₦airaland Forum

Alexandre7:
Are you sure?

Asking for yourself OR Asking for a friend?

Which one?

Alexandre7:
So each seat in the waiting area has an iPad you use to entertain yourself while waiting for your Flight Departure.

You can browse the internet, use Facebook & Twitter as well as order Food & Drink from the restaurants inside the Main Concourse Terminal.

Alexandre7:
Hello Everyone,

I’ll be traveling back to Nigeria for the Christmas Season. This’s my first trip back home in almost 8 years.

I’ll be flying from Newark, New Jersey to London, England for via United Airlines &

I’ll be flying from London, England to Lagos, Nigeria via Etihad Airways.

So my current itinerary is: Newark, New Jersey – London, England – Rome, Italy – Abu Dhabi, UAE – Lagos, Nigeria.

I’ll be spending a day in London, England & two days Abu Dhabi, UAE

Join me as I share my trip experience back to my Motherland.

Alexandre7:
Decided to pass away time by using the internet to access Nairaland.

Alexandre7:
With advance technology, I didn’t have to go through the regular Customs & Immigration Line.

As a United States Citizen, I was directed to the smart gate & all I had to do was scan my U.S. Passport & the machine takes my picture and grants me access into London.

The whole process took less than 3 minutes.

lionlee216:
Do you have global Entry?

lionlee216:
How were you able to do all these connecting flight all together? Since you flying United airline to London, what will be your flight from lagos to US.

How much is the total cost for the flight?

I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing too..

Have fun bro.

Alexandre7:
Yes I do.

But they only asked for my U.S. Passport.

Only British Passport Holders, European Passport Holders, U.S. Passport Holders, Canadian Passport Holders & Australian Passport Holders are allowed to use the smart gate.

lionlee216:
My GE application has been pending more than 5 months..

Alexandre7:
Did you attend your Application Interview yet?

What did the TSA Officer say?

I wonder why yours is taking a long time.

My application only took roughly five days to be approved.

I applied & was interviewed at the JFK Airport in New York City,

Maybe because of the FBI Background Check.

TSA has to wait for your Background Check Results to come back from the FBI.

Alexandre7:
My Newark ----- London Flight with United Airlines cost me about $300

My London ----- Lagos Flight with Etihad Airways cost me about $700

With Etihad Airways, I'll be making a one day stop in Rome & Two days stop in Abu Dhabi

So I spent roughly about $1000 for a one way ticket back to Nigeria.

lionlee216:
It's still on pending review. I never made it yet to the interview..

Alexandre7:
Yeah,

It seems very strange.

I wonder why you would be on pending review for five months.

Most people I know that have & use Global Entry are United States Citizens.

Have you tried to apply for TSA Precheck?

That might be processed faster.

I know a lot of Permanent Residents with TSA Precheck.

lionlee216:
So I'm guessing your United Airline is a one way ticket. Do you have any problems boarding since most airline requires return ticket?

lionlee216:
I opted for the Global Entry cos it has TSA PreCheck included.

I'll look into the TSA PreCheck then

Alexandre7:
Yeah I know,

Global Entry is mostly for International travel while TSA Precheck is mostly for Domestic Travel.

lionlee216:
Thanks for the answers. Let me take my seat and enjoy the story.

When I held my wife US Passport, A smile just came from nowhere.

Thanks once again

Alexandre7:
With advance technology, I didn’t have to go through the regular Customs & Immigration Line.

As a United States Citizen, I was directed to the smart gate & all I had to do was scan my U.S. Passport & the machine takes my picture and grants me access into London.

The whole process took less than 3 minutes.

salford1:
We couldn't use this system when I travelled to London last July with my family. Families with kids under the age of 12 have to go through border officials kiosk for US, Canada, Australia and EU travellers.

Alexandre7:
That explains why I never saw families with kids under the age of 12 using it.

This was my first International Trip since I got my United States Passport.

This trip also happens to be the easiest entry into a foreign country that I've ever made.

salford1:
I understand that feeling. Especially if you were to compare both experience. Naija pali vs better country pali. The difference is like day and night.
Travelling with kids has little benefits too in a way - Priority boarding