06/2012 - Global entry

As i travel quite abit to and from work and out of the country i decided to give global entry a try. Now bear on mind I am live in Miami and some airports have not started the program yet. In my opinion it was well worth it, on domestic flights no more shoes and belts off ,quicker lines , way faster thru TSA check points. On international flights customs was a breeze . Went to the kiosk scan my passport ,quick print scan and i was headed to lugguge area , no lines. After luggage separate line gave card kiosk printed and was on my way to a cab. Only pain was after online questionaire , had to appear for interview that was just photo taken for ID card. For those of you that travel alot might be worth looking into......

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Originally Posted by captbartman

As i travel quite abit to and from work and out of the country i decided to give global entry a try. Now bear on mind I am live in Miami and some airports have not started the program yet. In my opinion it was well worth it, on domestic flights no more shoes and belts off ,quicker lines , way faster thru TSA check points. On international flights customs was a breeze . Went to the kiosk scan my passport ,quick print scan and i was headed to lugguge area , no lines. After luggage separate line gave card kiosk printed and was on my way to a cab. Only pain was after online questionaire , had to appear for interview that was just photo taken for ID card. For those of you that travel alot might be worth looking into......

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looked into it but with the costs etc you need to travel quite a bit to make it worth your while........
I would say for anyone that flies more than 3-4 times a year it would be well worth it.........

Global entry is worth the $100. You save over 45 minutes to an hour waiting on line

I just signed up for this tonight. I travel internationally about twice a year, but the real value is the TSA precheck, I travel a ton for work and if this can save time and hassle, I am with it. No more BS for me! $100 well spent I say.

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Originally Posted by captbartman

As i travel quite abit to and from work and out of the country i decided to give global entry a try. Now bear on mind I am live in Miami and some airports have not started the program yet. In my opinion it was well worth it, on domestic flights no more shoes and belts off ,quicker lines , way faster thru TSA check points. On international flights customs was a breeze . Went to the kiosk scan my passport ,quick print scan and i was headed to lugguge area , no lines. After luggage separate line gave card kiosk printed and was on my way to a cab. Only pain was after online questionaire , had to appear for interview that was just photo taken for ID card. For those of you that travel alot might be worth looking into......

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How long after you submitted your application did they contact you for interview?

I turned my app in 4 days ago..

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Originally Posted by dr1lvr

How long after you submitted your application did they contact you for interview?

I turned my app in 4 days ago..

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if i remember correctly , after i applied and paid it was within a couple weeks to set up pic and interview at airport .

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Originally Posted by captbartman

As i travel quite abit to and from work and out of the country i decided to give global entry a try. Now bear on mind I am live in Miami and some airports have not started the program yet. In my opinion it was well worth it, on domestic flights no more shoes and belts off ,quicker lines , way faster thru TSA check points. On international flights customs was a breeze . Went to the kiosk scan my passport ,quick print scan and i was headed to lugguge area , no lines. After luggage separate line gave card kiosk printed and was on my way to a cab. Only pain was after online questionaire , had to appear for interview that was just photo taken for ID card. For those of you that travel alot might be worth looking into......

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What concerns me about global entry is the background check. I am a US citizen, who has travelled to Cuba from Canada. I may go to Cuba again, from a third country.

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Originally Posted by dquick

What concerns me about global entry is the background check. I am a US citizen, who has travelled to Cuba from Canada. I may go to Cuba again, from a third country.

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yeah you might want to leave that one alone, could raise some flags, although if I recall, Cuba does not mark your passport and DHS, "should" not have a record of your travel, but then again you never know what kinds of intelligence sharing agreements are in place with Canada. I wouldn't tempt fate on that one.

I have had GE for a few months now. How do you use GE as a TSA-preclearance? Is there a separate line to enter security? I don't think I've seen it at JFK. I thought it was only for CBP when coming back into the US from abroad.

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Originally Posted by Orange

I have had GE for a few months now. How do you use GE as a TSA-preclearance? Is there a separate line to enter security? I don't think I've seen it at JFK. I thought it was only for CBP when coming back into the US from abroad.

