Is Global Entry worthwhile?
Mar 18, 2010 | 8:11 am
#841
Join Date: May 2009
Location: ATL
Posts: 516
Mar 20, 2010 | 6:45 am
#843
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Champaign (CMI)
Programs: AA ExecPlat
Posts: 92
Update: First time GE success at ORD and a sticker check
Hi Collective Wisdom:
A quick follow up: Did GE at ORD last night after landing from FRA. Bing, bang, boom: no glitches at all! Did feel a little rushed by the timers on the screen and was a bit nervous about doing it right but overall very good. The CBP agent joked with me after I got my "good to go" receipt (I think he saw me smiling) with a friendly "Pretty cool, isn't it?"
.
Got lucky with my bags as mine was 4th one out (waited about 1 minute). Went to final Customs check. Here, the agent insisted on seeing my Green Card *WITH* the sticker. As reported below, I did have the sticker; however, if not for the glitches report below below with regard to my NEXUS to GE "upgrade", I am not certain what would have happened next using a "sticker-free" Green Card? Any thoughts?
So, overall, VERY pleased with the experience. The walk from the gate to the Customs Hall was 3 times longer than clearing and re-checking. Had time for a ciggy (pure bliss) before heading off to Terminal 3!
Cheers and safe travels all,
DocD
PS Doing YUL and back last weekend in March. Will be first time for my NEXUS. Will report if anyone is interested.
A quick follow up: Did GE at ORD last night after landing from FRA. Bing, bang, boom: no glitches at all! Did feel a little rushed by the timers on the screen and was a bit nervous about doing it right but overall very good. The CBP agent joked with me after I got my "good to go" receipt (I think he saw me smiling) with a friendly "Pretty cool, isn't it?"
.
Got lucky with my bags as mine was 4th one out (waited about 1 minute). Went to final Customs check. Here, the agent insisted on seeing my Green Card *WITH* the sticker. As reported below, I did have the sticker; however, if not for the glitches report below below with regard to my NEXUS to GE "upgrade", I am not certain what would have happened next using a "sticker-free" Green Card? Any thoughts?
So, overall, VERY pleased with the experience. The walk from the gate to the Customs Hall was 3 times longer than clearing and re-checking. Had time for a ciggy (pure bliss) before heading off to Terminal 3!
Cheers and safe travels all,
DocD
PS Doing YUL and back last weekend in March. Will be first time for my NEXUS. Will report if anyone is interested.
Hi Collective Wisdom:
On Saturday, 20 February, 2010, NRT-ORD about 4:30PM. Tried out GE for the first time using my greencard. System told me that I was not a GE member. CBP agent was right there and did my entry by "hand" (I had filled out my blue card on the plane as a back up). Had some time to kill so I went to the CBP office in T5 after rechecking my bags. Very nice officer on duty. He told me that the GE folks do not work on Saturdays but he was willing to see what he could do. He handed my greencard and Canadian passport over to another nice officer. I had printouts of both my NEXUS and GE acceptance letters and my NEXUS card with me but they didn't want/need to deal with them. Waited about ten minutes and the second officer came back with my greencard (with a spiffy little sticker attached) and my passport.
Turns out that during my NEXUS YYZ interview (before I applied via GOES for my GE), that the YYZ CBP officer did not "register" my greencard into the system. Got my NEXUS card in early Jan and then did the online "upgrade" to GE with almost instant acceptance. Nice ORD officer said she had registered my greencard and that I should be good to go in the future.
Have a FRA trip in early March. Will report back on how the "fixed" greencard works when I get back.
Haven't used my NEXUS yet (trip to YUL in March). Will also report if things break again after my YUL trip.
