Global entry & TSA precheck

[darkfrosty]

Some of my cards have this benefit to get for free. I havent flown in like 8 years but want to in the future. Would it be dumb to get either of these? I mean I know you have to go thru an interview. Im just wondering if I havent traveled in a long time will it hinder me getting either of them ?

[RockinRay]

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@darkfrosty wrote:

Some of my cards have this benefit to get for free. I havent flown in like 8 years but want to in the future. Would it be dumb to get either of these? I mean I know you have to go thru an interview. Im just wondering if I havent traveled in a long time will it hinder me getting either of them ?

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Which cards do you have that offer this?

[Nova5041]

 I would definitely recommend getting global entry over tsa precheck even if you only leave the country once, its still worth it in my opinion, and not traveling will not hinder you in getting either one.

[Anonymous]

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@darkfrosty wrote:

Some of my cards have this benefit to get for free. I havent flown in like 8 years but want to in the future. Would it be dumb to get either of these? I mean I know you have to go thru an interview. Im just wondering if I havent traveled in a long time will it hinder me getting either of them ?

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Hi darkfrosty - I don't think it's dumb at all! If you do begin travel again, it is a great asset to have, especially when you don't have to pay for it! Global Entry is fantastic when you re-enter the US as you just go to a kiosk, swipe your passport answer a couple of questions on the kiosk, and off you go. No waiting in lines for hours and no need to fill out the manual paper entry forms. TSA Precheck is great (so long as you enter in your Known Traveler Number into your airline reservation) as you are gauranteed precheck entry (IF the Precheck lanes are open at the airport). In Precheck you will not be required to remove your shoes (unless you wear spikey heels like me all of the time which set off the metal detectors), coats, liquids or laptops. There is also talk that the airlines/TSA will stop randomly assigning pre-check for those who not have an assigned Known Traveler number. I personally hope this happens sooner rather than later so the Precheck lines stop filling up. 

Regarding the interview, lack of travel shouldn't hinder anything. They ask a few simple questions upon arrival and then issue you your information. My recommendation is to apply for Global Entry which comes with Precheck so you are covered for almost any travel scenario. 

[Anonymous]

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@darkfrosty wrote:

Some of my cards have this benefit to get for free. I havent flown in like 8 years but want to in the future. Would it be dumb to get either of these? I mean I know you have to go thru an interview. Im just wondering if I havent traveled in a long time will it hinder me getting either of them ?

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No, the fact that you haven't flown in 8 years won't afffect your ability to get either.  Having said that, don't bother with TSA  precheck and get the Global Entry.  Even if you don't have any plans to fly internationally, Global Entry serves as TSA precheck and it will be there if you ever travel internationally.  GE makes a huge difference in wait time thru Customs so it's well worth it.  Being 'free is even better.

[iced]

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@darkfrosty wrote:

Some of my cards have this benefit to get for free. I havent flown in like 8 years but want to in the future. Would it be dumb to get either of these? I mean I know you have to go thru an interview. Im just wondering if I havent traveled in a long time will it hinder me getting either of them ?

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They're too lax with letting people in if anything. Those of us who do fly frequently have watched the Pre-Check lines clog with kettles who don't know to toss their phone in their bag or to not take their laptop out. Fortunately, the Global Entry side of things still moves rather well.

I doubt you'll have any problems passing the interview, even if you haven't travelled at all lately.

As for getting them, if you travel domestically at least monthly, or internationally at least 1-2 times a year, they're worth their weight in gold. Depending on airport, it either makes security a little less painful or a 90 second affair (barring the aforementioned kettles tripping over themselves and slowing things up). If you haven't flown in 8 years, and are thinking of maybe flying once in the near future, it's probably more hassle doing the interview than the convenience and time you save at the airport.

[CreditEd]

Clarification on how it works.

TSA Pre will allow you to use the Security screening line where you don't have to take your shoes off or open your bags or exhume your computer.

As someone commented earlier the TSA Pre lines are now EXTREMELY long because so many people have applied for this service over the past two years, but the Airports have no added more TSA Prescreening lines to match the demand. I flew two weeks ago, and the regular lines actually moved faster because while there were 2 TSA Pre lines, there were 8 regular lines. 

Global Entry allows you to use the same TSA Pre lines when flying domestically or Internationally. The Benefirst of the G/E program is in international travel. You don't need to fill out customs forms when you re enter the US, and you don't need to stand in the long passport screening kiosks once you get to the US Airportt. Customs has 10-20 very rarely used kiosks reserved just for G/E users. Once you have scanned your passport a custom agent simply takes the receipt printed by the Kiosk (if you were cleared).

My buddy has TSA Pre and I have G/E. I was through customs and done with bag pickup 20 minutes before he ever go to back pickup carousel.

TSA Pre is about $65 while G/E is $100. When you pay for G/E you are automatically enrolled in TSA Pre.

One more advantadge is that you can register your Gloabal Entry  registration number in to your favorits airline booking sites (Delta, JetBlue etc) and save this number with your profile. EVERY ticket that you buy Domestic or International will be qualified for TSA Express lines no matter if you have bought a Coach or First Class ticket. Again once you get to the airport you will need to judge the speed of the deomestic TSA Pre security lines. 

