New to Global Entry….

No, you do not need to show your card. Just walk up to the kiosk, look into the camera and you should be walking away a few seconds later. It's incredibly easy. I just went through at MSP yesterday and it took about 5-10 seconds all together.

That said, I usually do have my card with me, just in case. But I've never had to pull it out.

Once it is registered with the airlines, you are OK but we do carry it. The only place we found useful was entering the US from a cruise ship.

But do I need to carry the card as well?

How big/heavy is it?

I have never had to show my GE card on re-entry to the US.

I do carry it for a just in case scenario if systems are down upon arrival. Anything to speed up the process.

How big/heavy is it?

The size of a driver's license. I always carry mine in case there is any question.

You don't have to carry it. But like others said, if there is a technical problem and you can prove you have GE, you will be escorted to the front of the line.

I always have mine.

Ok, thanks for the replies. So, no we don’t need it but everybody seems to carry it, ‘just in case’. 😉 So I guess I’ll do the same.

To clarify a small point, you don’t need to have your Known Traveler Number registered with the airline to use Global Entry. That’s for TSApre to show on your boarding pass. When you enter the country, your ability to use Global Entry doesn’t depend upon any connection to the airline. In practical terms, that means you can use Global Entry when flying with airlines that don’t participate in TSApre (thus preventing you from registering your KTN with them). TSApre requires cooperation from the airline; Global Entry doesn’t.

I've actually never received a Global Entry card, and I've been registered for 15 years. The TSA told me two separate times they sent me one, but I never received it. Never been a problem, though, as GE is entirely digital.

We used our actual cards last summer when returning to the US vis Calgary airport. Apparently at that entry point they start processing 2 hours before flight time. With the card we cleared at our leisure.

Get the GE app, makes US passport control a breeze. Cleared Boston Logan last night in under 30 seconds. The officer saw our phones with the approval number and waived us through.

The GE card, a government issued photo ID, can be used as a substitute Real ID card, for boarding US domestic flights, gaining entry to Federal buildings, etc. Never used it as such, but a pretty valuable card to carry at all times.

That is interesting, thanks, Jojo R.