TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Mobile Passport Control (MPC)

I'm getting ready to return home on Friday and received the usual form from AA for contact information. Included in the email was a plug for using Mobile Passport Control (MPC). My question is: is there an added benefit to using this when I already have Global Entry? I would think not, but would welcome thoughts from someone who has used it.

Not really but it’s a good backup up of GE is busy

Sorry if this is old news but GE has an app that allows you to take a selfie and avoid the GE kiosks.

News to me. Where does one find this app??

Edit:
Is this the app?

I have tried to use MPC three times in CLT and each time it was closed. Frustrating!

No, JD's post above is the GE app. I got it in the App Store for my iPhone. I assume ti its available for android devises also.

Thanks and thank you JD. Strange JFK isn’t included in the app! Bummer!!

Has anybody used either of these options? We have friends that have Pre Check but don't have GE and they will be coming back from SXM through Miami mid March. Is one better than the other?

MJ and I have GE, works well for us. We also have Clear which for all of you connecting through MIA inbound from SXM if you drop off your bags after Clearing and instead of getting in the line right by the luggage drop leave the airport and not too far is a Clear station with Pre Check as well, a bit of walking but we have saved a lot of time doing that route especially with a short connection time. It feels weird at first leaving to go up to the regular check in lines but have done it twice now.
T

We foolishly did not sign up for the MPC app in time. At Charlotte last friday, the MPC line was 5 to 10 minutes , the non MPC line, which were stuck in, was around an hour. I would definitely use the MCP app, I believe it is free, and at worst you don't use it. We came within a few minutes of missing our connecting flight since we didn't use the app.

although we've had (and still have) GE for years, for the past several years we've chosen to use MPC instead...we've found it actually gets us through immigration faster

How does it work? Guessing - Download app, set up in app, then when you are entering the country do you go through the Global Entry line and if so do you then use the Kiosk or is there another line for MPC? This would be needed in Miami. I would like to be able to explain it to our friends.

download and set up app ahead of time...then when we touch down in the US and get internet access, my wife will use the app to take each of our photos and i believe answer a couple of questions...then when we deboard we head to the MPC line, which is usually near GE, but often substantially shorter...no need to stop at any kiosk...we've used it in MIA quite a few times

I very much appreciate that simple explanation. Passed it on.

11 days until on island!

more info from my wife: you're supposed to submit your data via the app at least 20 minutes before going through immigration, but can do it as much as 4 hours early before the submittal expires...my wife waits until we touch down before submitting and we've never had a problem, even when we're first peops off the plane

although i'm actually the techy, my wife does the bureaucracy stuff so she's the one that handles this

We have our information and pictures saved on the app.
We find you can not submit until you are on the ground close to location.

No lines in NY, just follow the MPC sign to the booth.
Usually quicker than GE.

So I did put both apps on my phone, but in doing some research on them, you can't submit one on MPC and a second on GE as it supposedly messes up the system.

I will just submit on the MPC app when I touch down and then when I get to Immigration, will decide whether to go through the MPC line or go through the kiosk process with GE. I don't really want to deal with taking selfies, which the GE app requires.

Just connected thru Miami on AA Saturday on our return from SXM. Have Global Entry but used the MPC app. Set up MPC info beforehand, photos submitted once we landed in MIA. ~5 minutes thru the MPC line. Very fast and easy. Departure chaos in SXM terminal was another story.....

Larry--so what happened on departure from SXM? I thought that was working a little better.

Like with everything else with the airport, it still seems to be hit or miss on both ends.

If you are downstairs, it is quite chaotic. No one can really hear the announcements so they all crowd around the counter. The agents still call by group number, but that just gets you on the bus faster. Getting off and in line to go up the stairs (yes, we used stairs, no ramp both Friday and Saturday) is first come, first served.

Mikel--was that AA to Miami? No ramp even?????? What the hey! Why aren't they using the jetways??

Jetways are for second level. AA leaves from ground level.

Linda--So NO AA planes use jetways??

Does Mobile Passport also contain Pre-check like GE? Does it cost? Does a 3rd party have access to all your personal information?

Can anyone use MPC? We have TSA but not GE. Must we have GE to use MPC?

You do not have to have GE to use MPC.

We were on AA 1008 this past Saturday with ~3:30 departure. Arrived ~2 hours prior to departure. Thru security and passport control quickly <10 minutes.

Originally assigned to gate A2, with a jetbridge. Issues with the prior AA Philadelphia flight and reassigned downstairs to B gates. Packed down there with 3-4 other flights for ~45 minutes. Then we were moved back upstairs to the C gates. Down another set of stairs and bussed midfield to board via air stairs / ramp. Certainly a challenge for folks with mobility issues.

Left ~90 minutes late.

No charge for MPC. Still need to purchase TDA Pre or GE. Where the data goes.........

Some American use the jetways, in December with were an A gate, so used a jetway, in February we were a B gate so used the bus

No idea about *all* AA flights. I just know that the ones departing from downstairs do not use jetways.

Well, yes, downstairs there are no jetways, for sure.

Carol, my flight was to Charlotte.

Mikel--Ok thanks