Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Sentri questions
Thinking about applying for a Sentri Pass.
Once I receive the pass, does it do any good when returning from overseas at an airport such as LAX or does it only apply to crossing the border from
Mexico to the USA?
Other than the obvious benefit of a much shorter waiting time in your car, what, if any, advantages are there to having a pass?
Other than you cannot cross with people that do not have a pass and have them walk across, is there any disadvantages to having one?
How picky are they upon inspection of the car in regards to the windshield? I have a few chips that I would not consider cracks.(maybe less than
1/4")
Any feedback would be appreciated.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7084
Registered: 8-5-2011
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I had a 2 inch crack in my windshield for a couple of years and one day an inspector sent me to secondary because of it. I had to replace my
windshield before I could use the SENTRI lane again.
Assume the worst will happen. Sometimes they're great, sometimes they're boneheads.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18398
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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Quote: Originally posted by Howard  | Thinking about applying for a Sentri Pass.
Once I receive the pass, does it do any good when returning from overseas at an airport such as LAX or does it only apply to crossing the border from
Mexico to the USA?
Other than the obvious benefit of a much shorter waiting time in your car, what, if any, advantages are there to having a pass?
Other than you cannot cross with people that do not have a pass and have them walk across, is there any disadvantages to having one?
How picky are they upon inspection of the car in regards to the windshield? I have a few chips that I would not consider cracks.(maybe less than
1/4")
Any feedback would be appreciated. |
The SENTRI (or READY) lanes are great. Faster, usually.
Sentri traveler id number can be used for air reservations so you get pre-check (most) every flight.
Sign up for GOES (no extra fee) at same time you do SENTRI and you can use the fast lanes at airport immigration when returning to USA by air.
They no longer inspect cars before approving cars for SENTRI.
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BajaTed
Senior Nomad
Posts: 859
Registered: 5-2-2010
Location: Bajamar
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Highly recommend the GOES upgrade, some states drivers licenses won't be good for access to all federal airports, probably sooner than later.
What a show it will be when everyone @ SFO gets extra "vetting" due to California's sanctuary status.
Es Todo Bueno
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gallesram
Nomad
Posts: 384
Registered: 7-6-2010
Location: Laguna Beach
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | | Quote: Originally posted by Howard | Thinking about applying for a Sentri Pass.
Once I receive the pass, does it do any good when returning from overseas at an airport such as LAX or does it only apply to crossing the border from
Mexico to the USA?
Other than the obvious benefit of a much shorter waiting time in your car, what, if any, advantages are there to having a pass?
Other than you cannot cross with people that do not have a pass and have them walk across, is there any disadvantages to having one?
How picky are they upon inspection of the car in regards to the windshield? I have a few chips that I would not consider cracks.(maybe less than
1/4")
Any feedback would be appreciated. |
The SENTRI (or READY) lanes are great. Faster, usually.
Sentri traveler id number can be used for air reservations so you get pre-check (most) every flight.
Sign up for GOES (no extra fee) at same time you do SENTRI and you can use the fast lanes at airport immigration when returning to USA by air.
They no longer inspect cars before approving cars for SENTRI.
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When I got my SENTRI card (several years ago), it didn't automatically get me into the pre-check program for use at airports. However, it did allow
me to use the Global Entry lanes at immigration which is a huge plus. To enroll in the pre-check program I had to go to LAX and meet with an agent to
enroll. It didn't cost me anything and I automatically qualified since I had SENTRI but had to take the extra step by physically going in person.
Maybe things have changed since then (like inspecting cars)?
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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I already have the pre check but I think it was only good for 5 years and if so it's coming up for renewal in the next year or so. Even though my
credit card reimbursed me I think that was around $80 by itself. Makes the Sentri fee a bargain if it helps at the border and at the airport.
Thanks you everyone for the feedback.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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BajaNaranja
Nomad
Posts: 156
Registered: 9-10-2006
Member Is Offline
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Howard! Get it done, is awesome!
Just a heads up that with SENTRI comes some special rules & regs beyond the ones you normally hear about (vehicle must be enrolled, no non-SENTRI
passengers, etc.), and border agents have higher expectations about knowing and following rules @ the border.
