Global Entry question

[Koolau]

You don’t need the card unless you are returning across a land border.

You don’t need the card at airports returning international flight.

Always nice to have a back up to your phone??

 

[audreyh1]

Always nice to have a back up to your phone??

You simply don’t need the card when flying, you don’t need a phone either. Upon arrival back to the US you stand in front of a Global Entry kiosk and the camera recognizes you. That’s it. That is all you need for entry.

The card is really for using the fast lane when driving across a border into the US. It can be used for cruises leaving and returning from the US. It is not used at all at airports,

 

[Texas Proud]

I am surprised it would take so long to get... we had our 5 minute interview at the airport and got our cards maybe a week or two later...

 

[Aerides]

I believe you need the number in your profile with the airline before you book the ticket? Certainly before you check in/get your boarding pass. If the pass says you have GE, you are good.

 

[braumeister]

I believe you need the number in your profile with the airline before you book the ticket? Certainly before you check in/get your boarding pass. If the pass says you have GE, you are good.

I don't know about all airlines, but with the ones I've used it's possible to edit your booking to give them your KTN at any time before checking in. That will put PreCheck on your boarding pass.

 

[audreyh1]

I think at least a few days before check-in is recommended. They do review the passenger lists ahead of time. That’s what I was told ~10 years ago.

 

[SecondAttempt]

I think at least a few days before check-in is recommended. They do review the passenger lists ahead of time. That’s what I was told ~10 years ago.

Their technology is changing rapidly and I'm sure it is different at different airports.

When we arrived at O'hare in December from Europe the facial recognition was so good it turned green when I was still several feet from the kiosk. Thinking the green meant it was ready to start scanning me, I just stepped up to the kiosk and stood there for a second until a CBP officer said "Go! You're green."

When we checked in with TSA at precheck in Honolulu last summer on our way home from Guam they did not even want to see the boarding pass. You just scanned your ID and somehow they matched you to the info provided by the airline. I doubt HNL is cutting edge though but it only seemed to be in the precheck line that it was done this way so it could have been experimental. I will say that it took significantly longer to scan my passport in the machine than it did for my partner to insert her driver's license in the reader (though still only seconds) so I would not be too surprised if they expand the use of the GE card to airports soon since it is the same size as a DL and can probably be quickly read by the same machine. This was for a domestic flight so no need for a passport, I just use mine to fly because I do not have a gold star ID otherwise.

 

[audreyh1]

Well the GE card is a Federally issued ID so it certainly can be used that way already as you must have some Real ID to enter airport security and to check in. But it’s still not required to carry it at airports for Global Entry privileges and I don’t expect that to change.

You must have your passport to fly internationally. It’s required to enter another country and to board the flight to another country and to board the return flight. With GE it’s no longer used to re-enter the US.