Why Most People Miss Global Entry Appointments Even When They're Checking

Short answer: Most people miss Global Entry appointments even when they're checking because: (1) slots are taken within minutes—often seconds—at busy centers, so by the time you refresh and see a slot, someone else has already booked it; (2) manual checking has gaps—you can't refresh every second, so you miss openings that appear and disappear between your refreshes; (3) many people check only one busy center where competition is highest; and (4) the scheduler can lag or show "available" with no slots because the slot was taken before your request loaded. To actually catch openings, use appointment alerts so you're notified the moment a slot appears, check when slots tend to open, and include lower-demand centers where slots sit open longer. For more on why slots vanish quickly, see Why Global Entry Appointments Disappear in 60 Seconds.

Checking "a lot" isn't enough if you're checking at the wrong times, only one center, or a few times a day—slots can come and go in between. Understanding why you miss them helps you switch to strategies that actually work.

Slots Are Taken in Minutes (Often Seconds)

When a slot opens (from a cancellation or a new release), it goes into the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) scheduler and is visible to everyone. At busy centers, hundreds or thousands of people are waiting for that same slot—or an alert service notifies many of them at once. The first person to complete the booking gets it. So slots can be taken within minutes, often seconds. If you're checking every few minutes or a few times a day, you're almost always "too late"—the slot appeared and was taken between your refreshes. See How Global Entry Appointment Cancellations Actually Work and Global Entry Cancellation Windows: What the Data Shows.

Manual Checking Has Gaps

When you check manually, there are always gaps: the time between your refreshes. Slots can open and close in those gaps. You might check at 9:00 a.m. and see nothing; a slot opens at 9:02 a.m. and is taken by 9:05 a.m.; you check again at 9:10 a.m. and still see nothing. You "checked" but you never saw the slot because it existed only in the gap. The only way to close that gap is to be notified the moment a slot appears—which is what appointment alerts do. They monitor continuously and notify you as soon as something opens, so you can act in the first minute instead of discovering it by chance later. See How to Find Global Entry Appointments Without Checking All Day.

Checking Only One Busy Center

If you're only checking one center—especially a busy major-airport center—you're competing with the most people for the fewest available slots. At those centers, openings are rare relative to demand and are taken almost instantly. People who "get" appointments often do so because they're checking 2–3 centers (including lower-demand ones) or using alerts that monitor multiple centers. When a slot opens at a less busy center, it may sit available for longer—so you have a real chance to book it. See How to Avoid Wasting Weeks Checking the Wrong Enrollment Centers.

Scheduler Lag and "Available" With No Slots

Sometimes the scheduler shows "appointments available" or similar but lists no specific dates—or you click on a date and the slot is gone. That can be because: (1) the slot was taken between when the page loaded and when you clicked; (2) the system is showing availability for another center or date range; or (3) there's a brief lag or cache issue. So even when you "see" a hint of availability, you can still miss it because of speed or system behavior. See Why Does Global Entry Say Appointments Are Available but Show None?

What Actually Works

1. Use appointment alerts. Alerts notify you the moment a slot opens at your chosen centers—you're in the game in the first minute instead of whenever you happen to refresh. See Using Automation to Find Global Entry Appointments and GE Finder.
2. Include 2–3 centers (at least one lower-demand center if you can travel there). More centers mean more chances; lower-demand centers mean slots sit open longer. See How to Track Multiple Enrollment Centers at Once and The Fastest Legit Ways People Get Global Entry Interviews.
3. Act immediately when you get an alert or see a slot. Have your TTP account open and complete the booking as soon as you're notified. Don't wait—slots can be taken in minutes.
4. If you check manually, do it at high-probability times and consider using alerts anyway so you don't rely only on luck. See How Often Global Entry Appointments Actually Open (Patterns Explained).

Frequently Asked Questions

I check several times a day. Why do I still miss slots?

Because slots can appear and be taken in the minutes between your checks. "Several times a day" still leaves gaps of hours. Alerts close that gap by notifying you the moment something opens.

Are people using bots to grab slots?

CBP's scheduler is designed to prevent automated scraping and abuse. Legitimate appointment alert services check the scheduler at reasonable intervals and notify you so you can book yourself—they don't book for you. The reason slots go fast is high demand and many people (and alert users) responding quickly, not necessarily "bots" in the sense of illegal automation.

Will checking more often get me locked out?

Yes. Refreshing too frequently can trigger scheduler lockouts or temporary blocks. That's another reason alerts are better: they check at a sustainable rate and you only act when notified.