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if you have global entry you already have pre clearance ( or they wouldn't have given you the ge card)

the custom and border patrol points of entry with global entry scanners (that have it) are usually off to the side of where the immigration lines start........just scan and go........wish i had it as i almost missed my washington to toronto flight last night when coming home from bkk:mad:.

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Originally Posted by Orange

I have had GE for a few months now. How do you use GE as a TSA-preclearance? Is there a separate line to enter security? I don't think I've seen it at JFK. I thought it was only for CBP when coming back into the US from abroad.

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go on the global entry website and you will find tsa checkpoints that are open for pre-clearance trusted travelers , also american airlines .com has a page when you log in with your frequent flyer # and password to list your trusted traveler # , i also think other airlines offer this. It will show up on your boarding pass on domestic flights and breeze you through TSA crap , different line , no shoes off , no laptops out of your bags etc .

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Originally Posted by captbartman

Global entry

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Me and my sick mind thought this thread was going to be about something else entirely.

If you are Platinum on United they pay for it.

Interview was a little funny. Thank god they were young guys.

GE-"SO?? You been to:
DR
Colombia
Thailand
Phillipines
Costa Rica
Brazil???

"These are all flagged countries!"

ME-"oh really?? Flagged for what?

GE-"dont worry, you dont fit the profile":corky:


The funny thing was the old fat dude getting interviewed next to me was asked:

GE-"So, you been to Thailand quite a few times?? Business or pleasure?
Fat Old Man-"I go for business!":rofl:


I can say it is worthless unless you have only carry on luggage
I always blow past everyone, but as I wait at the carousel, everyone I past shows up and we all leave at the same time.

when i went to Madrid I only had carryon and I walked past a hellish immigration line, did the kiosk and off I went.

But I personally think that they are less likely to search you when you have GE. It claims that is not the case, but the interviewer hinted to that.


TSA preclearance is not available with United at EWR yet. But I am on the list

Well it took me about 10 days from the time I turned in my application and paid to get my conditional approval letter. They offered me an appointment in December in at one location or Nov 6 at another. But from what I have heard you can get in faster but you have to just check every day for cancellations. Which is what I hope to do so I can have it for this trip. I will be cutting it close.

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Originally Posted by sacase

Well it took me about 10 days from the time I turned in my application and paid to get my conditional approval letter. They offered me an appointment in December in at one location or Nov 6 at another. But from what I have heard you can get in faster but you have to just check every day for cancellations. Which is what I hope to do so I can have it for this trip. I will be cutting it close.

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I though the same thing, just log back onto Global site, you can move dates and get a MUCH earlier date, like this coming week most llkely. I was about to take a two month date too, until guys on FT told me to look again.


by the way EWR DOES have TSA precheck now. Terminal C(United)

BUT, it only clears for domestic flights!!??WTF!!?? and not domestic legs, entire intiniary has to be domestic.

I had my appointment yesterday and my experience is probably going to be different that most. It sucked because I had to wait 2 hours AFTER my scheduled appointment time to be seen. But this is due to me going to a border checkpoint that also handles SENTRI stuff. I think if I would have gone to the airport it would have been much faster. However once I was seen it was fast, the guy asked me why I go to Mexico, I said I don't go often. Then he asked why I needed GE, I said I travel a lot. He asked what I do, I told him. He asked for my work ID, I gave it to him. He said you are approved and have a nice day. However other folks got grilled. Most of the questions were:

What countries have you been to in the last 5 years?
Why were you there?
Do you use drugs?
There were a few others but I forgot.

That is pretty much it, no stress or fuss. So with GE, I can now use TSA precheck, GE coming back into the US and SENTRI coming back from mexico! $100 well spent.

I'm going to get this once I hit 75,000 status on uniteds program. I believe they waive the fee for application in the top 2 tiers. It still sounds worth the 100 though, I'm starting to hate taking off my shoes, the laptop out of the bag and all that. If those steps can be skipped it seems like a good deal. Haven't looked into it yet but will definitely do that after reading this thread and a couple comments made in some others.

