global entry
It was the Philly airport that convinced us.
Our family was on our way back from Germany in early 2014. We had flown from our small town in Virginia to Philadelphia and then on to Frankfurt. We could have traveled with just carry-on bags, but we weren't yet committed to minimalist packing and decided to check our bags.
Our travels were easy and fun, so we were relaxed and happy as we boarded our return flight in Frankfurt. We would have a three-hour layover in Philly, then a short flight home. We'd grab a taxi at our home airport and get home kind of late, but not too bad. The next day we'd be going back to work and school.
Easy peasy, right?
What actually happened was that we landed in Philly late so the layover would be only little over two hours. We spent more than an hour in line at passport control. Then we speed-walked to baggage claim to get our luggage and then on to the customs line, where we waited a while. After that, we had to recheck our suitcases, then hustle to the shuttle to take us to another terminal. From there we ran to our gate and discovered that they had just closed the door to the airplane.
This was the last flight back to our home airport and if we didn't catch it, we would have to stay overnight. We had work and school the next day, so we begged to be allowed on the plane.
They let us on.
When we got home, one daughter's suitcase was missing. Luckily, it arrived the next day.
The two results of these misadventures were: 1) We started packing carry-on only after that. And 2) we decided to sign up for Global Entry.
What is Global Entry? It's a program of the US Customs and Border Patrol that allows approved, low-risk travelers to go through expedited passport and customs lines when returning to the US from travel abroad. To enroll, you first fill out an application and consent to a background check. If you are approved, you have an interview that includes taking your photo and fingerprints. The fee is $100 and is good for five years, then you re-enroll.
About those interviews. At the time, they were in person and only at certain airports. For us, the closest place was Dulles, which is two hours away. Everyone in my house applied for global entry in 2014 and when we were approved and needed to schedule our interviews, we planned them around an outgoing flight and made our appointments a couple of hours before departure.
The interview process itself was … interesting. There were four of us, including our 13- and 15-year-olds. We were all simultaneously interviewed at four different desks next to each other.
At one point, I heard one teen say, “My dad? I don’t know what his job is. He works with computers and it sounds really boring.” Moments later, I heard the other one say, “No, I have never committed any felonies. I ride the bus to school and then I ride it back home. Then I have homework. When would I have time to commit crimes?”
We finished soon after and had emails confirming our approval before we even boarded the plane.
So, application fees, background checks, interviews, and fingerprints. Is it all worth it?
YES.
I absofreakinglutely love having Global Entry. Instead of standing in line with dozens or hundreds of other people after we land, we peel off and head to the self-check kiosks. We scan our passports, have our photos taken, and then we answer a few questions on the touch screen. When we're done, we're each given a receipt with our photo on it and we head to the exit of passport control where Global Entry members have a separate line to go through.
From there, it's on to baggage claim — if one has checked luggage, which we now almost never do — and then to customs. As with the passports line, Global Entry members have their own line at customs. If you have anything to claim, you tell the CBP person and you might or might not even be asked to open your luggage for a quick check.
A year or two after we enrolled in Global Entry, we once again flew through the City of Brotherly Love. That 2+ hour ordeal we faced the first time? Was less than 30 minutes the second time.
The last time we traveled to New Zealand, we flew back through LAX. When we got to passport control, the line had hundreds of people in it. We, on the other hand, stepped up to the Global Entry kiosks and were done in five minutes.
And Dulles Airport is my favorite. We've actually timed how long it takes us from the moment we reach passport control, go through the kiosks, walk through baggage claim on our way to customs, and then on through customs and out the exit. Our fastest time is 11 minutes from start to finish.
Yes, you read that correctly: ELEVEN MINUTES. That includes walking times between passport control and customs. For us, since we always have a two-hour drive back home from Dulles — and always while exhausted and jet lagged — not having to stand in long lines to re-enter the country is pretty damn wonderful.
One other small bonus with Global Entry is that we are often given TSA pre-check privileges, even though we're not enrolled in that program too.
To sum up: Global Entry is something of a hassle to join, but it's totally worth the time and money.
What about you? Are you enrolled?
We have global entry with TSA precheck and CLEAR. For those who travel frequently, both are highly recommended. I agree - it greatly reduces the stress level!
As frequent flyers from Newark & Philadelphia, YES!