USofA work trip - ESTA and global entry
Discussion
I’ve just started the process of applying for Global Entry; I’ve been going to the US (Florida) regularly for the last 30 years and for the sake of $100 it will be worth it. We had horrendous queues the last time we flew into Miami (February), and JFK in October last year.
We had a two and half hour connection in JFK (LHR-JFK-MIA), which I thought would be more than enough; the queue was massive and barely moving due to there only being a few border staff on duty. We moved around 100 yards in a hour, so there was no way we were going to make our flight (or the next one, which was the last flight that night). My wife (uncharacteristically) went to the front of the massive queue and explained the situation to what turned out to be a new member of staff, who said she would check with a supervisor…by this time my wife beckoned me to the front and as I passed the staff member asking her supervisor, the response was “tell her to get to the back of the queue”. The trainee must have taken pity on us as she ignored the instruction and when a new border staff member started his shift she told us to move forward. We just made the flight. I estimate the queue we joined was around 3-4 hours long.
The last thing you need after a long flight is the potential for a long wait, especially as we normally have a two hour drive to get to our accommodation.
We had a two and half hour connection in JFK (LHR-JFK-MIA), which I thought would be more than enough; the queue was massive and barely moving due to there only being a few border staff on duty. We moved around 100 yards in a hour, so there was no way we were going to make our flight (or the next one, which was the last flight that night). My wife (uncharacteristically) went to the front of the massive queue and explained the situation to what turned out to be a new member of staff, who said she would check with a supervisor…by this time my wife beckoned me to the front and as I passed the staff member asking her supervisor, the response was “tell her to get to the back of the queue”. The trainee must have taken pity on us as she ignored the instruction and when a new border staff member started his shift she told us to move forward. We just made the flight. I estimate the queue we joined was around 3-4 hours long.
The last thing you need after a long flight is the potential for a long wait, especially as we normally have a two hour drive to get to our accommodation.
Definitely worth the MPC app.
When we landed in Charlotte the other week we were held for 30 mins on the plane as immigration was not open yet, when they let us off, they obviously let off a few other planes at the same time. Immigration was mayhem. But there was a digital lane for MPC users and global entry that only had 8 people in it. We were through in 5 mins and the officer directing thought the rest would be there for 90 mins minimum.
When we landed in Charlotte the other week we were held for 30 mins on the plane as immigration was not open yet, when they let us off, they obviously let off a few other planes at the same time. Immigration was mayhem. But there was a digital lane for MPC users and global entry that only had 8 people in it. We were through in 5 mins and the officer directing thought the rest would be there for 90 mins minimum.
No worries at all
I will be doing the global entry thing in September when I go to Palm Springs (did not have time on Charlotte or Greenville as there is no interview there)
But the app really helped us - was very very good, was surprised that no one really had it - American Airlines even promoted it on the booking and boarding card etc
I will be doing the global entry thing in September when I go to Palm Springs (did not have time on Charlotte or Greenville as there is no interview there)
But the app really helped us - was very very good, was surprised that no one really had it - American Airlines even promoted it on the booking and boarding card etc
brums evil twin said:
Definitely worth the MPC app.
When we landed in Charlotte the other week we were held for 30 mins on the plane as immigration was not open yet, when they let us off, they obviously let off a few other planes at the same time. Immigration was mayhem. But there was a digital lane for MPC users and global entry that only had 8 people in it. We were through in 5 mins and the officer directing thought the rest would be there for 90 mins minimum.
Thanks. What do they ask at the interview?When we landed in Charlotte the other week we were held for 30 mins on the plane as immigration was not open yet, when they let us off, they obviously let off a few other planes at the same time. Immigration was mayhem. But there was a digital lane for MPC users and global entry that only had 8 people in it. We were through in 5 mins and the officer directing thought the rest would be there for 90 mins minimum.
I’ve used Nomad for my last Australia and China work trips with no problems at all. Just set it up when in the lounge before departure and jobs a good’un, along with the VPN’s it’s an essential part of travel now.
Have the work phone too but don’t like to take the proverbial with WhatsApp photo and videos on work trips.
Only difference I had was a statement that I couldn’t buy additional data in China so decide on the correct amount before departure.
For reference, Vodafone wanted ~£7.80 a day to extend my contract in NAM so we avoid that. Will be in Florida for the summer hols and the Disney Genie+ is a critical part of the proceedings so will check the other posted apps for costs as I have tended to stick to Nomad from convenience.
Have the work phone too but don’t like to take the proverbial with WhatsApp photo and videos on work trips.
Only difference I had was a statement that I couldn’t buy additional data in China so decide on the correct amount before departure.
For reference, Vodafone wanted ~£7.80 a day to extend my contract in NAM so we avoid that. Will be in Florida for the summer hols and the Disney Genie+ is a critical part of the proceedings so will check the other posted apps for costs as I have tended to stick to Nomad from convenience.
skeeterm5 said:
If you can fly via Dublin you can clear US customs and immigration before getting onto the plane. When you land you are effectively an internal US flight so straight off, collect luggage and leave.
We have done it a few times and never waited more than 10 minutes in Dublin.
That's interesting to know - thanks.We have done it a few times and never waited more than 10 minutes in Dublin.