Great start up topic capt bartman

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Originally Posted by Dominican dave

I'm going to get this once I hit 75,000 status on uniteds program. I believe they waive the fee for application in the top 2 tiers. It still sounds worth the 100 though, I'm starting to hate taking off my shoes, the laptop out of the bag and all that. If those steps can be skipped it seems like a good deal. Haven't looked into it yet but will definitely do that after reading this thread and a couple comments made in some others.

Great start up topic capt bartman

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as far as shoes and laptops?? That is the TSA Precheck. You do not need to have GE to apply for Precheck. (but I heard it helps)

and it is super selective. It HAS to be a domestic flight only to even make the list.
Then you might get approved, you might not. They want you to just walk into the Pre Check line and scan your ticket. If you get three beeps you are approved and will blow through TSA in less then a minute. If you get one beep, then back into the catlle line again!!!

You can avoid this by printing your BP. Using your Iphone or Android with a barcode scanner. Scan the barcode on the BP and if the last number is a "3" you are approved.

personally besides the possibilitry of NOT getting pulled to be checked, GE is really no big deal.
You breeze through customs, but luggae still takes just as long, so you end up saving little time.
If I had to pay, even if it is only 100 bucks, it is NOT worth it(unless you only ever have carry on)
But since United paid, i will take it

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Originally Posted by sporthobbyist

as far as shoes and laptops?? That is the TSA Precheck. You do not need to have GE to apply for Precheck. (but I heard it helps)

and it is super selective. It HAS to be a domestic flight only to even make the list.
Then you might get approved, you might not. They want you to just walk into the Pre Check line and scan your ticket. If you get three beeps you are approved and will blow through TSA in less then a minute. If you get one beep, then back into the catlle line again!!!

You can avoid this by printing your BP. Using your Iphone or Android with a barcode scanner. Scan the barcode on the BP and if the last number is a "3" you are approved.

personally besides the possibilitry of NOT getting pulled to be checked, GE is really no big deal.
You breeze through customs, but luggae still takes just as long, so you end up saving little time.
If I had to pay, even if it is only 100 bucks, it is NOT worth it(unless you only ever have carry on)
But since United paid, i will take it

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I live in San Diego so when I do go to TJ I can avoid those long ass 30 min to 2 hour waits to come back to the US cause I can use the SENTRI lines :) No one is ever in the SENTRI lines at 4am :)

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Originally Posted by sacase

I live in San Diego so when I do go to TJ I can avoid those long ass 30 min to 2 hour waits to come back to the US cause I can use the SENTRI lines :) No one is ever in the SENTRI lines at 4am :)

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Yes, but you have to have your GE card with you.

Normal airport customs GE kiosk just scan your passport. But traveling with car back from Mexico, you need your GE card

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Originally Posted by sporthobbyist

Yes, but you have to have your GE card with you.

Normal airport customs GE kiosk just scan your passport. But traveling with car back from Mexico, you need your GE card

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That's fine, I am not going to Mexico until AFTER I get back from DR. I will have my card by them. I spend way to much money in TJ. LOL Its easily a $200 night with my buddies.

Just got a approved actually the process was easy as hell...took about 20 minutes, watched a quick video answered a few questions then that's it. No crazy questions either...

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Originally Posted by GrandePadre

That's fine, I am not going to Mexico until AFTER I get back from DR. I will have my card by them. I spend way to much money in TJ. LOL Its easily a $200 night with my buddies.

