Lately, there has been a lot of talk around the office about Global Entry — a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that gives pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited entry into the United States. Program members can use an automated kiosk for re-entry at most major airports in the U.S, rather than waiting in line for a customs agent.
Though the program is intended for frequent international travelers, there is no minimum number of trips to qualify. And membership automatically enrolls you in TSA PreCheck, a system that sometimes lets you bypass the standard airport routine of removing shoes, computer, etc. — even when traveling domestically.
So what is the price of Global Entry? $100 for five years.
Jeff Clements, a member since November 2011, says it was money well spent. Clements, 50, who takes about two or three international trips per year, says he sometimes feels guilty cruising to the Global Entry kiosk while fellow travelers wait in long lines for an hour or more. Another bonus, he says, has been TSA PreCheck. “It has taken away several of the things I hated about travel and to me to have a little of that pre-9/11 back is great,” he says.
The drawback, of course, is supplying the U.S. government with extensive information. The application process requires a background check, an interview and fingerprinting.
But Christy Boyce, founder of Get Up Go Travel in Marietta, suggests taking a different view. A travel industry expert for nine years, Boyce plans to enroll this year, and she has started mentioning the program to some of her clients.
“It is a good program because everybody’s major complaint with traveling, and especially taking flights, is the long lines. This is the best way around that even if you are not traveling internationally,” says Boyce, 41. “I’m fast paced. I like to get going. I don’t want to waste time.”
Privacy concerns shouldn’t be much of a concern if you have nothing to hide, Boyce says. “In some ways, it is something that can make you safer. When people travel internationally, they may look at travel warnings, but they don’t always notify the embassy. If my country knows where I am going and how long I am going to be there, I think that is a benefit.”
There are a few ways to get the program for free. Some credit card holders including American Express Platinum and Citi Prestige receive a $100 reimbursement once they are approved. The same goes for very frequent fliers on airlines such as United Airlines.
Global Entry doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be subjected to further examination when entering the country, though it certainly reduces the odds of that happening. Nor will you always get the benefit of TSA PreCheck. But if you travel by plane at least twice a year (even within the country and certainly internationally), it may be worth paying $20 for the luxury of skipping the line a few times.
So bring lunch to work for a month and the cost of your Global Entry will be paid, while a bit of your sanity is preserved.
