Just wanted to revist this topic.

How many of you guys are enrolled in Global Entry, and what has been your experience?

With the new AMEX perk of paying for one of us, I am considering it, but just want to be sure it really works and that it is worth it, since from what I understand, I will need to pay for hubby. Plus, we will have to make a trip to Houston or Dallas to get through the process.

I enrolled before the Amex perk. So far everything working well. It saves a lot of lines but you still have to wait for your luggage. I was processed in ATL and scheduled a time between flights.

My David is enrolled already, so I plan to take advantage too. For Roar, he will beat me through i guess....

We are both enrolled. It is so nice to zip right by the often humungous lines. Yes, you do have to wait for your luggage, but there is also (usually) a dedicated line at customs for GE.

LOVE Global Entry. We used it the first time coming back from Turkey last week. No line at all at JFK at the kiosk. Yes, we did have to wait for luggage, but that was ok. And (I didn't realize this then), you don't have to fill out that customs form they give you on the airplane. You just type your answers in at the kiosk. Super easy.
We flew down to Houston to get ours on a Sunday as I didn't want to have to take a day off work, and I wanted to get it before our next trip. Flew down, had lunch at Pappadeaux's, did the VERY quick interview with fingerprinting and eye scan, flew home. Hardest part was filling out the online form that asks for every country you have visited in the last 5 or 10 years!

Wow, flying from Tulsa to Houston for the day just to get it....you were SERIOUS about this, RachelG, so I'm glad you love it! I hope to get it someday, but won't even drive the 3 hours it takes me to get to a major airport for the interview. Maybe I'll have a layover in PHL on my way to Montreal this fall and can fit it in. Anything to shorten those entry lines whenever re-entering the US on some flights would be great.

I have no idea what countries I've visited in last 5-10 years, as often cruises hit so many. I hope those stamps in my passport are all in good ink!

Rachel, at least you got to have lunch at Pappadeaux's! :yummy1:

Well, we had to go either to Dallas or Houston to get it, and Dallas office only is open during the week which would have meant a day off work. I looked at all my trips coming up, and none had a layover that was long enough or at the right time to do the interview. Thus the special weekend day trip to Houston. But I got to read a good book and have a really good lunch (with a couple of glasses of wine) with my hubby. So well worth it.

Just wondering how long the interview process lasted and did the TSA folks meet the scheduled appointment time? We have a couple of hours layover in Houston coming up on a trip in a couple of months, so I was thinking of making the application if it looks likely we might be able to get the interview done during our layover. Hate to make a special trip to Houston just for the interview.

Like Cindy, I'm interested as well, as I didn't do it on the way to Montreal in the fall. Have a cruise coming up in April, and thinking since I am flying out of Dulles, could arrange before the flight right at the airport. But that meeting schedule time would be important. Has anyone done it right at the airport who might lend some advice?

Pat & I did our interviews at Orlando Sanford Airport. They were ready for us at the appointment time and the entire process took less than 20 minutes each. It seems to help if you have a passport full of visas (ours had extra pages and were quite full) since the program is for frequent travelers. They were supposed to ask some questions about our travels but said it wasn't necessary since they could see we had been lots of places.

I did the interview in Houston in November. Everything on schedule. There were 4 of us scheduled at the same. Watched a short video on how kiosk works, were fingerprinted and had photo taken. Takes place in terminal E. If you aren't flying internationally your only problem might be getting to and from terminal E (C & D in same location). Houston isn't the easiest places to change terminals. The good news is that the approval is lightening fast. Had my email by the time I arrived home (about an hour drive). And card arrived in mail 4 days later. MY bad news is that my fingerprints didn't take, even after 4 tries. TSA overrides this but it means I will always get an error message when using the system and need to see an agent. I can still go to the front of the line. They said this happens with people that have worked with paper most of their life. I was a librarian but they mentioned CPA's fingers are usually the worst. Also, you only have 30 days to do your interview once your application has been approved, so try to time it accordingly. Wishing everyone good ridges on their fingers.

We did it at FLL and were taken on time. Thirty minutes later we were on the way home. I also had trouble with my fingerprints but they said its quite common.

We used it in Miami on our way home from Paris last summer and it was so fast. If there are any problems at all you go to the front of the line. There was a TSA agent at the kiosk helping.

Will be trying it again in March in Newark on the way home from Hong Kong.

The best part is no customs!!! We just walked out the door.

Betty - How long did it take to get the paper part of the application approved?

We filed online and had the approval in about 5 days.

I also filed online but my approval took about 6 weeks. Maybe Sept was their busy season. Be certain to charge to your AMX platinum. Had that credit in about 3 days. There are 3 phone numbers listed for Houston and they are very good about answering any questions over the phone. That was probably my only irritation with the entire system. They would answer phone and answer ALL those questions before helping those in the office. I jokingly told them they needed a receptionist and they agreed.
Doris did you get the error slip with your fingerprint problem? Or did yours finally work?
I will use it for the 1st time in ATL in 3 weeks.

I am not sure what you all are talking about. Is this where you can zip through security lines only for international flights? What is the cost? Can you get this at any international airport?

Betty, It worked, but took a few tries. There was no line so it didn't bother anyone. You will love it, it saves so much time and no waiting on line.

johnandjudy, This gets you through passport control and customs. The cost was $100.00 but it is refundable if you use your plat amex card. You can apply on line and they will email a date to be interviewed. Very easy and fast process. In Fll it is done at the TSA/customs building in the Port Everglades complex. The hardest part was finding the right building.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful info - once again our LCT community has offered some great advice!!