Global Entry Value Anymore?

Oh, that’s interesting. I came in through Salt Lake City in May and there were still dedicated lines for GE.

Are they trialing a new system at SFO?

Must be a recent development. When I went through 3 weeks ago there were seperate lines for GE and those with US passports but without GE.

Edit. Trial of a new GE system.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/global-entry-camera-capture-technology-trials/

Global Entry is still worth it.

I'm guessing you have GE. That could be one of the reasons you got through quickly. Without GE, you might be selected to talk to an officer.

I belileve they are updating the system. I entered JFK two weeks ago. The older GE facial recognition machine gave me a hard time. When I was moved to one of the newer machines, I was through in seconds. Suprisingly, GE had the older machines but MPC had the newer ones.

Should something happen to the new technologry, if you can prove you have GE, you will be escorted to the front of the line.

I've only used it twice so far for clearing Customs, and both times the GE line was quick and easy, but the regular line wasn't all that long either. So maybe I saved ten minutes each time. And that's fine and well.

But for those twenty minutes I've "saved" I spent HOURS applying for GE and going back to the airport for the interview and of course paying the fee. (Hopefully I'll use it many more times so it eventually pays off!)

I'll also mention that my husband and I applied on the same day and he got his approval the very next day, and mine took four MONTHS. I didn't even get it in time for the trip we had planned, so he got to use it and I didn't. But even then I was only a few minutes behind him.

Of course I have used it many times to go through the PreCheck line, and that is a benefit although regular PreCheck would work just as well for that and is easier/cheaper to get.

So far I have not found it to be worth it in time saved versus time and money spent, but I only leave the country maybe once a year, so someone who travels more often might reap more benefits.

Besides the value of clearing passport control with little or no issue, it has a lot of value with TSA Pre-check.

I've used the card as an ID a couple of times in Europe. Thats sort of nice. One time, in complete disregard of immigration law LOL (but G-d Bless you and thank you guys), I was let into the country on my GE Card as I didnt have my passport.

Clearing immigration at SFO last Wednesday afternoon, ALL us passport holders were directed to a single line.

I haven’t seen a single line but it is possible they were short staffed. At Newark in June, they had a single camera rather than multiple kiosks but there was still a separate line for global entry.

I just cleared customs at ATL yesterday and still had designated line for GE. Regular line wasn't so busy when we landed.

But it was first time I used the GE app for photos for kid and I, which we took as soon as we landed and I knew arrival terminal (app asked for terminal).
We had to go in one line for the photo machines but as soon as we could bypass line, we went straight to officer and just showed photos on phone screen. I tried the app this time because their machines gave my child a hard time earlier this year.

To add. I learned about the GE app from someone in this forum, so thank you!

When I was waiting for suitcase, someone who was behind me at GE line came up to me and said “I saw you bypassed photo machine on GE line” so I told him about the app.

We find it very nice for TSA PreCheck - but we agree that coming back to the States after being abroad hasn't helped us at all since the MPC (Mobile Passport Control app) came out. We always travel with friends who do NOT have Global Entry, but they do have the MPC app and they go through that line as we go the the GE line and every time, they get through quicker than us or the same as us. This is going through ATL, CLT, JFK only - so we can't speak for other airports - but this has happened 6 times so far as we go to Europe twice a yr.

I have TSA Pre-check, it was much easier to get as I am not near a place where they offer interviews for Global Entry. I could not justify the effort to book and go to an interview for a 2-3 time a year event.

Global entry works great for someone who's destination airport is also their first port of entry, and they have carry-on baggage only. Get to the desks, get through, and out the door. If you have checked bags, you get through, then wait for bags with all the other people who were behind you, then for a transfer, on to security, where GE or TSA Precheck do not help you (at least at the airports I have been through)

I have the MPC app, use that, usually get through as quick, often sooner than the GE people, and then we all wait for bags.

The frustrating thing is that with all the data they have collected on you, the biometrics, face recognition, and flight info, a simple egate would suffice for US passport holders, scan and go.

"Global entry works great for someone who's destination airport is also their first port of entry, and they have carry-on baggage only."

