Not enough travelers are using this Global Entry alternative, the federal government says

[MULTIZ321]

Not enough travelers are using this Global Entry alternative, the federal government says

Mobile Passport Control: A fast, free alternative to Global Entry - The Points Guy

What if you don't have Global Entry? Mobile Passport Control is a fast, free way to save time and skip the long lines at the airport.

thepointsguy.com

Richard

 

[jp10558]

I don't travel often internationally, and TBH I have yet to experience super long lines for re-entry in JFK or EWR when I have come back from an international trip. I think it's usually been using a kiosk, and it takes maybe 10 minutes or so? Waiting for luggage or meeting our ride usually took longer. This may be because we fly for vacations and tend to do so when it's cheapest, so less busy.

 

[claraj]

This is a must when leaving Nassau, Bahamas. There's was literally no one in line for MPC while everyone else was in the normal line.

 

[stratusnj75]

I have used MPC several times now landing in BWI. Never anyone else there. Has been great, fly right thru customes.

 

[bnoble]

Inexplicably, MPC is STILL not available in DTW. My kids and I all have Global Entry, so it's no big deal personally, but still.

 

[amycurl]

I love MPC! When I landed in JFK from Brazil, normal lines were at least an hour; the MPC line was basically the same line as the crew line, and I think there was one person in front of me. A colleague on my same flight downloaded the app and completed it during the time from touchdown to arriving at the line--that's how quick and easy it is to use. Why would anyone pay for Global Entry?

 

[bnoble]

Why would anyone pay for Global Entry?

Beacause (a) it works at any entry point, not just those airports/seaports with MCP, (b) it includes pre-check, and (c) my credit card pays for it.

For example, I can use GE coming back across the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor, but not MPC. Now, I don't go to Windsor much if at all, and I would probably get NEXUS if I did for expedited crossing in both directions, but still.

More importantly, if you are landing in Detroit, MPC does f***-all, because it is not supported there. Guess which airport I fly in/out of most often?

 

[HitchHiker71]

I don't travel often internationally, and TBH I have yet to experience super long lines for re-entry in JFK or EWR when I have come back from an international trip. I think it's usually been using a kiosk, and it takes maybe 10 minutes or so? Waiting for luggage or meeting our ride usually took longer. This may be because we fly for vacations and tend to do so when it's cheapest, so less busy.

We had a 30-45 minute line at EWR when returning from Mexico last week - and EWR doesn't have a dedicated MPC line - at least they didn't when we came in on Monday evening. I've used the MPC option at several airports now and flew through customs as well - definitely a worthy option for those who don't want to spend the extra monies on GE especially.

 

[easyrider]

We had a 30-45 minute line at EWR when returning from Mexico last week - and EWR doesn't have a dedicated MPC line - at least they didn't when we came in on Monday evening. I've used the MPC option at several airports now and flew through customs as well - definitely a worthy option for those who don't want to spend the extra monies on GE especially.

Our last flight home from Puerto Vallarta was pretty quick using Global Entry at SEA. A machine took our pictures while we walked through was about it.

Bill

 

[amycurl]

I've not yet encountered an international airport that didn't have MPC, but I'll take your word for it. My credit card pays for pre-check as well. I don't fly internationally enough--maybe only once or twice a year--to justify paying more for Global Entry, especially when most airports I am flying through on the way home have it (EWR had it when I flew back from India in 2019, do they not anymore? I don't think it was even a line--I just showed it on my Ipad at a kiosk that had a person and walked through. But I had been on an airplane for 17 hours at that point, so the details are a little fuzzy.)