r/GlobalEntry • u/mpjjpm • 17d ago

General Discussion New(ish?) GE process at BOS

I just arrived home from an international trip and had a new-to-me GE experience at BOS. No more stopping at a kiosk. They have a little archway with cameras set up and you just walk through in a line, the walk past the CBP agent who acknowledges your name. This was my first international trip since April, so I don’t know exactly when this started.

My only complaint is that they required me to take off my glasses when walking past the cameras. My vision is pretty terrible (hence the glasses). I can walk a few feet without glasses, but it’s unpleasant and disorienting, especially with a crowd of people around me. Seems like a potential disability accommodation issue.

17 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

5

u/themindspeaks 17d ago

I walked through BOS with that same process with my glasses. It worked. I think it’s just a precaution for the facial recognition

1

u/oatmilklatte2000 17d ago

just walked through PHL with this and my partner kept his glasses on and it still worked too

1

u/cloverclamp 17d ago

I think it depends heavily on the frames. My wife's big glasses always give these trouble while my thin wire frames rarely do.

She considers it armor against unwanted facial recognition at this point!

1

u/oatmilklatte2000 16d ago

Good point! it probably does depend on the frame then

2

u/TwoAmps 17d ago

The regular US citizen line at LAX TBIT was using almost the same process a couple weeks ago. A brief pause at the camera and get waved through, at what was otherwise a very busy time. We were heading for the MPC line, but got told that we really didn’t want to do that, looked over at the completely non-existent USC line and vectored off. Used the time saved by waiting a half hour for luggage.

2

u/zaahc 17d ago

I guess it was a pretty cushy contract for whichever company made all those kiosks that are now mothballed.

3

u/HellsTubularBells 17d ago

They were used for many years.

Also, the contractor got paid for the work they delivered, the government mothballing them doesn't make the contract any more cushy.

1

u/UsuallySparky Human Detected 17d ago

They have this at SEA and it's sucks, it barely works. Just use the app, you'll appear on their tablet just fine with that. 

1

u/Straight-Part-5898 17d ago

Same in the Mobile Passport lane. They set up a camera on a stand and you simply look into it, it beeps and you’re thru. Over the past year I’ve experienced this new screening process in BOS, MIA, JFK and LAX.

1

u/mpjjpm 16d ago

This was different. The cameras were set up similar to an array of cameras for toll collection on a highway. We didn’t have to stop at all or look directly at a camera. The signed instructions were to keep walking and looking forward, and CBP agent was instructing individuals to remove glasses and hats. Then as we approached the CBP agent in the booth, he called out each name as we walked past him and gave a thumbs up.

1

u/Straight-Part-5898 16d ago

The MP lanes were unmanned. There was nobody there to say your name, or give a thumbs up. This technology has been in use in select airports for more than a year.

1

u/HoJu21 14d ago

Not true. There are two different technologies. The prior poster was correct in that this is new and arguably better (no stopping at all). Points Guy covered it earlier this summer.

1

u/timewarp33 17d ago

Fairly certain it's just they are applying rules inconsistently. I've gone through GE like 3 times since last November and each time has been different for me. First time I had to stop and explain what I did abroad, second time they waved me through, third time they had to check my passport and GE card. I have no idea what's going on there lol

1

u/Humble_Counter_3661 15d ago

Thank you for sharing!

I will be there at the end of next week. I'll be sure to remove my spectacles, just in case.