RBH
Official ERA expert on Third Party Football
Member
- Nov 2, 2017
- 33,435
- May 27, 2024
- #1
Hola,
I currently have TSA PreCheck, but am considering getting Global Entry since I'll actually have the free time to travel outside of the U.S. in the future. I remember reading in the past that the process of actually securing an interview spot for Global Entry can be prolonged (especially during the height of the pandemic), but just wanted to see if there were any tips for getting an interview slot, including particular apps that can help to keep track of open interview spots. Also was interested to hear the thoughts of those who have Global Entry and how their experience has been with it over the years in terms of time saved at customs. FWIW, my home airport is Atlanta.
Thanks!
DrForester
Mod of the Year 2006
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 21,984
- May 27, 2024
- #2
Probably worth it if you're doing a lot of international travel, but not so much if it's just a trip or two.
Also check which airport you'll be flying back to America from and see if they do customs there. On my trip to Ireland last year I was pleasantly surprised to find out that US Customs has a facility at Dublin airport and they did everything there. You're treated as a domestic traveler once you get to a US airport.
Lotto
Member
- Oct 28, 2017
- 2,414
- Earth
- May 27, 2024
- #3
i just got mine last week. i'll report back when i get to use it this august.
ThreePi
Member
- Dec 7, 2017
- 4,804
- May 27, 2024
- #4
I have Global Entry because Chase pays for it and I go to Japan once a year. Last time I went through Customs it was like nothing. Never a line for anything, just showed my card to a few people, quickly took a return photo at a kiosk, and was on my way.
Can't really recall the interview process. I had my interview at O'Hare, had an appointment, showed up, waited in the waiting room for a bit, then they took me in back and just asked the same questions that were on the application and took a photo.
DarthSontin
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 2,038
- Pennsylvania
- May 27, 2024
- #5
The easiest way is to do an interview on arrival from an international flight. I like it for the convenience, but it hasn't actually saved us all that much time compared to our non-GE friends travelling with us. For instance, landing on Qatar Airways, we breezed through customs in 2 minutes, but then still had to wait 45 minutes for our bags.
I get it free with credit cards so it's a no-brainer for me. Also keep in mind that it replaces your existing PreCheck with a new KTN, and there's no credit for time remaining on your PreCheck.
honavery
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 1,382
- Phoenix, AZ
- May 27, 2024
- #6
Have had it since 2017 and it's pretty great. Flying back from London last month I was out of customs in less than 5 mins. I don't think I even had to take my passport out.
sfedai0
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 10,161
- May 27, 2024
- #7
I got it free with my VentureX but never can get that interview on intl flights since I leave before it starts. Then I come back too tired to do it.
StrangeRoboMemory
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 10,862
- Toronto, ON
- May 27, 2024
- #8
I don't know about Global Entry, but I have Nexus for Canada/US travel, and it's absolutely worth it.
Truckondo
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 1,313
- Garden Grove, CA
- May 27, 2024
- #9
I can say that Global Entry is amazing. Basically you go to a kiosk with your passport and it does a Face ID scan. After that, the customs agent will tell me/us "welcome back". It's definitely a time saver.
Hollywood Duo
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 42,989
- May 27, 2024
- #10
I only find this stuff useful if I'm not checking a bag. Not much use skipping the line if I'm waiting at baggage claim for 20-30 minutes.
TheSilentCircus
Member
- Jun 1, 2018
- 573
- Upland
- May 27, 2024
- #11
My wife and I just renewed ours, we just came back from Japan and we're thinking we had to re-interview per the instructions but shortly after we renewed we just got approved and we are now good til 2029.
I recall the interviews being pretty straightforward, very worth it if you travel often or at the very least take an international trip once a year and even then I travel domestic often and TSA PreCheck makes life way easier.
Azubah
Member
- Dec 30, 2017
- 1,364
- May 27, 2024
- #12
Pretty great once you can get the interview finished, it's saved me from missing a connected flight or two due to a delay.
CJSeven
Member
- Oct 30, 2018
- 789
- May 27, 2024
- #13
Easily worth it if you like to travel internationally. I've been in situations where they wouldn't let us off the plane because the Customs queue was already too full, and when they finally did, I was able to walk right past the sea of humanity only stopping for a couple seconds at the GE face scanner.
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 43,109
- May 27, 2024
- #14
Being able to get through customs in 5-10 mins when coming back to the US is AMAZING. You literally walk up to a machine, it takes your picture, then the person at customs confirms your name and you're good to go through. That's the whole process
BringBackSonics
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 45,766
- Seattle
- May 27, 2024
- #15
Download the CBP MPC customs app, do it digitally and you can skip the customs line when you return from abroad.
That's free btw
take_marsh
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 7,389
- May 27, 2024
- #16
DrForester said:
Probably worth it if you're doing a lot of international travel, but not so much if it's just a trip or two.
Also check which airport you'll be flying back to America from and see if they do customs there. On my trip to Ireland last year I was pleasantly surprised to find out that US Customs has a facility at Dublin airport and they did everything there. You're treated as a domestic traveler once you get to a US airport.
