United’s Global Entry Benefit Is Live

August 10, 2012 By 12 Comments

Global Entry, as most of you know, is an expedited immigration service offered by the Department of Homeland Security to frequent travelers. It lets you avoid the long lines upon arrival by confirming some details at an automated kiosk before proceeding to customs. It also is one way to get yourself included in TSA PreCheck if your airline hasn’t already volunteered to enroll you.

The last I heard United was supposed to roll its Global Entry fee waiver benefit for Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members in June. I don’t remember getting any emails from United or even seeing a blog post on the topic since Darren mentioned in May how to get the fee reimbursed if you were unwilling to wait.

June came and went, along with most of July, but that wait is now over. Flipping through FlyerTalk I noticed that United has initiated its new waiver program as of July 27 (I only just found this out), issuing a code that will cover the $100 application fee for Global Entry. If you visit this United site, you’ll be asked to log in before being presented with this page:

United Global Entry application screenshot

Now that you can avoid paying the fee in the first place instead of waiting for reimbursement, it’s about time I sign up. I actually don’t travel internationally that often, maybe two or three times a year, and I haven’t yet faced significant issues with immigration. Lucky me I guess. But I certainly don’t want to hold people up when I come back from the international portion of the Star MegaDO in November, and I do have an international arrival in September with a tight connection.

The only real concern I have is the availability of appointments for my interview, which is typically held and your local airport. However, @bmvaughn told me earlier this year that apparently interviews are also available at Boeing Field just south of Seattle. TSA needs to screen people there, too, but the lower profile makes for shorter waiting lists and a more convenient drive over.

If you don’t have this elite benefit, it might be worth signing up and paying the $100 yourself, which is what Megan will have to do. Global Entry is good for five years, so that works out to only $20 a year for getting through lines faster and on your way to the club, your connection, or just getting home on time.

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Scott founded HMT while traveling on a budget during graduate school and stays loyal to United, Alaska, Hyatt, and Starwood.
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  • bmvaughn

    Make sure to look at all of the possible locations for interviews as is noted – SEA had a multi-month wait time while BFI was less than two weeks. If you have a layover for a day in Seattle, that might be a viable option.

  • Seattlemocha

    Not 100% clear on the benefit of Global Entry. I believe you can use Global Entry if you are Nexus which is only $50 vs. $100. Nice that United is footing the bill for us 1Ks but my employer paid for Nexus.

    • Scottrick

      Nexus and Global Entry cards are each good for five years, but Nexus is only for US-Canada border crossings. My understanding is that while Nexus cardholders are able to use Global Entry kiosks, they can only use them at those airports (rather than waiting for a dedicated Nexus kiosk). So if you travel somewhere other than Canada, you still need a Global Entry card.

      http://usa.immigrationvisaforms.com/travel/global-entry-faqs

      • Greg

         No, actually as a Nexus cardholder, I can use Global Entry anywhere—that is all participating U.S. airports when arriving from any country abroad.

        • Scottrick

          I’d appreciate a link I can share with my readers. The link I included in my comment above specifically says you don’t get to use Nexus for expedited entry anywhere other than US-Canada border crossings, which makes more sense than offering two cards that provide the same benefits but at two different prices.

  • Brian

    Global Entry allows expedited entry through immigration at a list of airports when returning to the US by air from any foreign origin airport.  It appears most (if not all) the major hubs and then some are participating.  The application process, interview, and background check are to make yourself a known traveler to CBP, and in exchange you become considered a lower risk with less scrutiny and expedited processing.

    NEXUS is similar, but it is only between the US and Canada.  Similar application process, but you become a known traveler to both US and Canadian customs.  This allows you expedited clearance into both US and Canada via land, air, or sea.  You could not use NEXUS when flying back from Europe, for instance.

    SENTRI is the same as NEXUS, except it is only between the US and Mexico.  Again, SENTRI is not applicable when flying back from Europe, for instance.

    Because you clear US customs and immigration at many Canadian airports on direct flights to the US, you will find some Canadian airports have Global Entry kiosks set up.  I know from personal experience that YYZ does.  However, you are only afforded the benefit of expedited US immigration clearance, not anything else afforded to NEXUS cardholders on the Canadian side.

    It’s actually a hodge podge mess with these three different, at time confusing, programs.  Obviously there is overlap between them. Also, I’m a lower risk to the US when flying but a higher risk when driving back from Canada?  These programs are run by different departments within CBP, and there are rumblings that it is only a matter of time before these fiefdoms are dismantled and consolidated into Global Entry.  Global Entry already has reciprocity with The Netherlands; announcements have been made to include Canada, Mexico, UK, and South Korea; and Japan and Australia are rumored to be on the docket as well.

  • LufthansaFlyer

    FYI on the pre-Check’s, even though you entered your known traveler # in your united profile, it doesnt seem to impact your boarding pass.  What you need to do is to go into the specific reservation and edit the flyer details, adding your known trav #.    At least this was the case last month.  Not sure if .bomb I/T has caught up with the flaw

    • Ohwolfman2

      I’ve received my Global Entry pass and my TSA PreCheck info. I’ve added it to my profile. In the last 6 trips (I fly 2x a week or more), I’ve only been able to go into PreCheck one out of the 6 times. “We don’t know – it’s completely random” says the TSA agent.  So far, it’s not been worth the investment and the TSA agents are worthless in providing information.

  • Ro

    thanks for the heads up but i still need some help.  got the united code and followed the link to the global entry page but they are asking for information that’s not included in the united code. we are platinums so we meet the criteria but can’t seem to get past the first page.  

  • Bk3day

    fwiw, if you’re flexible with possible interview locations, the turnaround time from App to Approval can be quick.

    Earlier this month, mine was 5 business days & had my schedule been freer maybe it could’ve been sooner. Some are open on weekends & there are non airport locations too.

    Also, I know of several folks who on a connection have just walked in to an airport location & were interviewed on the spot.