<p>When my son and I went on our last college visit trip, he was shuttled through pre-check on both legs of our flight. He was told it was because he was a minor. So how much sense does it make to send a minor through the faster lane and then stand and wait on the other side while his parent goes through the long, delayed, slow process? </p>
<p>There are signs now that anybody over a certain age (I think it is 75) doesn’t have to remove shoes, etc. I remember my dad saying something about it the last time he flew.</p>
<p>My H was initially told he could keep his shoes on because of the new policy for folks over 75, but when they realized he wasn’t yet 75, they apologized and had him remove shoes. I was pre-checked and didn’t have to remove shoes or liquids and was able to just walk through metal detector. Hurrah!</p>
<p>I was delighted the see the TSA precheck on my boarding pass the other day, but when I got to the new international terminal, I was told they didn’t have the precheck set up there yet ! :mad: Well, the line was surprisingly short so it didn’t matter, but I was still bummed.</p>
<p>I also had the lucky TSA pre-check at one airport who DID have the special lines normally, but closed them temporarily, and the airport was incredibly crowded that morning. I had never seen such a long security line. So, sometimes even having the pre-check (paid or lottery), is not an advantage.</p>
<p>I would love to be pre-screened because I have a bad leg and can’t get my shoes off while standing up. It’s amazing how many airports have no place to sit near the entrance to security. </p>
<p>But I fly only rarely, and I can’t justify the $100, even to myself.</p>
<p>So literally today I discovered that the American Express platinum card will refund the application fee for global entry. We are both applying! If you travel through busy airports at the wrong time (which seems to be most times), the customs lines take 45 minutes to an hour–or more–to clear. Almost never have we sped through. The other benefit to Global Entry is that it allows you to use TSA precheck. </p>
<p>H and I got TSA precheck on our last flight. D did not. Interesting that others have had the experience of their minor child being waved through with them. Not only did we not get that, the woman at the front seemed to take particular delight in trying to shuttle us to the long line next to us. I plucked my boarding pass from H’s and D’s and told her that I’d use the precheck lane, thank you very much. It was a delight. I didn’t care that I had to wait for H and D. Just getting through easily was worth it. </p>
<p>On our return trip, all three of us had the precheck logo on our boarding passes…except that there was no precheck lane. We had to go through the regular lane and do all the same things we would have done in any case–shoes, liquids, laptops, coats.</p>
<p>I unexpectedly got TSA-Pre screen before Thanksgiving. Didn’t even realize it on my boarding pass. A TSA person must have thought I looked like a likely candidate and looked at my boarding pass, sending me over to the shorter line. A TSA agent in Orlando said we had Southwest to thank for it. Now I’ve had it 4 times. H got it also the week after Thanksgiving. S2 just got it, not printed on his boarding pass, but when they scanned it, they sent him to the Pre-screen line. </p>
<p>Even if the lines are not shorter (they always have been significantly shorter), the process is faster. I’m a 4-bin flyer with shoes, purse, all my electronics, and toiletries, so it’s heaven not to have to take everything out.</p>
<p>The Platinum card is $450. You can pay the $100 global entry app fee yourself and save $350 per year. If you’re approved, the global entry is good for 5 years. If you want more cards, the next three are $175. Hard to see how you’d get $450 in benefits a year just to get reimbursed the $100 global entry fee.</p>
<p>Sadly, DD, who is prescreened, was actually not allowed to go into the special line on at least one flight this fall, “randomly.” She was not happy!</p>
<p>S sometimes is randomly selected to go thru regular line as well. He is per screened and the top level premier with United. He just deals with it and tries for nonstop flights.</p>
<p>We had the card already because we used their buy one get one free international airline ticket program. I wouldn’t get the platinum card just for global entry!</p>
<p>I do a fair amount of international travel and I was thinking of applying for Global Entry. However when I looked at the website I saw very few international airports listed. Heathrow wasn’t listed, for example. I didn’t see airports in Italy or France either. </p>
<p>Does anyone know if the website is correct? Doesn’t seem all that global if most of Europe is not part of the program.</p>
<p>Hmm. I hope an hour and 15 minutes is enough time to get from delta domestic to delta international and through customs in Atlanta. I hope our flight leaves on time.</p>
<p>I’ve gotten TSA-prechecked for 4 RTs this year already. I especially love it when going through JFK and LAX. Hope I will be lucky again next year.</p>
<p>No, no, no. Global Entry is a <em>US</em> program. Global Entry has nothing to do with international airports. It has to do with when you land back in the US after an international flight, at your first point of entry (which is where you need to go through customs and immigration, pick up your bags, and re-check to your final US destination if it isn’t your point of entry).</p>
<p>For example, 3 weeks ago I traveled to Brazil - ORD / MIA / GRU (Sao Paolo). I used Global Entry on my flight back from GRU to MIA when I was in MIA to clear US customs / immigration before I could get on my MIA to ORD flight. But on my way there? I stood in line at GRU customs / immigration just like anyone else. The US has no “program” to get me through Brazilian customs and immigration.</p>
<p>Then I wonder which program does. Of course I’e seen the Global Entry kiosks at the US immigration halls. But I’ve seen similar kiosks at Heathrow and CDG as well. </p>
<p>And if this is restricted to entry into the US, why are there any international airports listed? The Global Entry site clearly lists a Global Entry kiosks in airports of Shannon, Dublin and Saipan?</p>