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i want to go to tj, but where do you find the fine babes? i imagine tj is full of 6's and below for some reason.

kinda wish mi had it last night........might have been the difference between making mi connecting flight or not....
in Ft Lauderdale last night wi had a long ass wait to get thru immigrations.......
worst line mi have ever been in to get thru any immigrations.......
though mi will give credit where it is do......they did process a ton of people in short time..........
one of the Immigration guys was handing out the Global Entry folder.........
and giving his sales pitch on this being the wave of the future......
though he said if you only travel once a year it is probably not worth it.......
but for people that travel quite a bit he said it was well worth it........mi concur
so after doing the OJ sprint to get to mi connecting flight........mi showed up at the gate.....
and guess what.......that beautiful airline Spirit delayed their flight 3 hours........WTF
evidently some Spirit idiot decided to send our Tampa plane down to Santo Domingo....
to pick up a load of travelers instead of us leaving on time for Tampa....
it was bad enuff having mi first leg being an hour late.........but being 3 hours late on the last leg is unforgiveable
did 12 legs of travel to Jamaica in the last year and this was the first time mi had to put up with this horseshit :icontd:

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Originally Posted by sporthobbyist

If you are Platinum on United they pay for it.

Interview was a little funny. Thank god they were young guys.

GE-"SO?? You been to:
DR
Colombia
Thailand
Phillipines
Costa Rica
Brazil???

"These are all flagged countries!"

ME-"oh really?? Flagged for what?

GE-"dont worry, you dont fit the profile":corky:


The funny thing was the old fat dude getting interviewed next to me was asked:

GE-"So, you been to Thailand quite a few times?? Business or pleasure?
Fat Old Man-"I go for business!":rofl:


I can say it is worthless unless you have only carry on luggage
I always blow past everyone, but as I wait at the carousel, everyone I past shows up and we all leave at the same time.

when i went to Madrid I only had carryon and I walked past a hellish immigration line, did the kiosk and off I went.

But I personally think that they are less likely to search you when you have GE. It claims that is not the case, but the interviewer hinted to that.


TSA preclearance is not available with United at EWR yet. But I am on the list

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Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't GE only for entry INTO the US?

It definately is not the case that it is less likely that they search you. I took Amtrak to Canada once. I figured I would whip out my GE card to save some interview time.. The agent tells me to go to the back and grills me! Why do I need the card? Why do you travel to Colombia so much.. blah blah.. After they let me go, I ask about use of GE... That I thought I could speed through.. They said.. all it does is let you cut the line.. You STILL have to do an interview!

$100 GE is well worth it.. even if you only travel international once a year!! It lasts for 5 years. If you go through major hubs like MIA or JFK, you know that customs line can be 1.5-2 hours if you are unlucky.

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Originally Posted by hioctane

$100 GE is well worth it.. even if you only travel international once a year!! It lasts for 5 years. If you go through major hubs like MIA or JFK, you know that customs line can be 1.5-2 hours if you are unlucky.

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GE lasts for 5 years? I thought for 100$ it was only good for a year... if its for 5 years, that is well worth it

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Originally Posted by wrgold

GE lasts for 5 years? I thought for 100$ it was only good for a year... if its for 5 years, that is well worth it

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the guy at immigrations in Ft Lauderdale should have made a point of the costs and duration.....he said nuthin about that

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Originally Posted by SeaWeed

the guy at immigrations in Ft Lauderdale should have made a point of the costs and duration.....he said nuthin about that

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I'm sure if that had happened in Jamaica, they would have been sure to say that!!:rolleyes:

It most certainly does make a difference in getting pulled in Customs.

I have spoke to many guys on FT that have GE and they said the same thing
It may not be written, but see how they look at it. You went through the trouble of getting clearance, you are obviously low risk
A few trips back, an old couple was pulled in Customs line right before me for secondary inspection. I showed them my GE receipyt and away i went.


Plus it gives you a better chance of getting TSA pre check.

But I will mention it again. It saves NO TIME if you have luggage. Which I do 99% of the time.

Yeah, you blow past all the cattle lines in Immigration. You are first to be at luggage. But it still takes them the same amount of time.
and regardless if your bags are marked priority, they still may not be the first to come out.

if I had to pay for it, I would not think it was worth it. Unless they start TSA precheck for International flights
But United paid for mine, so no issues.


and yes, JFK immigration is brutal. The one time my GE was a godsend was coming back from Madrid. The line was stupid. I walked down the side and was being cursed out for cutting, went right to the GE and off i went.
Granted, I had carryon only.