Global Entry Rocks!

Came of Oasis last Saturday with a total of five ships in port. Flew SW and ended up with TSA PRE-CHECK because of our GE and trusted traveler status.

It was great to avoid that HUGE security line at FLL. Best money we have ever spent. Me, my wife and now my daughter has it.

Cruise was good too.

Now, if only they would create Global Entry Lines at the cruise piers.

I agree that it is worth the money for Pre-check.

Of course, the Global Entry line really didn't save me anything last time I used it as it took so long for my luggage to arrive, it wouldnt have mattered standing in the long line.

Now, if only they would create Global Entry Lines at the pier.

Amen! It would sure expedite Customs.

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It's $100 pp for the application fee. Are there any other costs involved?

We have our Nexus/Global Entry card for traveling back and forth to Canada via water. We were happy when we found out it worked with the airlines and cut down the lines and had been using it.

In February, we were flying Southwest using TransAir as connecting instead of Delta. We get to FLL airport on way home the lines were horrendously long. We notice that my sister's ticket has pre-screened on it. My husband and went back and asked the person working the counter what was up and showed him our cards. They reprinted our boarding passes and away we went skipping the long line.

I'm not sure we would have made our flight if we had to wait in line. It went on forever and we were even there hours before our flight but they kick you out of line if your flight is over two hours out.

We just got ours this year (free for those with platinum amex). Our first time using the TSA pre will be next month.

Really wish the customs thing worked at the piers too.

Can anyone explain how this pre-check thing works. I'm very confused. Hubby and I have never applied for or paid for anything like this, but on our last two flights, hubby's ticket had the pre-check mark, and was able to go through the fast lane, while I stood in the long one. On the second of those flights, I had the pre-check mark too, so sailed right on through the security.

It was very nice, but not worth paying for, for how little we fly. But aside from that, I really would like to know how we ended up with it, without asking or applying? Any ideas?

People that applied for Global Entry paid $100 and went thru a TSA background check, had their photo and fingerprints taken. Once they have Global Entry, you are eligible for TSA Precheck, but may not get it 100% of the time.

Occasionally they will give non approved people the TSA precheck (happened to me before I had G. E.). May have to do with how often you fly on an airline, your loyalty status, etc.

Came of Oasis last Saturday with a total of five ships in port. Flew SW and ended up with TSA PRE-CHECK because of our GE and trusted traveler status.

 

It was great to avoid that HUGE security line at FLL. Best money we have ever spent. Me, my wife and now my daughter has it.

 

Cruise was good too.

We have TSA Pre-check and have never spent a penny for it. ;)

I have had it the last five or six flights. I didn't apply for it and was surprised. I think it came from AA. When I did my online check-in it asked a couple of questions for TSA. Next day I had the Pre-check on my boarding pass:) My next flight I didn't have it on my boarding pass, but when I got to the place where they check your IDs he said I had the pre-check and went through the fast line. It's awesome. I don't have an ID card, but that would be nice. I'm also a retired flight attendant so all the security background check stuff should be on my record.

It's $100 pp for the application fee. Are there any other costs involved?

You need to do an interview. Depending on where you live, that may require travel (it did for me)

Got it with the Nexus card. Love not having to take my shoes off.

TSA is starting to randomly give "Pre Check" to non-elite, non-GE/Nexus people as part of an experiment to eventually get us back to pre-2001 type security. The Feds are starting to realize that not everyone need be treated as a criminal when they try to fly…

If you get the courtesy "Pre Check", please be sure to follow the instructions!!! It is a little annoying to get tied up in the line when someone doesn't understand they don't have to take off their shoes, don't have to take out their Kippie Bag, etc…

Now, if only they would create Global Entry Lines at the cruise piers.

I agree that it is worth the money for Pre-check.

Of course, the Global Entry line really didn't save me anything last time I used it as it took so long for my luggage to arrive, it wouldnt have mattered standing in the long line.

We had the same thing flying through San Francisco.

We used miles to fly First Class on United, and were one of the first ones off the 747. Went to the Kiosk, entered our passport, smiled at the camera, and got through in no time at all.

Then...we waited 15 minutes for our bags so we could check them on to our final destination...

Still definitely worth it to not have to stand in that long line.

Global entry rocks. Just renewed it for another 5 years. Unfortunately now have queues in the lines :)

However on Friday -- arrived at EWR (Newark) late from London at 2pm and had a 30 minute connect time. From the plane -- Made it thru passport, customs (carry on) up to the the domestic side and security with TSA precheck -- ended at 2:15 pm at C86..

A hint. Many airlines allow you to put your GOES ID into your profile (trusted traveler number). With this I have had a 100% hit rate on TSA Precheck.

My husband and went back and asked the person working the counter what was up and showed him our cards. They reprinted our boarding passes and away we went skipping the long line.

