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Post by jabberwocky on Aug 13, 2016 6:59:47 GMT -5
Giving it some thought since last trip through FLL - it lets you avoid the baggage claim line - which at times can be huge, immigration can take a while but then you go down stairs and you can get caught in a line that takes 30-45 minutes once you have your bags - the Global Entry line to get out had 3 people.
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Post by coolcoil on Aug 13, 2016 11:05:27 GMT -5
Yes, I've had it for a couple of years and I'm pretty happy with it. Getting TSA Pre-Check with it is a big advantage too. If you enter the country at MIA it is not as big and advantage, since there luggage is screened by CBP prior to its arrival on the belt, so nobody has to wait in line to leave baggage claim.
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Post by wildstubby on Aug 13, 2016 14:51:29 GMT -5
I just got notified that my application is approved. That took about 3 weeks. So I scheduled my 'interview' and biometric recording yesterday. My earliest appointment is Oct. 21at 4:45PM!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 16:28:54 GMT -5
Not sure how much you gain with Global Entry. Just about all the airports I enter the States have kiosks. When I'm by myself, I'm through immigration in under 5 minutes and looking for my bags. It takes a bit longer when I have my wife along because she gets an "X" through her receipt, and we end up in a longer line.
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Post by wildstubby on Aug 13, 2016 20:09:47 GMT -5
@vago, when I returned recently at Dulles, (IAD) on a Saturday, the lines to clear customs with baggage was 6 lanes across and about a ¼-mile long! I saw the Global Entry line with 4 people tops and they were just whizzing right through. That's what made me decide to do the Global Entry thing. Plus you get pre-TSA check-in with it. So it is the minimal screening.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 20:30:55 GMT -5
@vago , when I returned recently at Dulles, (IAD) on a Saturday, the lines to clear customs with baggage was 6 lanes across and about a ¼-mile long! I saw the Global Entry line with 4 people tops and they were just whizzing right through. That's what made me decide to do the Global Entry thing. Plus you get pre-TSA check-in with it. So it is the minimal screening. I'll see how I make out at Dulles next week. In the past, it''s been pretty quick.
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Post by coolcoil on Aug 14, 2016 10:41:33 GMT -5
It took me a while to decide to pull the trigger, but I'm glad I did. For me the two big things are the TSA Pre-Check and knowing that I'm definitely not going to be waiting in long lines. It's true that most of the times that I enter the US (16-20X per year), the ESTA lines look reasonable, but maybe 20% of the time I'me really glad I have GE. Two weeks ago, the lines were terrible and when the baggage started to appear on the belt only three people from the plane had made it to baggage claim.
The event that made me decide to go for it happened at Dulles. For a long time, I flew the COPA flight that arrived after midnight when no other planes were coming in. I was always waiting at baggage claim along with the GE holders before the bags arrived and the customs line was short, so I saw no value in GE for me. Then one night we arrived just a little bit after an A380 came in from Europe. CBP only maintains minimal staffing that late at night, so it was a disaster. I didn't get into my rental car until 3:30 a.m.
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Post by teeo9111 on Aug 14, 2016 11:00:56 GMT -5
I have had it for a few years and recommend it to anyone that travels extensively,in some airports it doesn't save you a lot of time while others it is a godsend.
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Post by saltador on Aug 15, 2016 16:44:18 GMT -5
One detail people should know, the TSA pre-check is not used by all airlines yet, and they are the ones that print it on your ticket to get you into that line. For example, I fly Spirit Airlines mostly, and my TSA pre-check number does me no good, because as of yet they do not participate in the program. You have to enter your number in when you make your reservation. I learned all this the hard way.
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Post by wildstubby on Aug 15, 2016 18:19:35 GMT -5
saltador said: I wonder how this works with electronic tickets? I see more and more people, (especially in Colombia!), who are using tickets that have a UPC code on their smart phone!
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Post by coolcoil on Aug 15, 2016 19:18:35 GMT -5
I wonder how this works with electronic tickets? I see more and more people, (especially in Colombia!), who are using tickets that have a UPC code on their smart phone! It works fine. The electronic boarding pass that I download to my phone also has the Pre-Check logo and is accepted at all of the Pre-Check lines.
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Post by saltador on Aug 15, 2016 19:26:46 GMT -5
I wonder how this works with electronic tickets? I see more and more people, (especially in Colombia!), who are using tickets that have a UPC code on their smart phone! It works fine. The electronic boarding pass that I download to my phone also has the Pre-Check logo and is accepted at all of the Pre-Check lines. Yes, because your airline participates in the program. Spirit for one, does not. Maybe 90% of airlines participate, but it would behoove you to check before you waste your money on the program like I did. (Although I think Spirit will be participating in the program before too long.)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2016 6:00:10 GMT -5
It took me a while to decide to pull the trigger, but I'm glad I did. For me the two big things are the TSA Pre-Check and knowing that I'm definitely not going to be waiting in long lines. It's true that most of the times that I enter the US (16-20X per year), the ESTA lines look reasonable, but maybe 20% of the time I'me really glad I have GE. Two weeks ago, the lines were terrible and when the baggage started to appear on the belt only three people from the plane had made it to baggage claim. The event that made me decide to go for it happened at Dulles. For a long time, I flew the COPA flight that arrived after midnight when no other planes were coming in. I was always waiting at baggage claim along with the GE holders before the bags arrived and the customs line was short, so I saw no value in GE for me. Then one night we arrived just a little bit after an A380 came in from Europe. CBP only maintains minimal staffing that late at night, so it was a disaster. I didn't get into my rental car until 3:30 a.m. I just went through Dulles yesterday. It took me less than 5 minutes to enter and exit immigration (including using the kiosk). There were four empty lanes to process US citizens. Then I spent another 5 minutes at baggage claim, and I was on my way out the door.
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