Do you travel domestic more than a couple times a year? If you do not already have TSA PreCheck, and you frequently travel domestically, I would say that GE was worth getting, but more for the Pre than the immigration entry.
lf you travel only a few times a year domestic or international, I would say GE isn’t necessary. GE is really only an advantage if you aren’t checking bags, as noted by others, or if you travel domestically and do not otherwise have PreCheck.
The advantage of PreCheck even for domestic is becoming less and less. I frequently fly out of ORD. Often, the PreCheck line is longer than non-Pre. With the time not significantly different, the main advantage to Pre IMHO is no shoe removal. I flew through Honolulu last month. The Pre line was 20 minutes long - no wait at non-Pre. I’m sure each airport is different, so your decision should be based on the airports you use.
I fly internationally every other month, sometimes more frequently. Generally, I have only carry-on. The Global Entry for me is a life-saving. BUT, my kids fly less frequently internationally and have not found GE to be necessary.
I don’t have GE (yet) but I think at some airports it may help even if you have checked bags. At Dulles, there is often a big bottleneck going through customs after you get your bags. There is a separate, much shorter, line for GE.
D has precheck and has found it more helpful than she thought. She thought she’d get most use at big airports - which is true, but she has also found it helpful at smaller airports. I took her to Augusta GA airport and even though they only had one security line, they gave her a card to show TSA and she still got the advantage of not removing shoes or going thru full body scanner.
Made big difference in Chicago when she went to ORD, got out of car and then realized she was at wrong airport. Flying southwest out of Midway. Thankfully she was pretty early and had precheck to use at MDW (and BF was driving her).
She is likely to go overseas to see friend soon, and originally wanted to get GE but couldn’t make times work out since would have to go long way to get it and pre is so easy - 5 mins at ID place and had her number in a few days.
Agree with Hunt above. At ORD last week, I was quickly through customs with bag and a GE receipt. Others were shuttled to a much longer line. I’ve also been given a PreCheck card so I can leave my shoes on when no PreCheck line is open.
Given that the OP must inconvenience herself to get to an interview location, I think the value all depends on how much use she will get from the TSA PreCheck and GE perks. I know if I flew infrequently, I would not bother. The system is different at each airport and conditions change frequently. Inconveniencing yourself for a once or twice yearly trip with unpredictable “on ground” experience for each of those flights seems unnecessary.
I love Global Entry… I believe my AmEX card paid for it. It also includes TSA PreCheck for domestic travel. Just keep in mind, not every airport has it. So although LAX does, that doesn’t mean your overseas destination will allow it or other domestic airports.
That said, not sure if it’s worth it if you only travel once per year, but I did it for a “one time” deal and have used it about 10 times since. I just think it’s worth avoiding the hassle of moving around my liquids, taking off shoes and taking out computer. Someone mentioned pat downs - but they can still pat you down even if you have it.
I’ve had it for a few years and yes, it is worth it. I drove 1 1/2 hours to my interview location and the interview was really nothing. At the time I thought to myself I can’t believe I am driving 3 hours round trip for this. Then I took a flight and was reminded why I did it. I don’t travel as much but I have a few flights a year and can’t imagine traveling without it.
For those who don’t travel internationally all that much, there’s a Mobile Passport ap for your phone that’s not quite as nice as Global Entry, but a lot nicer than nothing at all. My D and H used it coming back into the US this summer and were really happy with it. It’s free (and friends of my BIL started it!).
I think GE is great! My husband and I took a trip overseas, and I was stressed about getting the qualifying interview in time because the reservations were booked months out (home airport is MCO/Orlando). I even tried a walk in interview at Ohare to no avail. Fortunately, after checking regularly on the MCO schedule, I found an earlier slot made available through someone else’s cancelation. On our trip, customs was a breeze.
Timely thread – I just got home a few minutes ago from my Global Entry interview! We have a big travel year with both international and domestic destinations so it’s worth it for me just looking at 2017. Bonus that DH’s employer will pay for his.
We had a tough time scheduling the interviews (had to go to the airport multiple times since we could not get appointments on the same day - we were just lucky to find an opening at all) so I know it’s a big pain depending on where you live. However, it’s been great having pre-check when we fly. And my D used it at customs last week and just sailed through (with just a carryon) and was out of the airport in no time.
I was on some other or other blog back a few years ago and it was suggested that if your spouse has an earlier date that you go with and try to get yours done at the same time. H was scheduled a few months ahead of me. We did not realize that if you are accepted it is immediate. As we were schedule for a trip to Italy within 2 weeks of my appointment we were worried. So it is good to know that the activation is immediate.
The guy interviewing said that he did not know if he could fit me in (there was one other person in the waiting room). He then became friendly and it all finished for H and I in less than 15 minutes.
Yes, it is worth every penny.
My experience was that the first appointment available was more than a month out from my application acceptance date (and during rush hour so the drive was over an hour). I sat for about 20 minutes in a fairly crowded waiting room before I was called. The interview was under five minutes – three of which were chatting about kids, two for finger prints and asking why I travel and if I’ve ever been arrested. The website says they do a background check before granting an interview. I think the interview is just a formality to get fingerprints and a photo.
DH had his interview a couple of months after mine. Later, he received a laminated ID card with his photo on it. I never received one of these. My fingerprints and passport were sufficient to get me through the process when I arrived back to the US from my last international trip. Do I need to pursue getting this physical card? I’m not crazy about trying to navigate the bureaucracy.
I got a card, too, but have only used it in Canada (am sure I could have used my passport instead). Mine took a couple of weeks to arrive. Getting in touch with someone there can be a pain, but I’d want to have mine…
I have always presented mine & H his at immigration & customs. All the folks I know who have GE have the laminated card. I’d contact them to try to get yours–you paid your $100 and went to the interview, so you’re entitled to it.