TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Global Entry in MIA

Has anyone used GE in Mia recently? Is GE in Mia still all facial recognition or is it better to complete the GE app upon landing? Last trip we completed the app but they were using facial recognition exclusively and the app served no purpose. TIA

Have used GE in Miami numerous times. There is a separate line for GE. It has always been passport and facial recognition with machines (no need for an app).....until eight days ago. I don't know if the machines were not working or if processing has changed but we were sent straight to a border agent who looked at our passports, took our picture and sent us on our way. Took all of two minutes.

Not sure what you mean by "complete the GE app," but I returned from SXM via MIA on 21 May 2025, and GE was a breeze (and I did not "complete the app").

I followed the signs to GE, stepped up to the kiosk, and facial recognition was auto-initiated. Face scanned, green light, and off I went. I stopped walking for about 10 seconds, and my passport stayed in my pocket. Walked right on through to the TSA screening (carry-on bags only for me).

Not hard to figure out that I'm a fan of Global Entry.

The GE app you can download from Apple or Google used to bypass the machines altogether. You would complete it upon landing and take selfies on the app then submit to CBP. Once approved in just a few seconds allowed you to go straight to the CPB agent and show him/her your approval on your phone. Last time thru MIA we completed the app, got approval and went straight to the agent. At that time they using facial recognition at the agents desk and did not want to see our approval. It seems to be a moving target.

The app sounds like a lot more trouble than just going straight through GE without it. I wouldn't worry about the app.

Has MIA opened separate lines for TSA Precheck? Even without checked bags, going back through security is a huge bottleneck there.

Simply exit that small connecting flight area and walk all the way down to the TSA Precheck entrance for everyone else. You are not required to stay in that connecting security line.

Still a long walk to get to PRE

Our experience in Miami on May 20 was atypical but I will share it in case others run into this same scenario. To begin with, our arrival to Miami was 30 minutes late because our flight from SXM took off 50 minutes late. We were supposed to have a little over 2 hours between flights in Miami but that got compressed to 1 3/4 hours. Got luggage with 75 minutes left. Here is where it got really dicey. The connecting flight luggage drop off area was closed and we got redirected all the way to the departure desks where we were to drop off our checked bags. The drop off line was extremely long and I didn't think there was any chance of making our connecting flight. However, although long, the line moved fairly quickly. When dropping off our bags, we noticed they were just stacking them up and not placing them on the conveyor belt. We were told the conveyor belts were broken down (which might explain why the connecting flight bag drop off was closed). We were down to 45 minutes with security still to deal with. We finally found the TSA precheck line (at Zone 1) and fortunately there was virtually no line. Our flight was leaving from gate D13 which was only a short walk from where we exited security. We got to our gate 10 minutes before boarding began. I couldn't believe we made it. I didn't think there was any way our luggage would make the flight but it did. So.......yes it is a pretty long haul to get to the TSA precheck line but if security is backed up outside of the international baggage claim area, it might be worth the hike.

Todd has suggested that, but we haven't connected through Miami since. I avoid it like the plague! I'll definitely try that if I'm ever forced to connect through there again.

I don't mind a long walk if it keeps me from having to remove things from my bags and take off my shoes.

We do this every time when going through Miami, we have Clear and Precheck so that also helps. No matter what, in Miami be ready to walk long distances. We don't check bags so that helps as well and we have made some extremely tight connections. We really don't mind going through Miami, not a favorite but better than our experiences in Atlanta and some other airports. IAD was probably the fastest point of entry we have gone through.

When I connected via MIA last week, there was no separate line for TSA pre-check for re-screening.

Although the line was VERY long, it moved quickly because the TSA pre-check rules applied: laptops in bags, shoes on, and simple magnetometer walk-thru.

That's a change from the last time we connected thru there. They gave us a yellow cards that identified us as Precheck. I assumed that the normal Precheck rules applied, but when we got to the belt, we were required to remove our electronics and liquids. When I said we were Precheck, I was rudely told to read the card. The card did say we'd have to do that. Glad it's changed for the better, but I'll still use Todd's trick next time.

We avoided or return through MIA and opted for CLT. Seems like the CLT flights on AA get the jetway too.

Miami is by far AA's biggest hub into SXM, but the Miami flights seem not to get a jetway. Sucks.

We got a jetway on May 20 when flying from SXM to MIA (which obviously means the passengers coming in from MIA got a jetway).

CaribLee--well, that's good news. Perhaps we will be lucky next week.

We didn't get a jetway from CLT in November, but we did get a ramp, so it was easier than the stairs. Still the dreaded bus.

Unfortunately, even if there is a ramp, it is only in the front of the plane. There are stairs in the back. Going down is not so bad, but boarding is difficult for me. Since our seats are always toward the back, I have had to argue before with the people on the tarmac, to be able to use the ramp when boarding the plane.