Ekaterina Pokovsky/Shutterstock
At $100, Global Entry offers benefits that ensure a smoother travel experience.
- Global Entry is quicker to get than it seems, with most applications processed immediately, and the setting up an in-person interview is easier than ever.
- The benefits of Global Entry include expedited passage through customs in the US, plus TSA Precheck status, which expedites security at many US airports.
- The application fee is $100, and Global Entry is valid for five years at this price. Many credit cards reimburse for the fee.
Enamored by the thought of being a pseudo-VIP at the airport, I decided to apply for Global Entry in late 2014.
Global Entry is the US government's way of approving "trusted travelers" to gain quicker access through customs after international travel. Global Entry includes TSA Precheck, which provides expedited passage through security at many US airports.
To my surprise, I was "conditionally approved" in only three days, after hearing it used to take weeks. I then was able to schedule an interview in as little as a week.
Global Entry has made traveling much quicker and more seamless for me. Landing from an international trip is a breeze now, with just a few moments on the fast-pass line at customs through the Global Entry kiosks.
I also use the included TSA Precheck benefits frequently, usually when I'm traveling domestically. I really appreciate the time I save not having to wait in long security lines. Also, I don't have to fill up three bins with personal items, since I can keep my shoes, coat, and belt on and don't have to remove liquids and my laptop from my bag. In this age of unglamorous flying, it's nice to know $100 can get you something that can truly improve your air travel experience.
Here's the step-by-step of the application process: