Mobile Passport App Adds Premium Features, Cripples Free App

Mobile Passport App was a free alternative to Global Entry that works at 25 airports. They have now added a premium version of the app that costs $14.99 per year, there is a free 7 day trial. The premium features are really just features that used to be free, for example you’ll now need premium to store your passport details and to use the document scanner. This means if you want to use the free app you’ll need to manually enter your passport details each time.

Most readers of this site will thankfully have Global Entry from one of the many credit cards that offer this feature, but this is incredibly annoying for those without access. As long as you don’t update to the latest version of the app you should be able to continue to store your passport information in the app, but I’m sure at some stage they will force an upgrade or the app won’t work.

Hat tip to reader BTD & Rapid Travel Chai

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17 Comments
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MisterBill
MisterBill (@guest_767467)
June 6, 2019 00:22

If anyone signed up for the premium service on Android, did it allow you to use Google Play Credit when paying? I have a bunch of credit from Google Opinion Rewards surveys and would have no problem spending $15 of it for this. Not interested in paying real money.

Test
Test (@guest_753096)
April 28, 2019 15:15

No worries, with the number of (technically inclined) users of Mobile Passport, a competition app is on the way. CBP is not charging Airside Mobile for their electronic declaration APIs.

MisterBill
MisterBill (@guest_768563)
June 8, 2019 14:17

Where is the competitor app coming from?

HarryTheFirstHarry
HarryTheFirstHarry (@guest_752032)
April 24, 2019 19:08

I did not know about this app, good to know about it at least now though too late to really use the free version. The company has to make money some way or the other…so cant blame them though for this change as much inconvenience as it is. They need to be a bit more creative about the pricing for infrequent travelers like me – maybe a 3.99 a month version that could be used only for the month(s) that one travels.
I do have GE. I searched for GE app and found none. Is there an app that is an alternate to this one? What does it mean that this app is not useful for people with GE?

MisterBill
MisterBill (@guest_768468)
June 7, 2019 22:53

I do not have GE but since it already gives you expedited entry as a result of paying for the service, there is no need for the Mobile Passport app. It’s not like it allows you to avoid carrying a physical passport.

Daniel
Daniel (@guest_751856)
April 24, 2019 11:21

Silly me, I thought this app was released by the government. Don’t know why a private entity is doing something DHS should be providing for free.

I have global entry, although it seems most US and Canadian citizens have access to automated kiosks now so I don’t really know how valuable it is outside of including TSA PreCheck.

Tommy Chen
Tommy Chen (@guest_751814)
April 24, 2019 09:49

I was at JFK two weeks ago and all the Global entry machines were not working. Apparently half my flight had Global Entry too. It was chaos and everyone was downloading this app in line.

gman
gman (@guest_751798)
April 24, 2019 08:22

About time to renew Global Entry. Did not know we had to do another interview – which is a real pain. With these apps, it seems that entry is just as easy. Maybe we should just get the TSA part and skip GE?

sdsearch
sdsearch (@guest_751825)
April 24, 2019 10:09

SOME people have to do another interview, but NOT EVERYONE. But you won’t know if you’re going to need another interview or not until you go to renew.

Al
Al (@guest_751790)
April 24, 2019 07:35

I don’t see how this is that bad. If you can’t take the 2 minutes it takes to enter your information, then pay the tiny yearly fee. If anything this will keep MP lines a little shorter which is nice since they’re already shorter than GE lines.

Hunt
Hunt (@guest_751638)
April 23, 2019 20:31

I updated my app this morning and then opened it to see what was new to my horror. I have the opportunity to get GE, but I don’t like the idea of giving the government more info – as silly as that might be. The line for mobile passport is also always shorter/non-existent.

While a horrible change, I can still see myself using the app to avoid the line/form. Maybe even less people will use it now…

Patrick
Patrick (@guest_751816)
April 24, 2019 09:54

You’re not giving them any info they don’t already know. 🙂

lenin1991
lenin1991 (@guest_752039)
April 24, 2019 19:19

With GE, you are giving CBP permission to perform, compile, and retain a background check that they otherwise wouldn’t be entitled to without cause

Charlie
Charlie (@guest_751635)
April 23, 2019 20:23

What a sad story….

John
John (@guest_751595)
April 23, 2019 19:25

PSA – If you GE is set to expire within the year renew at the first possible opportunity. Mine has been pending renewal approval for 6+ months now. There is a notation on the site citing the shutdowns as to the cause for the back-log of processing applications & renewals.

Nick
Nick (@guest_751668)
April 23, 2019 21:12

Interesting that yours is taking so long. My renewal was conditionally approved within 2 weeks, and there were appointments beginning a couple of weeks after that. It’s a hassle to have to go for another interview but I was surprised how quick the process was given the post-shutdown delay warnings.