When my daughter and I flew into BWI in March with BA, immigration took 10 minutes. We are going back in August for her 1st University semester so will look at going via Dublin
skeeterm5 said:
If you can fly via Dublin you can clear US customs and immigration before getting onto the plane. When you land you are effectively an internal US flight so straight off, collect luggage and leave.
We have done it a few times and never waited more than 10 minutes in Dublin.
Very much this. Also Aer Lingus tend to be quite good value. We have done it a few times and never waited more than 10 minutes in Dublin.
brums evil twin said:
bad company said:
Thanks. What do they ask at the interview?
I have no idea yet - as I have not booked my interview yet - travelling in Sept to Palm Springs and I hope to land in LAX and have the time for an interview.My global entry took nearly 12 months due to an arrest in my background. My kids took a couple of weeks.
I landed on Saturday night at 8:30 in Newark from London. I was home by 9:30. That included immigration, getting bags, ordering 2 Ubers as the first cancelled on me and then a 30 minute drive home. Immigration was 5 seconds of that.
I also have clear which is a total waste of money. You show your boarding pass to a person to join the queue . Then, you need a person to work the self service kiosk and show your boarding pass again. Next you go to the immigration person and show your boarding pass and passport as you would without clear. Madness.
h0b0 said:
I landed on Saturday night at 8:30 in Newark from London. I was home by 9:30. That included immigration, getting bags, ordering 2 Ubers as the first cancelled on me and then a 30 minute drive home. Immigration was 5 seconds of that.
I also have clear which is a total waste of money. You show your boarding pass to a person to join the queue . Then, you need a person to work the self service kiosk and show your boarding pass again. Next you go to the immigration person and show your boarding pass and passport as you would without clear. Madness.
A couple of weeks back my partner landed at JFK T4 and waited in the citizen line in the immigration hall for 95 minutes... I landed two hours later, same terminal, same resident immigration line, and had zero people in front of me. From stepping off the plane to being on the airtrain in ten mins (carry on only). I also have clear which is a total waste of money. You show your boarding pass to a person to join the queue . Then, you need a person to work the self service kiosk and show your boarding pass again. Next you go to the immigration person and show your boarding pass and passport as you would without clear. Madness.
There really is no rhyme or reason for it - sometimes it is a crapshoot, sometimes not.
Clear is a complete waste of time. At JFK recently the security line line was completely ridiculous, wrapping up and down the building several times...and someone was going down the line asking if anyone wanted a free trial of clear, which would bypass this line... so I signed up, which took 2 mins. Was a short line for the clear kiosks, where someone had to operate that....only for the exit from the kiosk to then feed into the regular security line where every single person was having to walk in pairs (random people being paired up if travelling solo) past a sniffer dog with an array of fans blowing the air towards them - I guess they were testing something new. You then had to do the normal boarding pass check and scan.
Very odd, and completely negated the point of clear. Still, I went to cancel it and they offered an extra three months free to give it another go, so I'll see if it works next time.
I've had a Clear membership for more than 15 years. Initially it was very limited to just a few major airports - including MCO, which is my home airport. It made getting through security much faster back in the day. I also added TSA Known Traveler/Pre-Check as soon as I became aware of it.
Today, both are victims of their recruitment success. So many people are now Clear/Pre-Check members that security lines are just as long for them, as for the regular traveling public. My Clear membership came up for renewal last month. I declined it, because it is now worthless.
Today, both are victims of their recruitment success. So many people are now Clear/Pre-Check members that security lines are just as long for them, as for the regular traveling public. My Clear membership came up for renewal last month. I declined it, because it is now worthless.
I have clear and global entry/TSA pre-check free through my credit card. Clear came with a $50 coupon for Uber which was spent on an Uber to the airport.
There’s no way I’d recommend clear to anyone. Waste of time and (free) money.
Global Entry is useful for my family as we travel a lot internationally. I wouldn’t get it if I was only going to use it twice a year unless it was free.
I can see how some would not immediately see value. I went through Heathrow a couple of weeks ago and the electronic immigration worked seamlessly for me and I barely stopped on my way through. As above though. Experiences can vary. My 10 year old daughter got trapped by the system after I was ushered through and told she had got the green light.
When we land in Newark we hit the busiest times. Before global entry we would wait for an hour+ every time. Now we sail through. As with everything, we expect adoption to increase and delays to start.
Also, when going through Newark there’s banks of electronic immigration machines, like those in Heathrow, not being used. They sped things up dramatically and predated the Heathrow machines. Now, they are sat on the side. I assume GE has replaced them and they have been retired. But, Terminal C had 40+ of those and only 10 GE machines.
There’s no way I’d recommend clear to anyone. Waste of time and (free) money.
Global Entry is useful for my family as we travel a lot internationally. I wouldn’t get it if I was only going to use it twice a year unless it was free.
I can see how some would not immediately see value. I went through Heathrow a couple of weeks ago and the electronic immigration worked seamlessly for me and I barely stopped on my way through. As above though. Experiences can vary. My 10 year old daughter got trapped by the system after I was ushered through and told she had got the green light.
When we land in Newark we hit the busiest times. Before global entry we would wait for an hour+ every time. Now we sail through. As with everything, we expect adoption to increase and delays to start.
Also, when going through Newark there’s banks of electronic immigration machines, like those in Heathrow, not being used. They sped things up dramatically and predated the Heathrow machines. Now, they are sat on the side. I assume GE has replaced them and they have been retired. But, Terminal C had 40+ of those and only 10 GE machines.
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