Global Entry Magic
How and Why I Streamlined Travel To, From and Within The US in Less Than a Week
Global Entry is a major travel game changer for US citizens looking to travel within, to and from the United States.
Here’s my story why I decided to get it, how I did it in less than one week, and the amazing changes it made to my travel experience.
The Why: The Tale of 2 Lines
I was so relaxed after my Alaskan cruise. Sitting on the motor coach heading from the ship that had been my home for a week to head to the Vancouver airport. While riding in the coach was a little bit stressful overall in the grand scheme of what I was about to endure at the airport it was nothing.
Disembarking the coach and finding my bags was easy enough, and even getting in line at the ticket counter was simple.
The drama and stress begins in the line for security.
Alaska… the trip I will always refer to as the trip that changed my life taught me so many valuable lessons.
The final lesson the trip had to offer me was the value of my time and how I would never want to again spend 2+ hours in a security check in line.
You read that right 2 hours and some minutes later in cramped lines.
Meanwhile the Global Entry bros were breezing right past us and only had to wait about 20-30 minutes.
I knew then standing in that line I would never be caught like this again.
Before I traveled again I was determined to have global entry.
The How: The Quickest 7 Days of My Life
Despite my eagerness to obtain global entry as soon as I returned to the US, there was still some delays. Global entry depending on when you apply can have staggeringly long wait times.
When I first returned to the states the wait time was 2-3 months.
Let me start this by saying my week experience might not be typical as I live in a major city very close to one of the interview offices.
Now onto the random decision I made to apply for global entry on a random Monday in October of 2023.
The timeline goes like this:
Monday- Apply
Thursday- Conditionally Approved
Saturday- Interview & Conditional approval
A Few weeks later: ID arrives in the mail
As long as it’s valid: Travel has changed forever!
What Changed Exactly?: It’s the Airport’s Version of A Fast Track Pass
For all my Disney fans out there or anyone in general who’s ever bought a jump the line pass you know that feeling.
I bet you as a traveler also know that dreaded feeling of arriving at the airport only to discover the line for security is unbearably long.
But then you notice there’s a way shorter line, almost like an express line that’s guarded by this little signs that reads “Global Entry/ TSA PreCheck Only”. (sometimes other prescreening programs are listed too).
For me since obtaining Global Entry which includes TSA PreCheck, I never really have to wait anymore going into airports. I also don’t have to remove my shoes (life saver).
It makes going through security a real breeze even in busy airports.
Do you have TSAPre or Global Entry? I’d love to hear about it.
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