Is Global Entry worthwhile?
Jun 22, 2010 | 8:52 am
#1066
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Did you do the appointment at SFO? I didn't like my interview either, basically for similar reasons.
I'm seeing:
As well as a Conditional Approval Notification at the top.
Is this right? I was told by the CBP officer to wait for an email re: status change, but received no such email.
Thanks.
I'm seeing:
Code:
:: Program Membership(s) :: Program Membership No. Status Renewal Global Entry xxxxxxxxxx Approved xxxx-xx-xx
Is this right? I was told by the CBP officer to wait for an email re: status change, but received no such email.
Thanks.
Jun 22, 2010 | 11:52 am
#1067
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat & 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 8,702
I have to say that's a bit perverse. GE is designed specifically for people with extensive foreign travel (although not exclusively). That really shouldn't create a major hangup (although apparently it does).
Jun 22, 2010 | 12:07 pm
#1068
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: AVL
Programs: AA EXP, UA LT Plat, Mar LTT
Posts: 18,147
The officer was courteous, friendly, thourough and quick. I was actually suprised, as I had forgotten a few visits on my application and wondered if that'd be a problem.BTW: despite all the bad things one can say about TSA, one of them is NOT that they are running Global Entry badly, b/c they have nothing to do with it!!
Dave
Jun 22, 2010 | 3:21 pm
#1070
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
Posts: 12,947
Jun 22, 2010 | 4:40 pm
#1071
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SQL
Programs: SPG Platinum; Hyatt Platinum; UA 1K
Posts: 3,170
I had a question about GE (and Nexus for that matter):
I always am brutally honest with my customs declarations, and a lot of the times I will exceed my exemption, by a small amount. In general I am not charged any duty - my understanding is that for small overages CBP realizes the cost to process the paperwork exceeds the two bucks or whatever they would collect.
If I use GE/Nexus will the kiosk just calculate the extra duty and force me to pay it (machines tend to have a stricter interpretation of the rules)?
Honestly its not even the money that concerns me, but if I will lose as much time paying duty as I save by skipping the line....
I always am brutally honest with my customs declarations, and a lot of the times I will exceed my exemption, by a small amount. In general I am not charged any duty - my understanding is that for small overages CBP realizes the cost to process the paperwork exceeds the two bucks or whatever they would collect.
If I use GE/Nexus will the kiosk just calculate the extra duty and force me to pay it (machines tend to have a stricter interpretation of the rules)?
Honestly its not even the money that concerns me, but if I will lose as much time paying duty as I save by skipping the line....
Jun 22, 2010 | 9:13 pm
#1072
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,436
I had a question about GE (and Nexus for that matter):
I always am brutally honest with my customs declarations, and a lot of the times I will exceed my exemption, by a small amount. In general I am not charged any duty - my understanding is that for small overages CBP realizes the cost to process the paperwork exceeds the two bucks or whatever they would collect.
If I use GE/Nexus will the kiosk just calculate the extra duty and force me to pay it (machines tend to have a stricter interpretation of the rules)?
Honestly its not even the money that concerns me, but if I will lose as much time paying duty as I save by skipping the line....
I always am brutally honest with my customs declarations, and a lot of the times I will exceed my exemption, by a small amount. In general I am not charged any duty - my understanding is that for small overages CBP realizes the cost to process the paperwork exceeds the two bucks or whatever they would collect.
If I use GE/Nexus will the kiosk just calculate the extra duty and force me to pay it (machines tend to have a stricter interpretation of the rules)?
Honestly its not even the money that concerns me, but if I will lose as much time paying duty as I save by skipping the line....
Jun 24, 2010 | 5:40 am
#1073
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Inland Empire!
Programs: NW Plat (formerly), UA 1K, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,917
I had my GE interview last Saturday at JFK. I was told by the CBP agent that you are supposed to go directly to the front of the line for customs if there is no GE line.
You are permitted to cut ahead of non-GE folks. I said to her that is IF you can get to the front of the line. Last trip the line was not really a line and basically filled the passageway.
You are permitted to cut ahead of non-GE folks. I said to her that is IF you can get to the front of the line. Last trip the line was not really a line and basically filled the passageway.
Jun 24, 2010 | 3:33 pm
#1074
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 11,049
I had my GE interview last Saturday at JFK. I was told by the CBP agent that you are supposed to go directly to the front of the line for customs if there is no GE line.
