Is Global Entry Worth it?
Posted by Mel from brokeGIRLrich on April 3, 2020
Let’s take a quick side step from all the Coronavirus news and chat about something different. Remember the old busy world before all this? I’m hoping it’ll be back after all this is over. One of the things I miss is travelling, especially internationally.
So, is Global Entry worth it? Last year, I flew more than ever before. I even did 15 international flights for work. Some frequent flyers might scoff at that, but for me, that was a whole lot of airport hours!
When I took a job that required international travel, I thought it’d be useful to apply for Global Entry. The decision didn’t come without its challenges, but here are some of the highlights and lowlights:
Upsides:
1. Bypassed a long 90-minute immigration queue and used the Global Entry kiosk in just five minutes.
2. The officers at the Global Entry are genuinely friendlier.
3. TSA Precheck feature is a bonus.
4. It’s even applicable in Canada.
Downsides:
1. The process of syncing my ticket with Global Entry benefits was a bit tricky since I don’t book my own tickets.
2. When travelling with others without Global Entry, I still had to wait for them.
The first time I bypassed a massive immigration line, I felt like Global Entry had paid for itself, at least in time, if not in actual money.
Once I got the hang of it, I learned how to link my known traveller number with my frequent flyer number on airline websites, ensuring it appears on my boarding pass at check-in.
In my experience, if you’re travelling internationally for work, Global Entry is absolutely worth it. On numerous occasions, I walked past hour-long US immigration lines, then got processed at a kiosk in less than 5 minutes.
In conclusion, Global Entry was money well spent. If you’re interested, you can apply for it at this link. It’s currently priced at $100 (as of March 2020).
If you have a travel reward credit card, check if they offer full or partial reimbursements. Here are some cards that offer Global Entry fee waivers or reimbursements:
1. IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card (annual fee: $89)
2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (annual fee: waived first year, then $95)
3. United Explorer Card (annual fee: waived first year, then $95)
4. Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card (annual fee: $95)
So, do you have Global Entry? Do you find it worth the price? Let me know!