I think I messed up pre and global update

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

DW & I took a trip to the DR last year. When returning, we went through Atlanta. I had already downloaded the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control. I can't remember if I filled it out while we were flying or while taxiing. When we got to passport control, there was one line for those with MPC, and another line for those without.

We of course got in the MPC line, which was MUCH shorter and probably saved us 45 minutes to an hour.

Not sure how/where global would really make a difference. OP, since you say you only go international every other year or so, don't stress about it. Get your TSA precheck and just use it. Next international trip, get the MPC app and use it (it's free). You're worrying about something that is SO minor.

Mobile passport stuff is really just making it so you are filling out online your declarations so you're saving time over people who need to fill out paperwork and then show that paperwork to the customs officer who then looks over the paperwork.

When we landed in Chicago last July from Europe we took our picture in the global entry kiosk and was waved on through the customs officer without having to show our passport and even though it was chaotic due to construction in the customs area it probably took us maybe 3 mins from entering the line?? and I glanced back and saw the officer was just matching our photo with us as we came through. When we came through Houston last year from Mexico same deal of taking a quick photo in the kiosk and then a quick look at our passport with the officer asking if we bought anything. That took maybe a minute or two total from kiosk scanning to getting through. I'm forgetting what we did when we landed in Baltimore this May from Europe as in did we have to show our passport quickly or not but we were in through that line in a minute or two IIRC.

It's going to depend on the lines but Global Entry is still likely to be quite a lot faster than Mobile Passport. Plus Global Entry now has a mobile app as well which allows someone to skip the kiosk.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Just an FYI - this is not always the case - but mostly true.

I've been told to remove my belt. I've been asked to put my jacket through the xray. I've been asked to remove boots that had steel toes. (I usually would not wear those boots but had to in this situation)

So I tend to put everything in my bag possible before going through just to not slow things down for everyone else - i also want to keep up with my bag.

If you have the time and the option its always better to get Global Entry IMO - especially if your CC pays for it.
The biggest issue IMO is it can take longer to get an appointment - if you can even get one.
I guess if you don't have a passport that might be an issue - IDK - but lots of folks in the US don't have passports.

We had to renew recently and for two of us it was not an issue. One of use got a conditional and had to set up an appointment - but there were no appointments. You can deal with it on entry back to the country - but not my favorite option. Interestingly after about 2 months of not being able to get the appointment they just approved it out of the blue.

Also - just ahead up - the price will be increasing to $120 October 1st.

Yeah my husband has had to take off his belt every now and then with Pre-Check, I just stopped wearing pants that need a belt but I know for men that can be harder than for women.

I fly with a particular jacket (has a slight fleece lining for warmth on the plane) and it's never been a problem with the zipper but TSA can request I remove it if they think it will set off their alarm. I flew through Baltimore in May and the TSA person questioned my jacket saying it was my choice if I wanted to remove it but that it might set it off. I told him I've flown for years with it shouldn't be a problem but thanks for letting me know. It wasn't an issue likely because it's not the metal that would set it off (and the passenger who came behind me in line was shaking her head as she was like I knew it wouldn't be a problem for you). I still pack my liquids like I'm not in line for TSA pre-check just in case something is up but I don't take it out. I don't put everything in my bag but there's knowledge in knowing it can happen that helps prepare someone, so I'll make sure the liquids are easily accessible, the kindle is as well, don't leave anything in my pockets, understand the jacket may need to be removed based on the type of jacket and just as a general wear shoes that can be removed and put back on easily (and wear socks too).

My husband needs steel toed boots majority of the time when he's flying for work and he just never wears them even though at size 13 they take up a lot of room in his bag (or backpack). Composite ones should be fine though.

 

[CarolynFH]

After worrying many times about pants falling down with his belt off, DH bought a belt with plastic buckle that he can wear right through screening. And now he has suspenders with plastic hardware and wears them under his pullover shirt.

 

[Dznypal]

I hope I did this right

we already got our KTN
and I then went into United airlines
since we have trip planned in Oct
and found a place to edit KTN
so I went there and just added our numbers
so they do show up in our booking
is this all I need to do now--this part was so easy
thanks to all the great advice

 

[sam_gordon]

I hope I did this right

we already got our KTN
and I then went into United airlines
since we have trip planned in Oct
and found a place to edit KTN
so I went there and just added our numbers
so they do show up in our booking
is this all I need to do now--this part was so easy
thanks to all the great advice

If the flight is already booked, you'll probably need to call United and have them add the KTN numbers to the booking. Then, when you check in for the flight in October, look to see if you have TSA Precheck on your boarding pass. If not, you'll need to contact United and figure out why (probably a name difference).

 

[MommaKetch]

and I then went into United airlines
since we have trip planned in Oct
and found a place to edit KTN
so I went there and just added our numbers

I usually fly with American and can add the KTN after booking. You should be all good on that front! I second double checking your boarding pass to see if it has the TSA PRE and green check

 

[EACarlson]

After worrying many times about pants falling down with his belt off, DH bought a belt with plastic buckle that he can wear right through screening. And now he has suspenders with plastic hardware and wears them under his pullover shirt.

I use a Wilderness Tactical Frequent Flyer available at https://www.thewilderness.com/belts/frequent-flyer-belt/ I've never had a problem with TSA telling me I have to take it off to go through the magnetometer. If they send me through the MM wave for some reason I have to take it off.

I hope I did this right

we already got our KTN
and I then went into United airlines
since we have trip planned in Oct
and found a place to edit KTN
so I went there and just added our numbers
so they do show up in our booking
is this all I need to do now--this part was so easy
thanks to all the great advice

Did you add the KTN at the trip level or the account level? It needs to be done on the trip and not just your MileagePlus account. Open the app, go to trips, pick the trip, hit view/manage trip, view traveler information and make sure there is something in the Known Traveler Number.

