Tag Archives: Global Entry

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Reality Check: Traveling with Non-TSA PreCheck Travelers Sucks

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Good morning everyone, I hope you had a great weekend. This past weekend, I was reminded how great TSA PreCheck is and how terribly regular airport security is. You are only as fast as your slowest non-TSA PreCheck traveler. For example, I sped through TSA PreCheck (barely slowing down to put my iPhone in my backpack, putting my backpack on the conveyor belt, putting my carry on bag on the conveyor belt, walking through the metal detector, and picking up my bags) then I waited 15-20 minutes on the other side of security for the non-TSA PreCheck travelers to go through security.  In that 15-20 minute window of time, I realized how much I take for granted having TSA PreCheck.  It is a total game changer for me, especially at SFO when I go through security twice, first to visit the SFO Centurion Lounge, and then again to get to my departure terminal.

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Image source: https://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/tsa-airport-long-lines-223666

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New Tool to Snag Earliest Available Global Entry Appointment

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Global Entry is an incredibly valuable tool for those of us that travel outside of the US relatively frequently. And better yet, many credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Prestige, American Express Platinum card, and others, offer to reimburse your $100 Global Entry application fee every 4 to 5 years.  The downside has become actually getting a Global Entry interview appointment. With more and more people having access to free Global Entry, sometimes the next available appointment at a given airport is MONTHS away. That’s not very helpful if you have trips coming up in the meantime.

Of course, you can check nearby airports or login a couple of times per day to see if anyone has cancelled an appointment, but there’s a better way. Get Me Global Entry is a new service that will send alerts to your phone, via text, when an appointment opens up so you can login and book it right away. It costs $9.99 for 14 days worth of notifications, which I think is a great value!

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Create Login.gov Account to Log into Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Dashboard

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Good morning everyone, I hope you had a great Columbus Day Weekend.  I just got back from Monterey / Carmel and had a great stay at the Hyatt Regency Monterey, walking around the Monterey Bay Aquarium, wandering around Carmel-by-the-Sea and driving around Pebble Beach on 17 Mile Drive.

Last week, I was checking on the status of my parents’ Global Entry interview and I noticed the Global Entry website was redesigned.  If you haven’t been on the Global Entry website recently, you are in for a surprise.  In the last few weeks, the Global Entry website required you to create a Login.gov account to log into your Global Entry account.  I will show you how to set up your Login.gov account and show you how the new Global Entry dashboard looks.  Click the Get Started button on the Global Entry website.

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Global Entry Adds Enrollment on Arrival at IAH, HOU, AUS, SFO & YVR

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Good afternoon everyone, happy Sunday.  I recently signed my girlfriend up for Global Entry and she was conditionally approved shortly after that.  Unfortunately, the soonest Global Entry interview time she can get for SFO is early December.  This morning, she received an email from Global Entry (donotreply@cbp.dhs.gov) with the subject line: “Why Wait? Interview for Global Entry When You Arrive.”  She sent the email to me, and since I had never heard of enrollment on arrival, I thought it might be useful for others who are considering applying for Global Entry soon or are waiting for their Global Entry interview.

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Here is the entire email:

Dear Global Entry Applicant,

Starting today, you have the unique opportunity to interview for Global Entry when you return from your next international trip at Houston, Hobby, Austin, San Francisco, and Vancouver.

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ICYMI: Travel News Roundup for Saturday, May 6, 2017

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Here’s all the news that caught my eye this week – let me know if you learn something new!

Airlines + Miles

The TSA is reportedly piloting a new requirement in Kansas City (MCI): forcing passengers to remove any paper products from their luggage. Yet another reason to get Global Entry if you don’t have it already. [Schneier on Security]

American Airlines has a new promotion where you can earn up to 10,000 points for transactions with their shopping partners. [Mommy Points]

American Airlines also announced that they plan to cram so many seats into their new 737 MAX planes that some rows will lose two additional inches of legroom. [CNN Money]

Hawaiian Airlines unveiled a brand and livery refresh. It looks pretty slick! [The Design Air]

JetBlue and Icelandair announced a frequent flier partnership. [USA Today] Continue reading →