It actually works well for those of us with connections. Sometimes the connection in Seattle for the next Spokane flight is fairly short although there are usually other flights later. I can almost always make a connection with under an hour using GE and carry on. If I'm flying Delta One and can be off the plane in the first few I've made it in about 25 minutes and that is with a LOOONG walk from the arrival gate.

In SEA we had separate GE line and other passport lines. No kiosks any more for the GE side in Seattle, just walk through a 'portal' that takes your photo as you walk. It's the new GE technology that is supposed to replace the kiosks. I remember reading that there are select airports testing out this new system. Sounds like SFO was equally as quick.

Coming back from Europe two weeks ago we came through Montreal enroute to Chicago. In Montreal, we were ushered into a single line for US border control, even though there was another line at the far end for Global Entry. The line we were in moved quickly, we smiled for the camera (as you describe), got the green check mark, and we were on our way. I don't regret getting Global Entry, but if new technology is making it obsolete, I'm okay with that too.

We always travel with friends who do NOT have Global Entry, but they do have the MPC app and they go through that line as we go the the GE line and every time, they get through quicker than us or the same as us.

Earlier this year, we cleared immigration in Sacramento. My husband doesn't have GE and he ended up going thru faster (with regular kiosk line) than my kid and I (machine was a pain for my kid). I used the GE app yesterday and it worked great so I'm using it going forward.

Global Entry is still worth it, IMO. I can't imagine that what you encountered at SFO will always be there in the future, that would be incredibly inefficient. I suspect it was some sort of system upgrade, or other random techy problem. Meanwhile, even if you stand in the same line, you're going to get cleared quickly because they already have you as Global Entry.

But thanks for the warning, will be aware of it returning at SFO in October!

Interested if anyone else comes through SFO after August 1st and has a different experience?

I'm not sure Global Entry is worth it anymore as MPC is just as fast, if not faster.

My daughter and I recently flew into MSP last week from Norway. I used Global Entry, and she used the MPC app. She was standing there waiting for me by the time I got through Global Entry. Mine was quick but MPC was quicker, as she didn't have to stop and eye the camera.

That said, as long as my credit card company will pay for it, I don't mind having it, but I don't think it would be worth it if I had to pay for it myself.

Thank you Joy for the app info. I’m going to download it now.

One nice benefit of GE is that when you're driving back into the US from Canada or Mexico, you get to skip the immense line that forms at the border and go in your own, special, uncrowded lane.

The sour looks alone are worth it!

-- Mike Beebe

“Earlier this year, we cleared immigration in Sacramento.”

Joy, were you flying in from Canada or Mexico? As far as I know there are no other international flights arriving in Sacramento. It’s my home airport and flying United we usually have to go through passport control in San Francisco or another United hub.

@Andrea - it was our first time clearing immigration in Sacramento coming from Mexico.
Our flight on Delta was through LAX to Sacramento, but they oversold the Cabo-LAX segment so put us on direct flight with Alaska to Sacramento. (We got good compensation for it and arrived about same time).

Retrieving bag was a nightmare as we had to wait for it twice - they didn't allow you to take checked luggage with you on the little tram.

Most of my international trips are actually from/to SFO (Delta) but occasionally we get good flights from Sacramento. We do use SMF for domestic travel when price is better than SFO. We live between both and although distance is about the same, drive to Sacramento is so much faster.

I use MPC, and in JFK, Boston, and EWR (although back in 2019) the MPC line dumps into the GE line so I go through just as quickly.

And as someone else mentioned, GE background checks and appt availability at an Intl airport isn't always easy for everyone, so I'll just take my TSA Precehck and MPC and am fine.

Just used GE flying into JFK Terminal 8 from LHR. There were at least 3 other widebody international arrivals at the same time so the queues for passport control were very long.

But the GE kiosks were basically deserted. I was through in less than 30 seconds.

Meanwhile, the standard U.S. resident passport line (including MPC) was at least 20 minutes, and the foreign entry line was 45-60 minutes.

I've had similarly great experiences recently at IAD and BOS, as well: GE is still a big time saver.