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Don't you have to let them do CIA level background checks on you and everyone you associate with though? Even though I have nothing to hide, the invasiveness creeps me out.
Also the card is a tracking device (outside the protective sleeve). But so is your phone. And your face.
The only benefit is expedited processing through customs and immigration when you return from international trips. Even if you think you will only take one international trip in the next five years it is worth it. The normal processing can take a relatively long time even for US citizens especially if more than one flight has landed at the same time.
Yeah. Try coming back from Mexico into Dallas when there are a few international flights arriving close together. We were in that giant hall for at least 90 minutes walking back and forth through like a 25 turn queue. Meanwhile the global entry kiosks were getting people in and out in 5 minutes. That's when the light bulb went off in our heads.
If flying through IND, the pre-check line tends to be longer than the standard line a lot of times so it wouldn't be worth it there either unless you just want to keep your shoes on and your stuff in your bag. If you want shorter lines, it's not a guarantee of a shorter line, but it does speed things up by allowing you to keep your stuff tucked away.
I've had good and bad experiences. Once I didn't take off my belt (like the sign says I don't have to in pre-check) and set off the metal detector. I was confused because of the whole "don't have to take off your shoes, jacket, belt" The agent was very rude. I had to take it off and go through again. Not seeing the point to it all.
And the lines are sometimes just as long.
And if you travel with someone who doesn't have pre-check you'll have to go through the regular line or separate from them.
If you ever travel internationally, Global Entry is worth the cost
Quote:
Originally Posted by ponytrekker
Also the card is a tracking device (outside the protective sleeve). But so is your phone. And your face.
Saying "the card is a tracking device" is FUD.
At worst, the card is more like your face than your phone -- passive RFID is not a wide-area broadcast protocol, and you can cover it up in tinfoil if you don't want to be tracked.
Global Entry saved my family from what appeared to be at least a 90 minute line to clear immigration in Toronto. A few weeks later having it saved us at least an hour getting through security in MIA. So far it's been worth it.
While 100M will Fly Thru Atlanta, O&D traffic is 15M, Yes the lines on Sunday night/Monday Mornings, Friday Might can be long, Rest of the week is not bad, (The non/main TSA Security Side Locations, are shorter) and if you go to the new international terminal there is almost never a line.
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If you ever travel internationally, Global Entry is worth the cost