Cheers and safe travels all,
DocD
On Saturday, 20 February, 2010, NRT-ORD about 4:30PM. Tried out GE for the first time using my greencard. System told me that I was not a GE member. CBP agent was right there and did my entry by "hand" (I had filled out my blue card on the plane as a back up). Had some time to kill so I went to the CBP office in T5 after rechecking my bags. Very nice officer on duty. He told me that the GE folks do not work on Saturdays but he was willing to see what he could do. He handed my greencard and Canadian passport over to another nice officer. I had printouts of both my NEXUS and GE acceptance letters and my NEXUS card with me but they didn't want/need to deal with them. Waited about ten minutes and the second officer came back with my greencard (with a spiffy little sticker attached) and my passport.
Turns out that during my NEXUS YYZ interview (before I applied via GOES for my GE), that the YYZ CBP officer did not "register" my greencard into the system. Got my NEXUS card in early Jan and then did the online "upgrade" to GE with almost instant acceptance. Nice ORD officer said she had registered my greencard and that I should be good to go in the future.
Have a FRA trip in early March. Will report back on how the "fixed" greencard works when I get back.
Haven't used my NEXUS yet (trip to YUL in March). Will also report if things break again after my YUL trip.
Cheers and safe travels all,
DocD
Mar 21, 2010 | 11:16 am
#844
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 22,652
I just had my first experience with Global Entry in IAD. I have to admit, it was pretty cool to not worry about standing in line for 30minutes or try and fill-out the Customs Declaration form...
After a very long walk from our gate, I went to the escalator and saw the signs for transfers. As I pulled over to take my passport out of the cover it was in, I saw the line for GE and a sign with info about the program. I walked through the line, and pushed aside the gate blocking the GE area. I stuck my passport in the machine, smiled for the camera
, gave my fingerprints, and answered the questions. After I confirmed my flight info, it printed the exit receipt, "X" free! After that, I rechecked my bag, and noticed a line for GE, separate from the regular passport control exit line. I went to the line and the CBP officer said "Global Entry?", I told him yes, and he held up the regular line, while processing me. A very good first experience with GE!
After a very long walk from our gate, I went to the escalator and saw the signs for transfers. As I pulled over to take my passport out of the cover it was in, I saw the line for GE and a sign with info about the program. I walked through the line, and pushed aside the gate blocking the GE area. I stuck my passport in the machine, smiled for the camera
, gave my fingerprints, and answered the questions. After I confirmed my flight info, it printed the exit receipt, "X" free! After that, I rechecked my bag, and noticed a line for GE, separate from the regular passport control exit line. I went to the line and the CBP officer said "Global Entry?", I told him yes, and he held up the regular line, while processing me. A very good first experience with GE!
Mar 22, 2010 | 8:23 am
#845
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 267
I have now used it many times. Where there are kiosks, it has worked 75% of the times; the rest of the times - perhaps because fingers sweaty - I got "not accepted" card and went to front of the line. At the few areas where they have not had the kiosks, I went to the front of line (via diplomatic lane) and gave the person the passport and went through. This is what the person in charge of Global Intry in NYC said to do.
Mar 22, 2010 | 9:26 am
#846
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: AA Advantage (Platinum)
Posts: 143
So after my successful application into GE, I paid for my younger brother's application fee and helped him submit it. We submitted the application on 2/28, and he leaves for Japan on 3/29, coming back in August with a super tight connection at SFO (I had assumed it would not be a problem getting him approved before his 3/29 departure).
Has anyone had any experience trying to get this expedited (I don't want him to not be able to interview because he's in Japan for 6 months, or to miss his flight home because he is stuck in Customs in SFO). Or should I just hope and pray his conditional approval comes through before Friday?
Has anyone had any experience trying to get this expedited (I don't want him to not be able to interview because he's in Japan for 6 months, or to miss his flight home because he is stuck in Customs in SFO). Or should I just hope and pray his conditional approval comes through before Friday?
