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<p>No. You don’t automatically “get” Global Entry. You have to apply / pay for it and be interviewed and screened. If you are a high-enough member of a frequent flyer program, that program may pay for your Global Entry fees. </p>
<p>Global Entry and TSA pre-check are two different programs.</p>
<p>My 15-year-old daughter got it when she flew home from Orlando to Maine. Totally random. Maybe her age made a difference? She was flying alone.</p>
<p>Global entry is such a blessing,</p>
<p>I really dislike how TSA Precheck is being rolled out randomly. A, it defeats the purposes, and B, really, if any Joe Schmoe can be in it, there aren’t benefits. The program is only valuable if it’s restricted and hence keeps the lines short. It’s like how Premier security lines are a joke - they are typically just as full as regular ones. Keep it premium and invitation only.</p>
<p>I did not pay a dime or enroll in anyting, by the way, to get in that line. It seemed to be a random process.</p>
<p>Both my parents (80+) got ‘random’ TSA precheck recently, I don’t think that was an accident. </p>
<p>That said however, the elderly take forever to go through security as it is, so it may slow things down at the pre-check area. I was also recently randomly selected to go through pre-check and an elderly woman in front of me had to go through the metal detector at least 4 times before they just gave up and had to wand her. I was grateful I didn’t fork over $$'s to for the special status just to be held up by a randomly selected person who was clueless on how to go through the new system. Her elderly husband was confused and took off his belt and shoes before people could get to him to tell them he didn’t have to.</p>
<p>On another note, I feel like there’s a big positive PR push going on with the TSA- every agent I’ve come in contact with seems almost maniacally upbeat and friendly. They must be trying to improve their image !!</p>
<p>My S flies over 150k every year for his job. United is his preferred airline and they pay for him to be prescreened every year so he has a shorter time with tsa. Makes life at airports better for him, leaving him more time for lounges. I was pre-checked for 3 of 4 legs of last trip, which was a delightful free surprise.</p>
<p>Well, if too many people join, its benefits disappear. The whole point is for frequent / premium flyers to have special expedited lines. Not lines where any riffraff can just show up!! (Said with a smile) </p>
<p>As a freq flyer, don’t water this down like being Premier got watered down.</p>
<p>I was selected last week. I had Business Select, which already bumps you to the front of the line, but then I was directed to the other line. It was nice not to have to take off my shoes, but other than that, I got no benefit I didn’t already have. Well, it was a shorter line than even the Business select line, so I probably saved a couple of minutes max. I am always early to the airport, so this time I didn’t really benefit all that much.</p>
<p>Global entry is great if you travel by yourself. If you’re with a party, however, you have to wait for them anyway.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>So true. I travel to Europe with a group of students each year so I don’t use Global Entry on those trips. But all other trips? I’m trough immigration and customs (including getting my bag which has priority because I fly Business Class) in 10 minutes flat. A pleasure!</p>
<p>Last time to Europe I asked hubby “where do we have to go for customs?” and he replied “we just walked through it.” Now that was easy!</p>
<p>Is customs really so bad without this sort of a program, or does this just make a minor annoyance a little less annoying? I’ve never had to do it. I suppose it must vary quite a lot depending on where you are. We have the caribbean trip in May and I would like to do a Canada trip this year, too, though we would just drive to Canada.</p>
<p>ETA: greatlakes mom, I’ve seen that with the glitter, too. The decorations on the back pocket of my jeans ALWAYS set them off, and for some reason so does my “ouchless” pony tail holder.</p>
<p>I got it a week or two ago in DC. D, right behind me, who looks a little radical, was initially waved through behind me. But then shunted to the other line at a point, so I had to wait for her, saving us no time at all. </p>
<p>As an aside, D wore a sparkly sweater, which set off all the alarms in the scanner apparently. She was later told to avoid glitter when flying, in future.</p>
<p>We flew recently and my older teenage son was given a fast check card. The rest if the family had to go through the longer process. The fellow who handed it out knew we were all together. It seemed predetermined, asin, every x number of passengers.</p>
<p>what’s the point of paying $100, if you can get randomly for free?</p>
<p>[TSA?s</a> PreCheck program expands with more airports, airlines - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/tsas-precheck-program-expands-with-more-airports-airlines/2013/11/21/96818de0-4c93-11e3-be6b-d3d28122e6d4_story.html]TSA?s”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/tsas-precheck-program-expands-with-more-airports-airlines/2013/11/21/96818de0-4c93-11e3-be6b-d3d28122e6d4_story.html)</p>
<p>Those who pay and are pre-screened ALWAYS get to go through just the metal detector and shortest lines. The rest of us MAY win the lottery on a given leg of the trip but no guarantees. </p>
<p>The point of it being random is just so that terrorists and others can’t easily count on what they MAY encounter and how long and thoroughly screening MAY be, is my understanding. I hope to continue to be pre-checked on as many flights as possible for 2014, but don’t want to pay for the pre-checking.</p>
<p>“Is customs really so bad without this sort of a program, or does this just make a minor annoyance a little less annoying? I’ve never had to do it. I suppose it must vary quite a lot depending on where you are. We have the caribbean trip in May and I would like to do a Canada trip this year, too, though we would just drive to Canada.”</p>
<p>It’s variable. It can be 5 mins or it can be an hour. It’s not that big of a deal when it’s a small trip. But you are coming off a 12 hour international overseas flight and you’re zonked, it makes a real difference.</p>
<p>“what’s the point of paying $100, if you can get randomly for free?”</p>
<p>Because it’s random. I’m a very frequent flyer. It’s worth it to me.</p>
<p>i get to skip the long lines because i’m in a wheelchair.</p>