Global Entry still shuttered, travel sector urges ‘immediate’ restoration

Global Entry was expected to remain shuttered across the country Monday, a day after the Trump administration decided to abruptly suspend the program.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which ultimately oversees airport passport control facilities, announced Sunday that it would halt the fast-tracked program amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.

That meant travelers flying back to the U.S. from abroad would likely have to brave the standard passport control lanes at some of the nation’s busiest hubs — instead of using the ultrafast blue biometric kiosks that normally help paying, approved members speed through customs.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson on Monday told TPG the program will likely remain shuttered until funding for DHS is restored.

The agency declined to respond to TPG’s questions about backup options for travelers — though we’ve done our own digging, and have a few helpful tips below.

What should travelers do?

If you’re preparing to reenter the U.S. on an international flight, there are alternative options.

Multiple large hub airports and travel industry organizations have told TPG that CBP’s Mobile Passport Control program is still operating.

MPC is free, available to millions of travelers and often viewed as a solid alternative to Global Entry.

I’m also told by multiple sources that CBP’s newer Enhanced Passenger Processing program remains available at some airports, too.

However, these certainly aren’t perfect replacements for Global Entry.

While they save time, they’re often not quite as fast. And, they’re not available everywhere.

Enhanced Passenger Processing is still rolling out to a growing number of airports.

And MPC on Monday was not operating at some airports, TPG confirmed — notably, the service was closed at Dulles International Airport (IAD), a spokesperson confirmed.

Still, I’d consider trying those (where available) before standing in a long line at passport control.

Travel sector blasts Global Entry suspension

Suspending Global Entry was an unusual move by the DHS, and one that drew immediate scrutiny across the travel industry — not to mention plenty of frustration among travelers.

The DHS on Sunday said suspending Global Entry was one of several “emergency measures to preserve limited funds and personnel” during the shutdown.

But leaders in the travel sector blasted the decision, pointing out that Global Entry is largely funded via the $120 application fee paid by members every five years.

“There is no fiscal – or logical – rationale for this decision,” Geoff Freeman, CEO of the nonpartisan U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement Monday, urging the administration to “immediately” reinstate the program.

“Global Entry is far more than a convenience,” Freeman added, “it is on the front line of national security.”

CBP itself has long said that having Global Entry actually reduces demand on the officers it has on duty by redirecting prevetted travelers to the quicker, more seamless lanes — and allowing most officers to concentrate on the rest of the traveling public.

CBP officers, who staff airport passport control centers, are considered essential federal workers and work without pay when a shutdown happens.

During every government shutdown in recent memory — including the 43-day stalemate last fall — Global Entry has remained open and available to travelers.

Denver International Airport (DEN) on Monday said it had seen customs wait times tick “slightly higher” as all passengers, including Global Entry members, passed through the regular passport control lanes instead of the expedited ones.

Preclearance facility remains open

While CBP had confirmed the suspension of Global Entry on Sunday, the fast-tracked program seemed to remain in operation at a small number of airports.

The kiosks reopened Monday at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), where travelers clear U.S. customs before a flight back to the U.S.

The DHS did not respond to questions about airports that continued to operate Global Entry.

 What about TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck remained fully operational Monday.

Over the weekend, initial reports suggested the Trump administration had considered halting that expedited airport security program along with Global Entry.

But PreCheck is still available at airports across the country.

Could TSA PreCheck eventually shut down if the partial federal shutdown continues?

A TSA spokesperson told TPG on Sunday that the agency would “evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly.”

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• The best travel credit cards
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• The best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without