‘Game-changer’ alternative to Global Entry now available at 8 US airports this summer

No Global Entry, no problem at several of America’s busiest airports.

Passengers returning home to the U.S. from a trip abroad have a new way to quickly move through passport control (and without pulling out a passport) at more than a half-dozen major hubs. And you don’t need a membership, an interview or a fee to qualify for access.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently expanded its new program called Enhanced Passenger Processing, which uses high-tech software and a biometric scan to quickly clear U.S. travelers, and move them through the international arrivals area.

The new process almost feels a little like the agency’s fast-tracked Global Entry program, but without the $120 application fee — and it could make for an enticing alternative for travelers who leave the country only once a year or so.

“It’s really a game-changer for us in how we welcome U.S. citizens back home to the U.S.,” Diane Sabatino, CBP acting executive assistant commissioner, said at a news conference at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on Friday.

How Enhanced Passenger Processing works

Enhanced Passenger Processing, or “EPP,” quietly debuted nine months ago as part of a trial at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

Early results were promising, reducing passport control wait times for U.S. citizens by 25%, CBP reported; that means less time standing in line after a long flight — easily one of the least enjoyable parts of an international trip.

Travelers using EPP walk up to a tablet to have their photo taken. They don’t need to pull out a passport or any other documentation; the program compares the image taken in that moment to passport or visa photos CBP already has on file.

I watched one traveler after another use the service at DFW Friday, and saw most were cleared within a matter of seconds. In some cases, the officer supervising the lane asked the traveler a question or two about their trip details, and then most were on their way.

“The entire process is touchless, it’s efficient and it’s secure,” Sabatino said Friday.

It’s also increasingly available at many of the nation’s busiest international gateways, and one CBP preclearance facility overseas.

Where is Enhanced Passenger Processing available?

Last month, TPG reported on the technology’s arrival at Orlando International Airport (MCO), perennially one of the country’s biggest destinations for vacationers.

Beyond DFW and Orlando, CBP has also now expanded EPP to:

• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• Dublin Airport (DUB) in Ireland, where passengers are screened prior to a flight to the U.S.

CBP notes that offering this faster processing option for  U.S. citizens has also reduced wait times for non-citizens, by freeing up lane space and officers — which means more lanes available for visitors.

During the new program’s trial phase at DFW, maximum wait times for non-U.S. citizens dropped from over 50 minutes, the agency said, to less than 35 minutes.

A better option than Global Entry?

To be clear, no other passport control program — even this new EPP — tops the speed of Global Entry, particularly as CBP works to speed up that paid program with newer, higher-tech tools.

Global Entry remains a top “hack” for travelers who frequently fly overseas, offering both the ultra-fast trip through passport control — along with access to the TSA PreCheck lanes.

Read more: How to apply for Global Entry: Tips for first-timers

However, travelers who fly internationally less frequently may be less enthused about the $120 enrollment fee, which is good for five years (though some credit cards will reimburse the fee).

Mobile Passport Control a third alternative

There’s another time-saving option for travelers who:

• Don’t have Global Entry
• Are arriving at an airport that doesn’t yet have the new EPP
• Or, who don’t want to use EPP

The widely-available Mobile Passport Control program allows passengers to submit some personal information ahead of their arrival via mobile app, before proceeding to a dedicated line for processing.

Bottom line

Whatever program you choose, there’s now a myriad of ways to skip the longest lines after a long-haul flight.

“We’re not all-in on one solution,” Sabatino said. “We want to make sure we have as broad a suite of options to all the different types of travelers that come through.”

Despite lingering concerns about travel demand, airlines have said demand for international trips remains strong among U.S. customers. The recent Memorial Day weekend brought two of the five busiest days ever at U.S. airports.

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• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without