Is Global Entry worthwhile?
#1336
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in PARIS, FRANCE!
Posts: 61,946
I was walking away when she was complaining about it to her fellow crewmembers and it was six in the morning. My priority was getting home for a nap before work today!

I'm usually a helpful, friendly fellow, but I guess not at 6am after an 11-hour flight.
#1338



Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles Area/South of France
Programs: UA Platinum Million Miler , Hertz #1 Gold Five Star, Sixt Platinum and various hotel programs
Posts: 89
Conditional Approval Time
Guess she's less suspicious than me!
#1339
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 446
I just applied on Sunday and was conditionally approved today (4 days). I thought it would take a lot longer as I had a ton of entries in the "countries visited" field.
#1341


Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: 30 West
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K, Ex-DL Plat, SPG Plat, IC Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 266
I took 9 days for my application to go from pending to conditional approval. Maybe it took that long because I applied on Friday afternoon.
3 days later I was passing though JFK and decided to pop over to terminal 4 to see if I could get an impromptu interview. I did and their appointment book was wide open. The process only took about 20 mins to complete the interview/demo.
Now I am looking forward to skipping the long immigration lines at ATL, IAD and ORD.
3 days later I was passing though JFK and decided to pop over to terminal 4 to see if I could get an impromptu interview. I did and their appointment book was wide open. The process only took about 20 mins to complete the interview/demo.
Now I am looking forward to skipping the long immigration lines at ATL, IAD and ORD.
#1342


Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 351
I used Global Entry for the first time on Sunday evening at EWR.
It was absolutely fantastic.
There wasn't much of a line at immigration to begin with, but it was really still nice to speed through immigration and customs and be on my way.
Applying and getting approved was quick and straightforward, as was using the system.
What a great program!
It was absolutely fantastic.
There wasn't much of a line at immigration to begin with, but it was really still nice to speed through immigration and customs and be on my way.
Applying and getting approved was quick and straightforward, as was using the system.
What a great program!
#1344
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
One week ago I arrived mid-morning at LAX--TBIT. Maneuvered through a queue of astonished foreign crew members to get through to the GE kiosks. Through in 2 minutes. ^ Very busy immigration queues even for US citizens so saved about 20-30 minutes there. Waited for bag about 15 minutes then it got really fun for Customs. Every line open with CBP officer, but I kid you not, there must have been about 200-300 people in each of 3-4 lines. Snaking everywhere. Complete nightmare. I pulled my bag over to the far left where the GE line was, only to find access completely blocked by a very long solid line. Fortunately, a CBP roving officer popped through it and I asked her "Isn't the Global Entry line around here?" She said "Hey just come through here (parting the assembled queue like the Red Sea) and got me to the outside near the exit, sending me up to an officer just standing near the front, who checked passport and my (non-X'd) receipt, then out of there pronto. ^^ Saved me at least an hour at the Customs queues--I've never seen queues that long at LAX before, nor at any other airport, even JFK.
Of course, I could feel the eyes of hundreds of wrathful waiting people on my back, trying to figure out why I got "special" privileges.
Of course, I could feel the eyes of hundreds of wrathful waiting people on my back, trying to figure out why I got "special" privileges.
#1346
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
#1347
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Alaska Airlines, BMI Gold, United 1K
Posts: 112
#1349
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 12
Exactly why I am applying for GE. Every time I arrive there it is a madhouse. Sometime you can't tell where the lines start and stop, as described in the post above.
#1350
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 48,984
I need to see you CBP sticker (after I cleared kiosk!)
I already had NEXUS when I applied for GE. The 'interview' was a formality and they did not give me a sticker.
I have used GE numerous times without a hitch. However, a couple trips ago I was in ATL at the right time, so I stopped by and got the sticker because I had read that I needed it if the kiosks were ever down.
So yesterday I land in ORD. Use the kiosk, clear immigration. No checked luggage, so I sail right through to the customs line. I hand the clerk my passport and card. He looks at my passport and says "I don't see your CBP sticker."
I finally put my passport in a clear plastic holder because it was getting covered with baggage claim tickets and those sticky little 'cleared' security stickers that leave a sticky residue behind when you remove them. Unfortunately, immigration at ATL put the CBP sticker on the passport itself and it was obscured by the security stickers on the plastic holder.
The point is, I had already gotten my ticket and cleared immigration. I wasn't even in an expedited GE customs line I've seen at some airports. But he wasn't going to let me pass until I produced the CBP sticker. I guess if I hadn't had it, I would have had to fill out the I-94.
With thought processes like these, this guy should be working for TSA, not Customs.
I have used GE numerous times without a hitch. However, a couple trips ago I was in ATL at the right time, so I stopped by and got the sticker because I had read that I needed it if the kiosks were ever down.
So yesterday I land in ORD. Use the kiosk, clear immigration. No checked luggage, so I sail right through to the customs line. I hand the clerk my passport and card. He looks at my passport and says "I don't see your CBP sticker."
I finally put my passport in a clear plastic holder because it was getting covered with baggage claim tickets and those sticky little 'cleared' security stickers that leave a sticky residue behind when you remove them. Unfortunately, immigration at ATL put the CBP sticker on the passport itself and it was obscured by the security stickers on the plastic holder.
The point is, I had already gotten my ticket and cleared immigration. I wasn't even in an expedited GE customs line I've seen at some airports. But he wasn't going to let me pass until I produced the CBP sticker. I guess if I hadn't had it, I would have had to fill out the I-94.
With thought processes like these, this guy should be working for TSA, not Customs.