* For ex., can't tow a trailer or put a camper on the vehicle you use when crossing via SENTRI.
* Some border agents will get salty if your car is "too full" of gear.
* Any screw up / flare up and they'll yank your SENTRI card.
* Their saying is "SENTRI is a privilege, not a right" - live by that!
* Be triple careful about no DUI, as eventually they'll yank your SENTRI pass, and it takes 10 years for DUI to roll off, as a SENTRI
As previously mentioned, tick the box when applying for SENTRI to also get Global Entry, then you use the short security line when returning to US via
major airports.
And when flying domestically, enter your "Known Traveler Number" or KTN when making the reservation, and you should be all set for TSA Pre Check when
going through security.
Buena suerte!!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6031
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Online
Mood: Retireded
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The first time I got a boarding pass with 'TSA pre check' on it, I did not even know what it was until I had already gone through normal check in.
The agent explained that I could use the shorter line and leave my shoes on etc, but it is not something that I ever applied for.
Maybe it is because Alaska is my home state, and all of my air travel the last few years has been to or from there. I don't know how I got the
status, but I will take it!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Thanks for all the advise and will certainly apply for one soon.
As far as the pre-check, as I said before, I already have one but it's probably ready to expire soon so this will be sweet.
Sr. AKgringo, don't get to exited about your pre-check, before I had mine my boarding pass occasionally had that pre-check but not all the time, it's
just a spot/random thing.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18398
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by gallesram | | Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | | Quote: Originally posted by Howard | Thinking about applying for a Sentri Pass.
Once I receive the pass, does it do any good when returning from overseas at an airport such as LAX or does it only apply to crossing the border from
Mexico to the USA?
Other than the obvious benefit of a much shorter waiting time in your car, what, if any, advantages are there to having a pass?
Other than you cannot cross with people that do not have a pass and have them walk across, is there any disadvantages to having one?
How picky are they upon inspection of the car in regards to the windshield? I have a few chips that I would not consider cracks.(maybe less than
1/4")
Any feedback would be appreciated. |
The SENTRI (or READY) lanes are great. Faster, usually.
Sentri traveler id number can be used for air reservations so you get pre-check (most) every flight.
Sign up for GOES (no extra fee) at same time you do SENTRI and you can use the fast lanes at airport immigration when returning to USA by air.
They no longer inspect cars before approving cars for SENTRI.
|
When I got my SENTRI card (several years ago), it didn't automatically get me into the pre-check program for use at airports. However, it did allow
me to use the Global Entry lanes at immigration which is a huge plus. To enroll in the pre-check program I had to go to LAX and meet with an agent to
enroll. It didn't cost me anything and I automatically qualified since I had SENTRI but had to take the extra step by physically going in person.
Maybe things have changed since then (like inspecting cars)? |
if you got sentri, you dont need a separate application for pre-check. just enter your sentri "known traveler number" into space on your online
reservation (your number is on back of your sentri card). as long as your air reservation name exactly matches your sentri name, bob's your uncle
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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The "HIGHER EXPECTATIONS" is definitely a must for anyone using SENTRI. When you declare nothing, CBP assumes the only thing in your vehicle is
yourself.
If you have a travel bag because you are going to board a plane, IT must be declared.
| Quote: Originally posted by BajaNaranja | Howard! Get it done, is awesome!
Just a heads up that with SENTRI comes some special rules & regs beyond the ones you normally hear about (vehicle must be enrolled, no non-SENTRI
passengers, etc.), and border agents have higher expectations about knowing and following rules @ the border.
* For ex., can't tow a trailer or put a camper on the vehicle you use when crossing via SENTRI.
* Some border agents will get salty if your car is "too full" of gear.
* Any screw up / flare up and they'll yank your SENTRI card.
* Their saying is "SENTRI is a privilege, not a right" - live by that!
* Be triple careful about no DUI, as eventually they'll yank your SENTRI pass, and it takes 10 years for DUI to roll off, as a SENTRI
As previously mentioned, tick the box when applying for SENTRI to also get Global Entry, then you use the short security line when returning to US via
major airports.
And when flying domestically, enter your "Known Traveler Number" or KTN when making the reservation, and you should be all set for TSA Pre Check when
going through security.
Buena suerte!! |
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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