TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Mobile Passport?

We're connecting through Atlanta for the first time next week, and through Miami in November, also for the first time. We have Global Entry. Is there any advantage to using the Mobile Passport app, or is Global Entry just as good or better? Only one of us has a smart phone, but I understand we can both use Mobile Passport on my phone? Any insights are appreciated!

Global Entry is very slick. Use it as it will also fast track you through customs as some airports have special lines for that.

I'm quite familiar with Global Entry, and we've used it many times in the past.

It is a looong walk from gate to passport control. I used a wheelchair/cart and it still took 20-25 minutes. Process can be confusing since most of the attendants, while competent, speak with a heavy latino accent.

Did you get my PM?

We also have Global Entry & have found that Mobile Passport is usually faster in ATL. You can look at the size of the lines & make your decision. We have literally just whipped on thru the Mobile Passport desk every time

We also have used Mobile Passport in ATL and found it very efficient.

Thanks Mary Beth; that's the info I was looking for! I'll go ahead and have Mobile Passport ready so that we can choose when we arrive!

Terry, yes. Thank you!!

I have had Mobile Passport for a few years but this return through Atl was first time I used it successfully. I waited to send form till entered airport and could connect with their WiFi. It would not go through on Deltas WiFi. Got return codes quickly and we were able to bypass a huge line at immigration. I have both my husband and I on my same app. It was great and I also have to say I loved Atl airport. It was so easy to navigate

Love Mobile Passport. We have used it in several airports coming back into the US. On a recent trip coming back from Europe into JFK, I was the only person at the Mobile Passport Immigration officer's station. I was through in less than a minute. The regular line was very very long and not moving terribly quickly. Not all re-entry airports have it and sometimes the signage is a bit of a mystery but employees have been able to point us in the right direction. As Beachnut82 said, we have not always been able to transmit on planes' wifi and have had to wait until we have cell service or airport wifi to submit.

Marybeth, if you submit via Mobile Passport and find that the Global Entry line is shorter, can you still use Global Entry?

Don't have any personal experience with it, but I know that others here have reported that the mobile passport works VERY well in Miami.

I'm not sure because we have always used Mobile Passport in ATL. There is usually NO line when we get there. The Mobile Passport desk is at the far end of the immigration hall. I fill in all my info on the app while on the plane & then send it once we hit the terminal. As someone said, the walk is a long one so it's very easy to get it sent. And I THINK Don & I each fill out the app info on our phones. We have different last names which tends to confuse things - but in all honesty I'm not positive that's what we do

I forgot to add we usually took the 3pm Delta flight out of SXM getting to ATL around 7ish. There were a fair amount of flights landing at that time so the lines at the kiosks were 5 or so deep. The GE kiosks were usually available.

There's no stopping at the kiosks with Mobile Passport.
It's all in your phone!

Yes, you have to wait to enter terminal before sending it, but everything else can be ready.

I have Global Entry and generally use Mobile Passport now. On a side note, I have now also added Clear to be that step above Pre-check. When everyone has Pre-check isn't valuable anymore. Clear isn't everywhere and sometimes of Zero value and there are no lines, but places like Atlanta and Denver it is very handy.

It certainly is easy enough to set up! I have our info in my phone and will submit when we arrive. It's nice to have the choice. You usually have cell service as soon as you land, and there's plenty of taxi time to get the submission sent.