• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Global Entry  >  Traveler Cheat Code: Appointment Scanner For Global Entry
Global Entry

Traveler Cheat Code: Appointment Scanner For Global Entry

Kyle Stewart Posted onSeptember 11, 2022September 11, 2022 11 Comments
My dear readers, some links on this site pay us referral fees for sending business and sales. We value your time and money and will not waste it. For our complete advertising policy, click here. The content on this page is not provided by any companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone.

I highlighted the 18-month potential delays for new Global Entry applications, and ways to beat it last week. But since using the Appointment Scanner service, there’s nothing I’d more emphatically recommend. 


If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com.


If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.

Delays, Staffing Shortages, COVID – Oh My!

Like seemingly every other aspect of the world right now, shortages – be them supplies, or people – are causing delays though in this case, it’s at the Department of Homeland Security’s Trusted Traveler Programs. Global Entry allows pre-screened passengers to bypass the lines at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by submitting to an in-person interview with CBP staff.

However, the two-part process first requires application processing including an extensive background check followed by conditional approval for the aforementioned interview. While some readers remarked last week that their path to Global Entry approval was faster than the potential 18-month processing period the agency had warned, many have expressed they endured extensive wait times during the process.

Additionally, as I mentioned last week, I was due for renewal during the pandemic and missed my window for Global Entry renewal, meaning that I had to go through the process from scratch. As a result, not only was my Global Entry membership revoked, but so too were my TSA Precheck benefits.

Appointment Scanner Saves The Day

Global Entry interviews are hard to come by. Small to medium markets have even fewer agents, fewer appointments, and may have a limited opportunity to participate in enrollment on arrival. I mentioned Appointment Scanner, a service that helps travelers that have applied for Global Entry and received conditional approval search for options as they become available. Many cancel or reschedule their appointments but checking the site constantly is an exhausting process.

I selected three airports that were easy for me to reach, one of which offers online appointments conducted via video conferencing. Within an hour of signing up, I had a few options texted (and emailed) to me that had become available. Some were not great options (too far, too soon, or when I already had other commitments) but I stuck with it.

One came in for Pittsburgh, my home airport, just a few weeks out. I attempted to snag it but was too slow (some are gone almost instantly.) I got another couple of opportunities and finally snagged one a few weeks out. Then, several others (as soon as one day before, and a virtual appointment) came open and I was able to improve my position considerably.

Appointment Scanner appointment alert

I found that my ability to capture an opening was best later in the evening when most might have been busy or asleep. At a certain point, so many appointment opportunities among my listed airports were coming in that I continued to monitor them for slightly better opportunities, but mostly dismissed them, happy that I had captured one that worked for me.

Worth Its Weight In Gold

I was a little skeptical of Appointment Scanner’s service initially for both its performance (would it send me alerts quick enough) and the government’s willingness to release space. The service, which does not renew monthly, charges $29 and allows up to 100 alerts sent and up to three airports.

Initially, while I was conditionally approved, there were no opportunities to secure an appointment at a reasonably close airport even including the entire state of Florida and all online appointments. I had grown concerned after I applied for renewal but failed to move to the interview stage due to both waiting and difficulty securing an appointment (despite a lengthy extension and grace period.)

Admittedly, I first tried to just do it myself, checking and rechecking, then refreshing the browser for new opportunities but found it to be futile. While I wouldn’t want Appointment Scanner to increase its price, it was certainly worth more than $29 to me because of the time it gave me back and the ability to move my appointment when something better came along.

While I would not let my renewal application lapse again, this was a great experience and I would repeat it. Further, for those who might be securing an appointment for multiple applicants, the fee doubles, triples, or even quadruples its value as group appointments through CBP can be arranged for traveling families but only one appointment is needed.

Conclusion

Pro tip: don’t sleep on renewing your Global Entry membership as I did. But if you did, or it’s your first time applying, Appointment Scanner is an easy cheat code you can apply during historic record applications to the service. I have little confidence I would be able to secure an interview and ultimately a trusted traveler number without it.

What do you think? Have you used Appointment Scanner? How was your experience?

Previous Article Nurse On Pittsburgh-Orlando Spirit Flight Saves Infant Life
Next Article Venice Latest To Add Tourism Tax, Won’t Stop Over Tourism

About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: sherpa@thetripsherpa.com

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

Related Posts

  • CLEAR airport security

    Solutions To CLEAR’s Limited Airport Footprint

    November 13, 2022
  • global entry delays

    18-Month Global Entry Delays, How To Beat It

    September 4, 2022
  • federal vaccine mandate tsa

    Collision Course: 40% of TSA Unvaccinated Ahead Of Looming Fed Deadline

    November 21, 2021

11 Comments

  1. Derek Roback Reply
    September 11, 2022 at 10:56 am

    Used this for both myself and my wife—completely agree! Such an awesome tool.

  2. Joel P Reply
    September 11, 2022 at 11:52 am

    I could not get a renewal appointment until June 2023. Instead, last week, I used the new program that permits conditionally approved Global Entry renewals to occur when you are reentering the US from a foreign country. This service is available at at dozens of US airports.