Mar 25, 2010 | 12:21 am
#847
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily(CTA)/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston(IAH)/Red Stick, La.(BTR)/airborne in-between
Programs: United Plat (1MM), AA ExecPlat, ITA/AZ Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG gold
Posts: 3,875
Used again yesterday at IAH around 7:40 PM. I presume because it was so late (I was arriving from FRA) the normal "US" side was closed and everyone went to the otherside where there were hardly any lines anyway. I was nearly first out of the plane (as i was in business class on CO) and didn't know there were kiosks on that side of CBP. But there were plenty of signs and arrows. On that side at IAH the kiosks are in the middle. The lines directly to them were roped off, so I actually undid a rope barrier clip, walked around and snapped it back in place, which got some funny looks from pax. I walked straight up to the kiosk, and it scanned everything in less than 20 seconds (fastest yet for me and it didn't ask my flight). I answered yes to the food question (also for the first time) and got the X. I proceeded to the booth just next to the kiosk. THe agent saw my receipt and passport and waived me right over. I said I answered yes to the food questions, and he asked what kind I had. We talked about it for about 30 seconds, and he stamped the back of the receipt and I was good to go. Bag on the first off, and I was out the door and at my car from jetway to car in about 10 minutes, and that was due to the longer walk from gate E-7 and a bathroom break. Great program as always.
Ciao,
FH
Ciao,
FH
Mar 25, 2010 | 12:23 am
#848
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 22,652
Used again yesterday at IAH around 7:40 PM. I presume because it was so late (I was arriving from FRA) the normal "US" side was closed and everyone went to the otherside where there were hardly any lines anyway. I was nearly first out of the plane (as i was in business class on CO) and didn't know there were kiosks on that side of CBP. But there were plenty of signs and arrows. On that side at IAH the kiosks are in the middle. The lines directly to them were roped off, so I actually undid a rope barrier clip, walked around and snapped it back in place, which got some funny looks from pax. I walked straight up to the kiosk, and it scanned everything in less than 20 seconds (fastest yet for me and it didn't ask my flight). I answered yes to the food question (also for the first time) and got the X. I proceeded to the booth just next to the kiosk. THe agent saw my receipt and passport and waived me right over. I said I answered yes to the food questions, and he asked what kind I had. We talked about it for about 30 seconds, and he stamped the back of the receipt and I was good to go. Bag on the first off, and I was out the door and at my car from jetway to car in about 10 minutes, and that was due to the longer walk from gate E-7 and a bathroom break. Great program as always.
Ciao,
FH
Ciao,
FH
Thanks, CBP^^^
Mar 25, 2010 | 12:29 am
#849
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily(CTA)/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston(IAH)/Red Stick, La.(BTR)/airborne in-between
Programs: United Plat (1MM), AA ExecPlat, ITA/AZ Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG gold
Posts: 3,875
I really wish there would be some way to add children to the program. I don't know if any int'l trafficking rules apply to the CBP checks for infants/children but allowing kids to use it when traveling with both parents at least who are GE would be nice for me!
Ciao,
FH
Mar 25, 2010 | 12:47 pm
#850
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: AA: Former CK (LT PLT), MB: PE (LT Gold)
Posts: 503
The prior post has me thinking ...
Has anyone tried this scenario:
- Self: GE
- Spouse: GE
- Child: Nada
=> Go to the head of the line showing the sticker and get processed manually.
I guess the same deal for this one as well:
- Self: GE
- Spouse: Nada
- Child: Nada
I am thinking not but checking if anyone ever attempted.
Note: I have followed this thread quite a bit but not religiously. If it is already posted in the previous 839 posts ... my most sincere apologies.
Has anyone tried this scenario:
- Self: GE
- Spouse: GE
- Child: Nada
=> Go to the head of the line showing the sticker and get processed manually.
I guess the same deal for this one as well:
- Self: GE
- Spouse: Nada
- Child: Nada
I am thinking not but checking if anyone ever attempted.
Note: I have followed this thread quite a bit but not religiously. If it is already posted in the previous 839 posts ... my most sincere apologies.