Hope this helps...

[sillykitty1]

I have Pre Check, and not Global Entry.  Although I agree Global Entry is a better option, there are some practical reasons to choose TSA Pre Check instead

The appointment dates are much further out for GE vs, TSA Pre.  I was able to get a TSA Pre appt within a couple of days, where as GE appointments are 8+ weeks out.  I travel for work and my schedule is far too unpredictable to know for certain I'll be in town & available.

There are many more TSA Pre locations, and they are far more convenient.  GE appt locations are at large airports, and border crossings.  While TSA PRe locations are in smaller airports and also random office complexes.  Living in SoCal my 2 GE locations are either LAX or at the border, south of San Diego.  My closest TSA Pre location was in a quiet office park about 5 miles from my home.

If you're traveling companion/s don't have GE, then it really negates any benefit you derive from it.  If I have TSA Pre and the other person does not, I still save the shoes, computer removal hassle.  There is also pretty good odds, my companion might be randomly selected for TSA Pre as well.  

I haven't found immigration lines long enough to regret not getting GE.  I've traveled 5 times internationally in the last year.  Not once would GE have saved me more than 15 minutes.  Maybe it's because 4 out of the 5 times, I've done immigration at LAX?

Lastly, IME, 90% of the time the Pre Check line is faster than the regular line.  The biggest problem I have with it, is it is full of "low risk travelers" who get randomly selected for Pre Check.  This slows down the process because low risk travelers are, children, older people, and infrequent traveler. Exactly the opposite of whom frequent travelers want to share a line with.

[Anonymous]

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@sillykitty1 wrote:

I have Pre Check, and not Global Entry.  Although I agree Global Entry is a better option, there are some practical reasons to choose TSA Pre Check instead

The appointment dates are much further out for GE vs, TSA Pre.  I was able to get a TSA Pre appt within a couple of days, where as GE appointments are 8+ weeks out.  I travel for work and my schedule is far too unpredictable to know for certain I'll be in town & available.

There are many more TSA Pre locations, and they are far more convenient.  GE appt locations are at large airports, and border crossings.  While TSA PRe locations are in smaller airports and also random office complexes.  Living in SoCal my 2 GE locations are either LAX or at the border, south of San Diego.  My closest TSA Pre location was in a quiet office park about 5 miles from my home.- While true about the number of locations, if you live near a major airport often the wait time is far less than 8 weeks for GE.  I was able to get my appointment at Dulles the week after I decided to get it.  That was no different than when I did TSA precheck

I haven't found immigration lines long enough to regret not getting GE.  I've traveled 5 times internationally in the last year.  Not once would GE have saved me more than 15 minutes.  Maybe it's because 4 out of the 5 times, I've done immigration at LAX? -  On my last international flight, from Sydney to LAX, GE saved me well over 30 minutes and probably longer.  Maybe it was the time of day when we landed which was first thing in the morning but those 30+ minutes were well worth getting the GE after an 13+ hour flight.

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[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@sillykitty1 wrote:

I have Pre Check, and not Global Entry.  Although I agree Global Entry is a better option, there are some practical reasons to choose TSA Pre Check instead

The appointment dates are much further out for GE vs, TSA Pre.  I was able to get a TSA Pre appt within a couple of days, where as GE appointments are 8+ weeks out.  I travel for work and my schedule is far too unpredictable to know for certain I'll be in town & available.

There are many more TSA Pre locations, and they are far more convenient.  GE appt locations are at large airports, and border crossings.  While TSA PRe locations are in smaller airports and also random office complexes.  Living in SoCal my 2 GE locations are either LAX or at the border, south of San Diego.  My closest TSA Pre location was in a quiet office park about 5 miles from my home.- While true about the number of locations, if you live near a major airport often the wait time is far less than 8 weeks for GE.  I was able to get my appointment at Dulles the week after I decided to get it.  That was no different than when I did TSA precheck

I haven't found immigration lines long enough to regret not getting GE.  I've traveled 5 times internationally in the last year.  Not once would GE have saved me more than 15 minutes.  Maybe it's because 4 out of the 5 times, I've done immigration at LAX? -  On my last international flight, from Sydney to LAX, GE saved me well over 30 minutes and probably longer.  Maybe it was the time of day when we landed which was first thing in the morning but those 30+ minutes were well worth getting the GE after an 13+ hour flight.

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I agree with everyone else although I would say to think carefully before deciding upon TSA PRE over GE. Ultimately it's an individual decision and one that may be based on a pressing need for upcoming travel vs the greater benefits of the other. I'd like to add my 2 cents..

Even though my GE appointment was scheduled several months out I was still able to secure an appointment within 2 weeks of my original application date just by checking in regularly for canceled appts. Every person I've advised to sign up in my area has been able to secure a much sooner appointment by doing this as well. There is also a open source program available online that automates this if the person is technically savy.

I have traveled with others who do not have GE. Unless they are immediate family and/or somehow require your assistance it is best just to head on through and avoid the headache and hassles of the line and wait outside at your leisure. I'm quite literally through in under 3 minutes while I've had to wait almost 1.5 hour for a friend, I was able to do this at the location of my discretion (read: restroom at my leisure and then bar). My friends were only upset in the fact that they were jealous.