If the flight is already booked, you'll probably need to call United and have them add the KTN numbers to the booking. Then, when you check in for the flight in October, look to see if you have TSA Precheck on your boarding pass. If not, you'll need to contact United and figure out why (probably a name difference).

No need to call, you can change it online or in the app. Follow the steps above and then hit edit. Agree that if you check in 24 hours before the flight and don't see Precheck on the boarding pass, call United and try to have them figure it out unless you see "SSSS" on your boarding pass.

 

[CarolynFH]

I hope I did this right

we already got our KTN
and I then went into United airlines
since we have trip planned in Oct
and found a place to edit KTN
so I went there and just added our numbers
so they do show up in our booking
is this all I need to do now--this part was so easy
thanks to all the great advice

I agree with above - add it to your profile on United, for future flights, then go to any and all flights that are already booked and enter it on each flight, if it’s not already there.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

After worrying many times about pants falling down with his belt off, DH bought a belt with plastic buckle that he can wear right through screening. And now he has suspenders with plastic hardware and wears them under his pullover shirt.

I bought dh a belt on Amazon that has no metal and it never alarms. It makes the process so much easier for him.
It never crossed my mind until our kids got jobs at an Amazon warehouse and had to go through a metal detector daily. They bought them and recommended the idea to dh.

 

[Akck]

DW & I took a trip to the DR last year. When returning, we went through Atlanta. I had already downloaded the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control. I can't remember if I filled it out while we were flying or while taxiing. When we got to passport control, there was one line for those with MPC, and another line for those without.

We of course got in the MPC line, which was MUCH shorter and probably saved us 45 minutes to an hour.

Not sure how/where global would really make a difference. OP, since you say you only go international every other year or so, don't stress about it. Get your TSA precheck and just use it. Next international trip, get the MPC app and use it (it's free). You're worrying about something that is SO minor.

My experience with Global Entry was there was no line, we walked up to a facial scanner and were told we could go. It was less than a minute. Now, the process to renew GE has been 10 months to get conditional approval for my wife and she scheduled an interview for this October. I’ve been waiting 7 months for the conditional approval. But it’s worth it for the ease in going through Customs.

 

[sam_gordon]

My experience with Global Entry was there was no line, we walked up to a facial scanner and were told we could go. It was less than a minute. Now, the process to renew GE has been 10 months to get conditional approval for my wife and she scheduled an interview for this October. I’ve been waiting 7 months for the conditional approval. But it’s worth it for the ease in going through Customs.

And that's fine. I'm not saying GE doesn't have benefits. But for someone who only travels internationally once a year (or, as the OP mentions, every other year), I don't think not having GE is something to stress about.

 

[Deanna Lamz]

PreCheck is solid if you only travel internationally every couple of years. Global Entry is great but involves more steps. You can always apply for Global Entry later if needed.

 

[AlohaNow]

Just here to say that Global Entry is worth its weight in gold. If you have a connecting domestic flight after your international flight, having GE to skip the huge line can mean the difference between making that connecting flight or not. I'm not really up to date on the wait times, etc. but just go for GE if you think you will at all need it. The cost difference is negligible and I can't emphasize the time savings enough!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Just here to say that Global Entry is worth its weight in gold. If you have a connecting domestic flight after your international flight, having GE to skip the huge line can mean the difference between making that connecting flight or not. I'm not really up to date on the wait times, etc. but just go for GE if you think you will at all need it. The cost difference is negligible and I can't emphasize the time savings enough!

This would be the one instance where it really can save you a lot of stress. One must always go through customs at the first airport that you touch down from an international flight, not when you finally reach your destination.

So far we’ve been lucky that we’ve been able to get non stop flights to Philly (closest to home) flying home from Milan, Shannon, Barcelona, Paris and London.
If I lived in an area of the country that frequently required us to connect, I’d be looking into it for sure.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

One must always go through customs at the first airport that you touch down from an international flight, not when you finally reach your destination.

There's technically 15 airports that use pre-clearance where you go through customs before you come to the U.S. which then means you do not do it again if you have connecting flights once in the U.S.

I actually didn't know about this until I heard of issues cropping up specifically with Dublin's airport (Ireland has two that use preclearance) where the pre-clearance has wonky hours from most of the complaints.

From Federal government's website
"Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance is the strategic stationing of CBP personnel at designated foreign airports to inspect travelers prior to boarding U.S.-bound flights. With Preclearance, travelers then bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon U.S. arrival and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination.

Today, CBP has more than 600 officers and agriculture specialists stationed at 15 Preclearance locations in 6 countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Nassau in the Bahamas; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.

In 2019, CBP personnel stationed abroad precleared 22 million travelers, representing over 16 percent of all commercial air travelers to the United States."

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

There's technically 15 airports that use pre-clearance where you go through customs before you come to the U.S. which then means you do not do it again if you have connecting flights once in the U.S.

I actually didn't know about this until I heard of issues cropping up specifically with Dublin's airport (Ireland has two that use preclearance) where the pre-clearance has wonky hours from most of the complaints.

From Federal government's website
"Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance is the strategic stationing of CBP personnel at designated foreign airports to inspect travelers prior to boarding U.S.-bound flights. With Preclearance, travelers then bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon U.S. arrival and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination.

Today, CBP has more than 600 officers and agriculture specialists stationed at 15 Preclearance locations in 6 countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Nassau in the Bahamas; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.

In 2019, CBP personnel stationed abroad precleared 22 million travelers, representing over 16 percent of all commercial air travelers to the United States."

Now that you mention it, we were able to do that before leaving Aruba in 2019. That was really convenient. Our other international flights were in 2017 and much earlier so it’s good to see that some things improved.