Mar 25, 2010 | 6:35 pm
#851
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: USA
Programs: AA Plat, Former DL PM, current level: tin
Posts: 305
Has anyone run into problems with their passport not being read? I have a relatively new passport (just over 1 year old) and the past two times I've tried to use GE (at LAX and IAH) the machine would not pick up my passport at all. I sat there sliding it around, wiggling it, etc and the GE machine did nothing. I saw another pax use the same machine and it appeared to work...I can't pick out any damage to my passport and its worked in the past.
Any suggestions? I'm thinking that I might swing by a GE office next time I'm in an airport with an office and see if they can test it out.
Any suggestions? I'm thinking that I might swing by a GE office next time I'm in an airport with an office and see if they can test it out.
Mar 25, 2010 | 7:43 pm
#852
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
When I did the GE interview, they did a test run of my passport through a GE machine, and it showed my info. Did you do a test run with your pp at your interview? By any chance are placing your pp in upside down? [When I slide my pp to print a boarding card on an AA terminal, the info stripe line is face down, for GE it is face up.
Mar 25, 2010 | 8:01 pm
#853
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 11,049
Has anyone run into problems with their passport not being read? I have a relatively new passport (just over 1 year old) and the past two times I've tried to use GE (at LAX and IAH) the machine would not pick up my passport at all. I sat there sliding it around, wiggling it, etc and the GE machine did nothing. I saw another pax use the same machine and it appeared to work...I can't pick out any damage to my passport and its worked in the past.
Any suggestions? I'm thinking that I might swing by a GE office next time I'm in an airport with an office and see if they can test it out.
Any suggestions? I'm thinking that I might swing by a GE office next time I'm in an airport with an office and see if they can test it out.
I've never had a problem with the machine reading my passport.
Since you have the latest kind of passport, with the ID page somewhere in the body of the passport instead of on the inside cover, here's a stupid question: are you inserting the correct page?
Mar 25, 2010 | 9:09 pm
#854
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: USA
Programs: AA Plat, Former DL PM, current level: tin
Posts: 305
lol Both legitimate questions! I have had success in the past, it was just the two most recent times. These two times a bored looking CBP agent was standing nearby and tried to get the machine to read my passport also...no success!
Thinking back on the events maybe I was moving the passport around too much? Although I swear I did place it in the machine and let it sit there for a few seconds before moving it.
I forgot that they did an actual test run at the GE office after the interview...I'll just have to arrange for some extra time at a GE airport soon to try it out!
Thinking back on the events maybe I was moving the passport around too much? Although I swear I did place it in the machine and let it sit there for a few seconds before moving it.
I forgot that they did an actual test run at the GE office after the interview...I'll just have to arrange for some extra time at a GE airport soon to try it out!
Mar 27, 2010 | 6:57 pm
#855
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: TOL
Programs: CO
Posts: 290
My sticker at ORD allowed me to get into the blocked off area that has the GE machines. It was blocked off because as I enter a Pre-Cleared flight from I think Dublin or Shannon landed.
With my one experience so far was good. I did have trouble with the machine reading my passport but I got it to work.
Ohhh and to add to the list of airports that don't have GE. MDW didn't which would have been nice since when my flight on Porter landed only one Officer was in their booth to process passengers. Which with me being in the middle of the of the group off passengers it took about 20 minutes to be processed. And I have an off topic question about that. After I was processed the passport control officer kept my form and there were no officers at the exit or anywhere else past passport control. Is that normal for smaller stations?
With my one experience so far was good. I did have trouble with the machine reading my passport but I got it to work.
Ohhh and to add to the list of airports that don't have GE. MDW didn't which would have been nice since when my flight on Porter landed only one Officer was in their booth to process passengers. Which with me being in the middle of the of the group off passengers it took about 20 minutes to be processed. And I have an off topic question about that. After I was processed the passport control officer kept my form and there were no officers at the exit or anywhere else past passport control. Is that normal for smaller stations?