I ran down to King County International Airport* today for an interview for my Global Entry access. The Global Entry program provides expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival at twenty-some designated airports in the USA. (For frequent USA-Canada travelers there is a separate program called Nexus). There is no minimum number of trips needed to apply for the program but it does cost $100 and is good for 5 years before one has to renew. But now I can swipe my passport at a kiosk, put my grubby four right hand fingers on the fingerprint reader and then I should be good to go. I think the kiosk snaps a face picture as well.
*It is actually the official name of what we in Seattle know as Boeing Field, a two run-way airport to the immediate south of the city used mostly for general aviation and for cargo. I love the front entrance. I believe it dates from 1928 when the airport opened. The picture of Tsu Wong is from the waiting room. He was a 1916 graduate from MIT and was Boeing’s first engineer !