I experienced a case of Global Entry envy a few weeks ago when transiting through Charlotte, N.C., on my way to Boston, Mass. Traveling from Cancún, I was on my way to a conference, and I ended up via Charlotte due to a US Airways schedule change. Originally slated to fly through Philadelphia, my home hub, the airline delayed my scheduled departure by more than an hour, meaning I would arrive in Boston well after my first obligation of the evening. The only possibility was this reroute, which forced me to leave Cancún earlier, but would put me in Boston with about two hours to spare. With more than 90 minutes to transfer in Charlotte, I thought this my best option.

When we landed in Charlotte on schedule and prepared to disembark, we were told by the flight crew we needed to wait on the plane for a while as the airport’s Customs was overcrowded and more TSA agents were being located. Eventually, we disembarked. I expected to find a less chaotic version of Customs than I found, considering we’d been held up to give Customs time to clear. Instead, it was mayhem, with long, windy lines and general confusion. I entered the line for my nearly 60-minute wait and watched with jealousy as fellow frequent travelers bypassed the lines and breezed through Customs using the Global Entry kiosks.

At a certain point in line, I started to feel nervous I would miss my connection. I still needed to make my way through Customs, pick up my luggage, re-check it and go through security. Following my Customs clearance, I flew through the airport and made it to the gate just as the final boarding call was being made. I collapsed in my window seat with an audible “PHEW!”

The experience made me wonder if it is time to consider some of these timesaving technologies in place at airports today for business travelers. Tell us, have you had an experience where airport lines caused you to miss a flight? What are your favorite techniques for saving time at the airport? Email letters@globaltravelerusa.com and see your thoughts in an upcoming issue of Global Traveler.

— Kimberly Krol, managing editor