You are permitted to cut ahead of non-GE folks. I said to her that is IF you can get to the front of the line. Last trip the line was not really a line and basically filled the passageway.
You are permitted to cut ahead of non-GE folks. I said to her that is IF you can get to the front of the line. Last trip the line was not really a line and basically filled the passageway.
Supposedly, that's what the little "CBP" sticker on your passport is for. Just wave it to the agents who direct people to the appropriate lines, and they should let you go to the front.
Jun 25, 2010 | 11:46 pm
#1075
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,648
Arrived from NRT today at LAX TBIT, cleared GE entry and picked up my bag within 10 minutes. But the queues for for customs clearance each had at least 100 pax since we arrived just after several other Asia flights.
I got the attention of a CBP person who then opened up a rope section to let me through. It may even be possible that I was out on the street before the last PAX got off the plane, much less through passport control.
Global Entry ^^^^^
TMK, Canadian ports of entry to/from USA all use Nexus, not GE.
I got the attention of a CBP person who then opened up a rope section to let me through. It may even be possible that I was out on the street before the last PAX got off the plane, much less through passport control.
Global Entry ^^^^^
TMK, Canadian ports of entry to/from USA all use Nexus, not GE.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Jun 26, 2010 at 4:28 pm Reason: merge consecutive posts
Jun 27, 2010 | 7:20 am
#1076
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: UA1K,HH-D,SPG-G,Swissotel
Posts: 34
Well like you I decided to move ahead with an application; filled out the online app the evening of the 6/22, got the approval on 6/24 and set my interview for 6/29 here at IAH (good timing my wife is returning from Italy on a DL connection from ATL that night so killing two birds with one stone). I really have a ton of travel over the past 5 years; in fact had to get a new passport with 2 years remaining on my previous one due to it being full;after two page refills the passport agency wouldn't add any more. We'll see how it goes.
Jun 27, 2010 | 1:20 pm
#1077
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,784
Well like you I decided to move ahead with an application; filled out the online app the evening of the 6/22, got the approval on 6/24 and set my interview for 6/29 here at IAH (good timing my wife is returning from Italy on a DL connection from ATL that night so killing two birds with one stone). I really have a ton of travel over the past 5 years; in fact had to get a new passport with 2 years remaining on my previous one due to it being full;after two page refills the passport agency wouldn't add any more. We'll see how it goes.
Jun 27, 2010 | 10:48 pm
#1078
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: UA 1K 3 Million/ex-many year GS, AA PLT/2 Mil, AS MVPG, HH Dia, Starwood Life Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,401
Well I got to use my GE for the first time at IAD yesterday morning inbound from Dubai. Worked like a charm and I must have set a personal record for time from plane to in terminal ready for connection. With carry on only it was less than 5 minutes. Of course, the IAD UA mid-field customs is a big part of that but still really liked the GE deal.
Jun 28, 2010 | 1:24 pm
#1079
Join Date: May 2003
Location: RDU, NC, USA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton something
Posts: 856
One data point, and one question... Data point: I applied online on June 4, got the conditional approval notification today (June 28) so that's just more than a 3wk turnaround. I travel intl maybe 6-10x per year if that matters.
Question: is the interview the final step before you can use the system? Specifically: if I schedule the interview for the outbound leg of a two-day trip to europe, will I be able to use the system on my return? Or are there more steps after the interview that I need to be aware of?
Question: is the interview the final step before you can use the system? Specifically: if I schedule the interview for the outbound leg of a two-day trip to europe, will I be able to use the system on my return? Or are there more steps after the interview that I need to be aware of?
Jun 28, 2010 | 1:25 pm
#1080
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
Posts: 12,947
One data point, and one question... Data point: I applied online on June 4, got the conditional approval notification today (June 28) so that's just more than a 3wk turnaround. I travel intl maybe 6-10x per year if that matters.
Question: is the interview the final step before you can use the system? Specifically: if I schedule the interview for the outbound leg of a two-day trip to europe, will I be able to use the system on my return? Or are there more steps after the interview that I need to be aware of?
Question: is the interview the final step before you can use the system? Specifically: if I schedule the interview for the outbound leg of a two-day trip to europe, will I be able to use the system on my return? Or are there more steps after the interview that I need to be aware of?