Is Global Entry worthwhile?
#3451
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: EWR
Programs: UA, AA, Hyatt Plat.
Posts: 314
If all goes well the conditional approval takes a few days and you may be able to get an interview slot in a matter of days from that, but you do have to get to a center. GE becomes effective immediately. Pre-Check requires you to provide the Known Traveler number to the airline and may require a refresh of existing reservations.
GE saved us some time at ORD recently when an unplanned bunching of international arrivals happened. The resulting slow baggage delay undid some of the gain though!
GE saved us some time at ORD recently when an unplanned bunching of international arrivals happened. The resulting slow baggage delay undid some of the gain though!
#3452
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,914
Went in for my "interview" yesterday - was there for 5 minutes, if that. Very happy with the process overall, couldn't have been easier. Approved and on my way home faster than expected! I was even 40 minutes early for my appointment and they took my right when I arrived.
#3453
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: EWR
Programs: UA, AA, Hyatt Plat.
Posts: 314
#3454
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pagus Bracbatensis, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Programs: DL SPlat, KLM Bump, Privium Plus, GOES
Posts: 2,065
Might be....not a US resident and today got:
ER: report to passport control
#3455
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,777
GE - customs
Could someone educate me on GE and customs (not immigration). The last few times I have gone through LAX and JFK immigration has sucked but customs has sucked even more so.
I travel internationally just enough that getting GE might be worth it if GE will also expedite customs. I am getting mixed info on what is does for one. Thanks.
I travel internationally just enough that getting GE might be worth it if GE will also expedite customs. I am getting mixed info on what is does for one. Thanks.
#3456
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
With GE you do Immigration & your customs declaration at the kiosk. You scan your passport, scan your fingerprints and confirm the flight you arrived on and then answer the customs declaration info. It's a list of "yes" or "no" questions. After completing that a receipt is printed out. You get your bags and head to the exit where you handover your receipt. If you get selected for secondary you'll have a large X printed on your receipt and the agent will question you and/or inspect your bags. On a trip back from Mexico with my family my parents didn't have GE yet but my Brother, Sister in Law and I did. I was back in my apartment in Manhattan (from EWR) before my parents were done with Immigration & Customs.
http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/video-ga...s-global-entry
Edit: Some airline programs & credit cards cover the cost of GE. Nexus is 50$ for a 5 year enrollment but you have to do the interview at a border location & have to be able to pass the Canadian requirements too (no DUI ect).
http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/video-ga...s-global-entry
Edit: Some airline programs & credit cards cover the cost of GE. Nexus is 50$ for a 5 year enrollment but you have to do the interview at a border location & have to be able to pass the Canadian requirements too (no DUI ect).
Last edited by Yoshi212; Apr 25, 2015 at 12:57 pm
#3457
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,777
Thanks … when you say exit, obviously that is the exit from customs. Is that the same exit that everyone else uses? Or is there usually a GE exit from customs? The last time I came through LAX there was a single exit from customs (that I saw). So having GE would not seemed to have helped.
#3458
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
It's typically the same exit but you don't wait in the line. There is usually a sign that says Global Entry Exit and the agents give GE recipients priority in my experiences.
I'd say my average time from plane door to airport exit is under 20 minutes. Without checked bags that time is drastically reduced.
I'd say my average time from plane door to airport exit is under 20 minutes. Without checked bags that time is drastically reduced.
#3459
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SEA, or BOS, or MUC, or other places (probably connecting). "Detroit, Michigan is in the Eastern time zone."
Programs: DL PM/1MM, AS 100K, NEXUS/GE, CLEAR, Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,201
#3460
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Cupertino, CA - AA:PLT 2MM; Marriott:Plt; Hilton:Slv
Posts: 561
#3462
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Could someone educate me on GE and customs (not immigration). The last few times I have gone through LAX and JFK immigration has sucked but customs has sucked even more so.
I travel internationally just enough that getting GE might be worth it if GE will also expedite customs. I am getting mixed info on what is does for one. Thanks.
I travel internationally just enough that getting GE might be worth it if GE will also expedite customs. I am getting mixed info on what is does for one. Thanks.
#3463
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,777
Thanks for the replies - it is the line skipping that option that I was mainly wondering about. Of course if I get GE so will the wife as it is one thing to walk past other line and another thing to leave the wife in the other line .
#3464
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,777
So now that I signed up I have some options with my interview. How long do they typically take. I want to schedule it on my way to the airport so need to leave time enough time for everything.
#3465
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,862
Now that you've made the decision I wouldn't repeat my reasoning as to why I went GE other than it was the best solution for me. As for the interview I can say it couldn't have gone quicker or smoother, taking all of about 10 minutes. With our extensive travel to Europe, mostly the Med, over the pass three years our list of visited countries was long and included many off and on hotspot non-EU countries. Never came up. The agent asked "You still live at the same address on your application?", "You still semi-retired/working for the Army?", and "Any questions about GE?". Hard to say that's typical but we are pretty "dull" folks without any previous arrests, DUIs, or run-ins with TSA or CBP so nothing in our backgrounds to raise any read flags.