Global Entry obsolete?

Global Entry comes with TSA precheck which is a plus.

Until the process you describe is at all airports, the mobile passport app is quick and easy. Download and look over in advanced Once you land while on the airplane, answer the questions in the app, take a selfie to upload then get in the mobile passport line which is much shorter than the regular line.

Interesting question. I definitely did not see this returning to SFO in May. I saw long Qs for Americans returning, very short Q if you use, “mobile passport app“, and zero Q for global entry. You are correct global entry application process is a pain, but I’ve had it for 6 years. It was auto-renewed online, The interview was unpleasant .run by a rude Homeland security agent. Since you only travel once a year overseas, I would look into downloading the mobile passport app just in case you come back with many planes arriving at the same time and don’t get through quickly.

Return immigration for U.S. passport holders in the regular lines at Dulles has been taking far longer than a half hour. OP, sounds like you had a fortunate experience. My past two Wash Dulles experiences have been more like SFO described above. So, I’d say, no, it’s not obsolete.

Not obsolete but you really don't need it considering the development you described, the application process/ interview and fees and your once a year travel habit

. I definitely did not see this returning to SFO in May. I saw long Qs for Americans returning, very short Q if you use, “mobile passport app“, and zero Q for global entry.

Same for me entering at Atlanta twice in June.

You can read about the new Enhanced Passenger Processing here:

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/chicago-cbp-and-chicago-department-aviation-introduce-updated

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-prepares-summer-travel-improved-time-saving-tools

I experienced it last month arriving back at O’Hare. You can read about my experience here:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/fyi-enhanced-passenger-processing-epp-at-chicago-o-hare-and-other-airports

I see no need to pay for Global Entry if this new process is available at your airport.

I have had Global Entry since 2016, and am glad I have it, especially for TSA pre-check.

However, if I were contemplating going through the hassles of obtaining it today, I am not too sure I would bother, at least given the difficulties I read about getting the pre approval interview which is really a stupid hurdle given you submit to a background check, fingerprinting, etc.

GE may very well be approaching obsolescence, but I will continue to keep it and renew unless they throw some obstacle in my path like scheduling another in person interview. I will not go through that again, I live nowhere near an airport where that service is offered, and I thought it was a ridiculous hurdle the first time I did it. I think the #1 reason they did it back then was to obtain your handprints for the kiosks when you returned to the US, but that technology has gone the way of the dodo given the facial recognition tech they use today.

Since I live in Atlanta, I have to come back through here quite often. Global entry is an absolute must for me.

Atlanta seems to specialize in finding ways to complicate and delay the immigration process

we've found that the 'regular' immigration process on return usually takes less than a half hour, which is fine.

Yes this is true at Terminal 1 MSP (Delta, KLM, Air France), usually 5-15 minutes even, but on a couple of occasions returning at Terminal 2 MSP (Icelandair, Condor, Sun Country) I’ve waited over 1-1/2 hours, only 2 agents sometimes for 2 planes.

Global Entry is free with the Chase United Explorer card (no fee the first year).

The TSA precheck is a huge bonus as stated already. I’ve flown domestically 10 times this year. The one time I forgot to input my KTN into a reservation (Hawaiian, I don’t have a profile with that airline) I got the regular line and had forgotten what a circus that is.

MSP doesn’t have rude TSA or immigration/customs staff.

There’s currently no waiting for global entry appointments @ MSP.

Good discussion. fyi - in the link provided by Carrie above, I see the list of airports that have the process so far: "Enhanced Passenger Processing is available to U.S. citizens at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Cross Border Xpress (CBX), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), Dublin Airport (DUB)."
Happy travels to all!.

