Global Entry Program Removes Stress from Air Travel
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There are so many wonderful things about traveling. Getting to see new sights, taking a break from reality and exploring new culture and foods. One of the not so nice things about traveling, is actually traveling. The process of departing arriving and departing to arrive home again. There is the stress and worry over packing the right clothes, the right medication, sunscreen. Endless questions regarding… Do I have everything I need? Ughhh…… Travel Anxiety! My next several posts will go over how I have streamlined some of my process to deal with these things. How I have reduced my anxiety over the years and made our travel as a family easier. This first improvement will be the most helpful travel tip in my opinion.
Long Lines
No one likes standing in long lines and the customs line coming into JFK was the longest one I had ever seen. My son was 5 and my daughter 2 at the time. We had a two-hour layover and we were fine; or so I thought. As the minutes slowly ticked down, down, down I slowly decompensated with anxiety. My children tired and feeding off of my anxiety only made things worse. Once we cleared customs, we had to take a bus to travel clear across the property to the next terminal. It was inevitable that we were about to miss our connection. It was all I could do to not sit down and cry at such an avoidable miss. Luckily, we still made it home that night and I am grateful because I know not everyone has always had that good of luck.
Six months later we were sitting in front of Custom Agents answering questions as part of our approval interview for Global Entry. Most people have heard of TSA Pre-check but not everyone has heard of The Global Entry program. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows quick clearance into the US for pre-approved travelers. Members of the program enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports.
The Global Entry application is a more thorough and stricter process than theTSA Pre-check process, But the travler designation includes TSA-Precheck approval within the package. TSA Pre-check costs $85 while Global Entry is $15 more at $100. For the price the Global Entry Program allows you to get into the country and through customs so much faster. You will be able to walk right around the long lines of travelers looking to gain access to the US. If you plan on traveling internationally at all in the next five years, there is no question that Global entry is the better option for expedited air travel.
You do not need a passport to apply for TSA-Precheck but you will need a passport to apply for Global Entry. After obtaining a passport and filling out the online forms, you must make an appointment and have an in-person interview with a customs agent which can only be done in select international airports. TSA pre-check interviews can be completed at over 400 different airports which is much more convenient if you find yourself traveling mainly domestically.
Credit Cards Pay for your Fees
Your credit card may pay for your Global Entry fees. Many travel focused “Points/ Miles” cards are increasing benefits to attract travelers to use them. These Cards have added Global Entry fee reimbursement as another perk. Most cards only allow one fee every 4 to 5 years so check your card carefully, but it doesn’t matter who the application is for. You can get global entry for yourself, your child, or partner. I just enrolled my in-laws in the Global Entry Program for traveling along with us, and I’m not ashamed to admit it was completely self-serving.
Credit cards that include this perk are:
Completing Interview After International Travel
Another little-known option for completing your global entry interview is to complete the interview after international travel. Once you have completed your paperwork and have been pre-approved, you will automatically be given your TSA KTN or Known traveler number. This will allow you to begin to start using TSA Pre-check and flying quickly becomes easier. You will also receive your global entry number even though the process is not complete. Just like everything else, Covid has created a backlog, and getting an interview has become increasingly difficult to schedule. You can however, travel and upon your return ask to complete the interview with the customs agent. Recently we returned to the United States through Miami International Airport. The office to complete the interview was right behind the Entry Kiosk and agent desks. We asked our entry agent if we could complete our interviews for our renewals and he confirmed we could but that the wait was 4 hours. We decided to make an appointment for another day. With a bit more preparation and a little less spontaneity we could have scheduled an interview to coincide with our return from travel.
There is no doubt that Global Entry and TSA Pre-check have made traveling with two kids significantly easier. Easy travel is more enjoyable and when we enjoy the process we want to travel more. If you are like us and plan the next vacation before returning from the current trip then I highly recommend checking out the Pre-Check and Global Entry Programs.
-Alaina
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