 

When you say he went back to ask, do you mean the Airline check in counter?

Mary Lou

We just submitted the application for TSA pre check. If approved, will we be able to apply it to already booked flights?

Mary Lou

We just submitted the application for TSA pre check. If approved, will we be able to apply it to already booked flights?

 

Mary Lou

Yes, you can go back into your reservation and add your Known Traveler Number.

When you say he went back to ask, do you mean the Airline check in counter?

 

Mary Lou

Correct. He went back to the airline counter and they issued us new boarding passes. I'm not sure if the line was real short or how he got through it that fast. I just thanked our lucky stars that he was able to do it.

We didn't even consider being able to use it because we wouldn't have left my sister in the long line by herself. Once we saw hers said pre-screened, we wanted to use ours.

We would have never paid for the GOES by itself. We don't fly that much but since it is part of the NEXUS program we will definitely take advantage of it.

Thanks for the replies tigstoy & 6rugrats.

Mary Lou

Just one more database to hack and one more little piece of information about an individual floating around in cyberspace that someone can get their hands on.

AA was sending me all these messages about pre check and they even sent me a certified letter (I guess to see if I actually lived where I do-the letter was just a repeat of the email messages). Finally took the time at the Admiral's Club at JFK to ask them PLEASE do not send me anymore info or tell me I was qualified or could sign up or whatever. I wasn't signing up for anything with another database, particularly a civilian government database that very often can be accessed by more people than you ever want to know about.

I don't need anymore info out there floating around. After all the hacks recently and the stuff I see overseas working (laptops very often left open while people are doing payroll-every bit of your info is in those payroll files), no way do I do much of anything online anymore that could be database connected.

Security just isn't that good for most of this stuff because our government won't spend the money for the high dollar hackers to test it out in most cases. Private companies do-our civilian government doesn't in most cases. The military does-there are guys working here at Camp Arifjan who spend their days making more money than the private security contractors (generally about $1000 per day + expenses) writing code, producing malware and viruses and playing games with computer systems worldwide.

If TSA wanted to take the time to check (they won't-they want the money and the easy way out), they could easily see there are 1000's and 1000's of people working government contracting jobs that have at least secret clearance. Anyone working inside a nuke plant in the USA has had a background check back to high school (there are a few exceptions but those people are escorted all the time). Fingerprints and pictures are all on file. Why would you have to have ANOTHER security check if you have a government secret or better clearance or work inside a nuke plant or at Westinghouse where they make most of the fuel rods for nuke plants? Just send TSA your info and they should be able to check it out in about 15 minutes. No interview, no picture, no fingerprints. I know the clearances pop up IMMEDIATELY within the ATF database. So if ATF makes the clearance available in about 10 minutes at a gun show, why can't TSA delve into those databases? Makes no sense to me to have ANOTHER database when the government can't even keep track of who overstays their visa. I simply refuse to participate in silly games in the name of security.

We have TSA Pre-check and have never spent a penny for it. ;)

For every airline? I know that AA and UA invited their higher tier elite passengers into the program, but it's only for that particular airline.

And Global entry is worth its weight in gold when crossing the border by plane. In Vancouver, the line for US immigration can look like a Disneyland ride, but with Global Entry, we swiped our passports, had our photo taken and reported to the next open station.

I don't mind the background check - I worked in financial services for years and had to submit another set of prints to be admitted to the CA state bar. The only additional information I really needed to give for Global Entry was where I had travelled abroad.

My only gripe is that GE gives us US/Mexico, while NEXUS gives Canada/US for half the price.

Just a little reminder here. Having GE does not guarantee you will get Pre-Check every time you have a flight with a Pre-Check airport. It just gives you much better odds of getting the Pre-Check. You can still not receive it at times. That is why you may not see it on your boarding pass 1 time out of xxx times.

It's $100 pp for the application fee. Are there any other costs involved?

No other costs. You just fill out the application online and pay your $100. When approved you will schedule an appointment at a immigration place. (usually an airport. I see you are in NJ so I assume Newark and Philly are both places to do the in person interview.) The interview takes about 15 minutes, at Houston I had to watch a short video on how to use the system then you meet with an agent and he/she takes your picture and fingerprints and gives you a bit of info then you are done. You will get you trusted traveler number right there and can start using it.

One little tip...it is good for 5 years from your NEXT birthday. So, if you do all this just after your birthday you can get almost 6 six years out of it before you need to renew. (Just a little tip to give you some extra time. I did mine in Feb I think it was and my bday is in Jan so mine good until Jan 2020 not 2019. :D )

It works great....it took me longer to walk from the machine to the customs area then it did to clear immigration using the machine. it just spits out a receipt that you give to the agent and you are on your way. (and the bonus is you don;t need to fill out that blue form either)