    After clearing immigration in Houston, before leaving immigration area, I was sent to a specific Officer, was photographed, fingerprinted, and told I was approved in less than than five minutes.

    This is a great and easy way to renew Global Entry with no appointment.

  3. Jerry Reply
    September 11, 2022 at 2:05 pm

    I agree with everything you’ve said…

    In addition, “Global Entry Now” is also a great website, that is free, and updates every two minutes. I secured two coveted spots at AUS with 2 days notice. I’m so glad my moron friends finally have GE.

  4. Mabel harlet Gastelum Reply
    September 11, 2022 at 5:45 pm

    Hi, I agree with you with everything you said, but the problem is not only with Global Entry, its also with Sentry as well, sadly it’s a worst-case, I have been waiting for 6 months already for my card renewal. They have several technical issues with their website, I’ve tried to paying for renewal before my expiration date, but every time when I click the button to do my payment, right after that, always appears this “sorry but there was a technical problem” please try again in a few minutes error code …. I even have an screen shoot of it. I called with supervisor from the sentri office from where I live, he telling me there it was a lot people complaining about the problem, he was very sorry for what it happened to me, but sadly it was nothing he could do for me, my only hope it was just to get my renewal back sooner. I can’t believed it, this happens in USA too, I have always thought this kind of situations only happened in México where I was Born, but I found out it happens here too. Thank you, GOD BLESS YOU.

  5. RJay Reply
    September 12, 2022 at 12:31 pm

    The waiting period for an appoint for this program is a total [redacted by admin] show. You take ones hard earned money and not enough personnel to facilitate the interview process? What a scam and someone higher up needs to look into this quickly. This is simply not acceptable and we shouldn’t be quiet about it.

  6. MediaMark Reply
    September 12, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    I do have appointments in June 2023. Will this help me get something sooner?

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      September 12, 2022 at 10:47 pm

      @MediaMark – Yes sir. I have improved my position several times.

  7. Addie S Reply
    September 13, 2022 at 4:39 pm

    I inadvertently allowed hubby’s Global Entry to expire in late 2021. He spent many minutes (or hours?!?) searching for an available interview spot within a daytrip’s drive, which included six airports. He finally got lucky and was able to schedule an interview two weeks ahead at an airport only a 3-hour drive from home.

    Even though I later renewed my GE eight months early (renewal allowed within in 12 months before expiration), I also was required to complete an interview. Unable to schedule an appointment sooner than seven months away at a distant airport, I attempted Enrollment on Arrival when I arrived at DFW on an international flight in February 2022. Unfortunately I arrived one hour too late to be granted an EOA interview.

    I pursued EOA again at MIA in April 2022 after an early international arrival (5: 30 AM). I was denied at first until an authorized officer stepped up and agreed to give me an interview. Whew! Valid for another five years by which time I hope the renewal system improves.

    Tip #1: Take note of your expiration date. I had assumed the date was five years after a Global Entry membership is approved. Your expiration is tied to your birthdate (similar to most drivers licenses), not issuance/approval date as passports are.

    Tip #2: The current 2-year extension of Global Entry benefits applies **ONLY** if you begin the renewal process **BEFORE** your membership expires. I began hubby’s renewal process a month _after_ his GE expired. After been forced to use the regular TSA and Immigration lines for a single international trip, hubby was highly motivated to find a renewal interview opening asap.

  8. Salty B. Reply
    September 13, 2022 at 9:40 pm

    Get Nexus, and you get GE for half the price.

    Downside is you have to do your Nexus application and interview at (larger) Canadian airports or border crossing. but if you’re close to the border, or flying to Canada anyway, do it.

    https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/application-demande-eng.html

  9. N Carter Reply
    September 13, 2022 at 10:14 pm

    I’m a newbie to GE, and as much as I would love to use Appointment Scanner, I still can’t seem to get conditional approval. To top that I don’t think I’ve even been waiting nearly long enough to try and escalate it. Can anyone here tell me if there’s a quicker way to get conditional approval? Thanks in advance!

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      September 13, 2022 at 11:25 pm

      @N Carter: Check out this post from last week. There are some tips there, but the fastest is probably to contact your congressional representative or senator. They have a simple process and it hurries it along rather quickly: https://liveandletsfly.com/global-entry-delays/

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines Steakhouse Cheeseburger
    Steakhouse Cheeseburger On United Airlines February 4, 2023
  • Woman Pants Miami Airport
    “Why Would I Need Pants On?” (Woman Strides Through Miami Airport) February 4, 2023
  • Catfight Over Window Seat Leads To Massive Brawl, With 15 People Thrown Off Flight February 4, 2023
  • United Airlines Newark Collision
    United Airlines 787-9 Collides With 757-200 At Newark Airport February 3, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023
  • British Airways 787-10 Business Class Review
    Review: British Airways 787-10 Business Class (Club Suite) January 10, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.