I'm confused why it would only be good if you travel internationally "a lot". It costs only a little more than TSA pre-check and includes TSA pre-check.
DrForester
Mod of the Year 2006
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 21,984
- May 27, 2024
- #17
take_marsh said:
I'm confused why it would only be good if you travel internationally "a lot". It costs only a little more than TSA pre-check and includes TSA pre-check.
Does it? When I got TSA pre-check I thought I saw on the list that it was a few hundred dollars for Global Entry. My mistake then.
Guitar (Pseudo) God
Member
- Nov 8, 2017
- 202
- May 27, 2024
- #18
Yes, get it. Hartsfield-Jackson is probably one of the best-run airports in the world for as busy as it is (and this is a hill I'll die on), so you may be spoiled. (It's my home airport too.). But for coming back into the US from YYZ, MIA, and God-forbid, any of the NE airports, you'll be so glad you have it.
Necrovex
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 1,121
- May 27, 2024
- #19
Love my global entry but I travel a fair deal. Takes longer to reach customs than it does waiting in line. It's a seamless process. Worst part is actually getting the interview.
gdt
Member
- Oct 26, 2017
- 9,608
- May 27, 2024
- #20
Just got it! Will use it in September on our trip to Turkiye.
OP
OP
RBH
Official ERA expert on Third Party Football
Member
- Nov 2, 2017
- 33,435
- May 27, 2024
- #21
BringBackSonics said:
Download the CBP MPC customs app, do it digitally and you can skip the customs line when you return from abroad.
That's free btw
Oh now I remember reading about that app in the past, is it a separate line compared to the customs line and the Global Entry line?
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 43,109
- May 27, 2024
- #22
DrForester said:
Does it? When I got TSA pre-check I thought I saw on the list that it was a few hundred dollars for Global Entry. My mistake then.
Nah, it's like $20 more than Pre Check or something relatively minor like that
Yeul
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 264
- May 27, 2024
- #23
I travel to and from Canada every couple of months and it's been great. Renewal is pretty easy breezy too because if not much has changed in the 5 year period, they likely don't need to interview you again so they just renew you pretty soon after you pay for the extension.
Knight613
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 21,210
- San Francisco
- May 27, 2024
- #24
It's been pretty great for me. Especially since I tend to get seated near the back of the plane so I'm always near the last to get off, but thanks to Global Entry can often times beat the rush of people leaving.
BringBackSonics
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 45,766
- Seattle
- May 27, 2024
- #25
RBH said:
Oh now I remember reading about that app in the past, is it a separate line compared to the customs line and the Global Entry line?
It is separate line from the customs line, unsure about the global entry line tho
kagete
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 468
- May 27, 2024
- #26
The first time we used it my wife and I both knew it was immediately worth the hassle of getting an interview. A few flights from South America just landed and the customs line was a zigzagging maze. Global entry allowed us to skip all that and get out in 30 seconds.
The cameras are really fast and you barely look up from the floor (to see where you should stand) and they will almost instantly match you as soon as you look up to the screen. My GE photo was taken when I was 20 lbs heavier and with multiple people in the background and it still always perfectly matches to me even wearing completely new glasses.
EDIT: oh my home airport is ATL too. You know international arrivals here are really bad because of the long walk underground and then the queues are insane once you're in the actual customs line. ATL is a whole different beast from JFK or LAX arrivals, everyone is simply funneled into the same processing area. 100% totally worth it to get GE here. I think even flying international once a year is already worth it.
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Cbrun44
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 2,017
- Seattle, WA by way of Decatur, GA
- May 27, 2024
- #27
BringBackSonics said:
Download the CBP MPC customs app, do it digitally and you can skip the customs line when you return from abroad.
That's free btw
This app is amazing. When I heard about it I didn't really believe it. When I first used it coming back into the country I was literally the only person in the line. Other lines had hundreds. So basically took me minutes to get through.
JimD
Member
- Aug 17, 2018
- 3,588
- May 27, 2024
- #28
I used Global Entry twice the first year I got it and it was absolutely worth it for the cost of upgrading over pre-check for those trips alone. Any future uses while just be gravy. Totally recommend.
loco
Member
- Jan 6, 2021
- 5,666
- May 27, 2024
- #29
I don't have it, my coworker does. I got through customs 15 minutes before him and he was using global entry. This was our last Canada trip a few weeks ago.
Vic Damone Jr.
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 16,821
- May 27, 2024
- #30
Got me past a crazy line coming back from London, worth it just for the pre-check imo.
BringBackSonics
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 45,766
- Seattle
- May 27, 2024
- #31
Cbrun44 said:
This app is amazing. When I heard about it I didn't really believe it. When I first used it coming back into the country I was literally the only person in the line. Other lines had hundreds. So basically took me minutes to get through.
Yup. They actually had a CBP agent walk me through the huge line of other people to the digital line. It was amazing
ash32121
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 2,705
- May 27, 2024
- #32
I been flying back and forth from US to JP and Global Entry is totally worth it. I also fly without checked bag so it make the whole thing even faster.
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