. During the processing time my travel suddenly dried up so once i got it back in June i think i have used it three times. Was it worth it? yup as in two of those occasions i would have missed connecting flights at MIA. Even if i only use it once or twice a year, i am very glad i had it (esp for MIA). I fly on my BA number so no pre-check, no worries, normal lines often seem quicker than pre-check now, and since MIA is my usual point of entry, the connections hall doesn't have it (nor any kind of priority access from my last trip through there, probably changed again as is usual for MIA).

I do wonder with these new machines being rolled out if GE will become irrelevant for most. I see comments on here that non-US/Canadians may be able to use these new processing machines in a year or so you now see in pride of place at MIA and other major airports (with GE shunted outside the immigration hall as is well documented on here at MIA, which actually does make sense). This may already be discussed in great length elsewhere of course, i only scanned the topics in this forum...

I hear you, but @$20/year it is pretty cheap insurance to ensure that you will never wait in a 1-hour line when your plane arrives just after two 747s.

The UA/AA/DL facility @LAX has got to be the absolute worst location. Only 3 kiosks and a line of seasoned travelers which almost took more time than waiting for a human. I don't mind having to flash my card at the poor CBP agent who handles the crew line, but I was annoyed with the second agent at the customs exit line who decided to interrogate me about my short trip to the UK (as opposed to Russia, Romania, Nigeria, Thailand or any of the other "higher risk" locations that have never drawn so much as a glance). I understand the need for random checks but no need to prolong the obvious. It was tempting to tell him that he should feel free to go thru my dirty laundry to his heart's content but I bit my tongue.

Having mostly excellent experiences @ SFO, DEN, IAH, IAD I will now avoid be avoiding inbound connections @LAX.

Is GE worth it just to get PreCheck TSA access? I only fly about 6 times a year, and usually only 1-2 times are international. But it's only $15 more than pre check.

I went through Newark Term C Sunday, something I hadn't done in some time (hopefully never again either LOL) and it seems they added more kiosks ~9 total it seemed and at least 3 on the end were of a "newer" or modified type compared to the "old standard" ones they had down the row. I could not see much difference and actually used the newer type.

As an aside at the EWR baggage exit they did not check passports just the receipt. Three weeks before at IAH, where I often re-enter, all 15 kiosks were of the older original style.

I fly international as well only a few times a year and I personally think just the benefits of Global Entry itself for Customs is worth the price plus you (usually) get the bonus of PreCheck.

Best hundred bucks I've ever spent.

Is it 100 bucks for a lifetime membership?

Also, how useful is PreCheck? I'd heard sometimes the lines are longer than normal lines. Do they make you take off your belt, take out laptop, etc in pre check?

Also, how long does it take for them to evaluate an application and tell you to schedule an interview? I don't live near an enrollment center, but am spending the summer in SF so I figured I could stop SFO on the BART one weekend and do the interview.

It's $100 for a 5 year membership, which you can renew (TSA Precheck alone is $85 with their new program; so if you're going to get it, you might as well get Global Entry for the extra $15 to get expedited arrival back into the U.S. from abroad too...this has all ready saved me hours).

I find PreCheck useful, although the lines are getting longer because airlines are now allowed to add their most loyal Frequent Fliers without the interview and known traveler number. In full Precheck lines: belts, shoes, and a light jacket may remain on you plus liquids and laptops can remain in your bags. You also will not go through a body scanner with Precheck. Yes, it is somewhat random so you are never guaranteed Precheck for each flight at airports where it is offered (and in a few cases, the Precheck line is only open for a few hours), but it appears on here that you are much more likely to get it if you have Global Entry. Precheck has been expanding to more airports lately, so it is only going to grow.

After applying online, it takes about three days to a week (although it took me several weeks to get a conditional approval response). Appointments at an enrollment centers totally depend on the location and availability. For Philly, it was completely booked with zero spots open for over six months on the schedule when I was given conditional approval but a lot of slots were open in San Antonio (where I also spend a lot of my time) so I just got it there the day after I arrived back in San Antonio one trip.

One tip is even after you schedule your interview, keep checking regularly online for cancellations because spots will open up and you should be able to get in sooner if your scheduled appointment is much later. "Walk-ins" are sometimes accepted in certain locations and are denied in others. It depends on the office and officers who are working that day. You can search this thread to find out more about the SFO enrollment center.

Some news tidbits posted on the IAH website about GE:

http://www.fly2houston.com/0/3921530/0/83280D83283/

IAH was tops in enrollment a couple of years ago (makes sense being one of the first three airports for GE) but is still in the top 3.

Curious as to what the other top two are. Any guesses? IAD and JFK? MIA and LAX?

Still worth it but this exact same thing happened to me, also at ORD. 30 seconds of questions to everyone in the GE line, except about one minute of questions to one guy - he looked a little different than the rest of us. Kiosk to baggage claim used to be one minute, last time it was 10 minutes because of the chit chat with each GE traveler.

Yes, still annoyed by this last Friday as well. My colleague actually got through quicker without GE and using the "regular" Kiosks next to GE. They officer at the "regular" kiosks didn't ask anyone anything, everyone in GE got questioned. Just absurd.

Is Global Entry worthwhile?
 

Is GE worthwhile for an extended family traveling together from BWI to SAN HNL NRT GUM MNL GUM BWI? I am going with elderly parents, sisters, and children ranging from 15 to 18. Most only travel two times a year but one of the trips will be this big one. I have my interview tomorrow for GE but wondering if I should get the rest of the group GE.