There is no reason for it not to be, Border Control simply needs to get on the ball and roll out something, anything. For a period of time, most of the airports I went to had kiosks, speeded things up tremendously...then they all went away. Mobile Passport Control came out, airports I used advertised it, had the app, did the questions, get to immigration and no separate line, agents working the line, standing right in front of a poster advertising it, knew nothing about it (though I have used it a number of times to great benefit)

But to one of your points, no, if you travel once a year, the hassle for Global Entry is probably not worth it. The people who do see benefit are those who fly into the nightmare airports (you know them), are carry-on only, and the airport is usually their final destination. Otherwise, at the airports I fly into (ATL, MSP, DTW) I get through immigration, even the regular line, in not much more time than GE, and catch up with them and wait for luggage, then wait again with them at security (since I always have a connecting flight). If you have a connecting flight, and plan your layover smartly, then at most GE means you get a longer wait at your gate for the connecting flight. If TSA Precheck is of value, it is much less a hassle to get (no limited interview slot to book) and can be done in almost any city with an airport easily.

Return immigration for U.S. passport holders in the regular lines at Dulles has been taking far longer than a half hour. OP, sounds like you had a fortunate experience. My past two Wash Dulles experiences have been more like SFO described above. So, I’d say, no, it’s not obsolete.

Rachel, I completely agree and absolutely avoid Dulles whenever possible. However, it is a major hub and rarely can we escape it when traveling internationally. This past June, I vowed to never go through that airport again. Although we were delighted with the speed of our Global Entry process there (GE totally worth it, IMO), we had salt in our carry on bags from the mines in Austria. 45 minutes later and every. single. container. opened and scrutinized, analyzed with special fluids and papers, they had ruined our gifts we'd hoped to give from the salt mines, contaminated them all with their nasty 'gloved' hands (same gloves they used to inspect every other persons items) we were allowed to proceed into the country. I gave myself and my husband a well-deserved pat on the back to for not letting the 'inside my head' words escape from my mouth.

So, although GE was carefree and fast, the other parts of the process of re-entry may not be in whatever airport you are in.

I'll add to Paul's possible reasons for needing GE are if you wind up with short transit times after your International leg. I made it from the door of the plane thru SLC Immigration, Customs and Security to my gate in about 25 minutes last Fall to make a flight to Spokane that was boarding 1st class when I got there.

And Pre-check is one of the bigger side benefits. But you can obtain Pre-check status by itself. We have renewed GE twice and both times the credit card company paid for it so we will keep on using it though some of the other option look attractive especially if you only use it once a year.

Coming back on 3 Aug at SFO after the 11 hour flight from Paris around noon, I experienced the long lines regarding that specific issue,

It took a long time, more than 30 mins, (I didn't time it since it was of no matter anyway as SFO was the terminus) before the first luggage piece was thrown out . Don't know anything about Global Entry as I am not part of it, not interested.

tripletblessings, just seeing your post about IAD. So sorry you had that experience with the baggage inspection! I was being kind in my comment above. I've been in the regular line at Dulles where medical attention was needed because a woman collapsed while waiting. That particular trip, the restrooms next to immigration were a disaster zone. I always say that it's embarrassing that this is some travelers' first experience in the U.S. Also, I think many of the planes arrive around shift change; that doesn't help the situation. When you become used to the system at Heathrow, for example, it's exacerbating for people who don't have GE to return to the slow process at Dulles.

I love GE for a good reason. The last few times I've come into JFK, I've gone from plane through immigration and customs and out the terminal door in less than 10 minutes.

The same for RDU.

GE is a lifesaver at LAX, I swear it sees you as you exit the plane and you're already approved and saunter past ready to fight for your luggage.

And a lot of credit cards will pay for it, plus you get PreCheck so why the heck not.

One note about Precheck - we were on a Delta/Virgin codeshare to London out of LAX, we started at Delta and they gave us a boarding pass and then said you need to go to Virgin and get another boarding pass. Great system guys. So the Delta boarding pass said PreCheck and I didn't bother to look at the Virgin pass, guess what. TSA didn't want to hear about it, we had to do the disrobing bit in the "normal" line. So check your papers!