14 January 2010

What you need to know about latest airport security rules

Here’s the good and the bad news, airline passengers: Rumors of long lines in the US are generally not true, and the brunt of new security standards are almost entirely being borne by international passengers arriving here.

"Based on reports from our international customers, there have been longer lines there. But domestically, we really haven't heard from airports about significant line waits," said Christopher Bidwell, vice president of security and facilitation for Airports Council International.

Long-term effects of the Detroit bombing incident are still being sorted out and who knows what the TSA will be coming up with next? But in the meantime, here are some basics you need to know now:

• International passengers, whether US citizens or not, will be seeing more pat downs and random screenings as they come back to the US. This might include choosing "random" passengers at the boarding line having their contents of their carry-ons put on public display.

• Passengers returning from another country to the US will face two security checks. The first is when checking in for the flight at the airline counter where they may be frisked and questioned by the airline. The second stop is at airport security checkpoints with random screens. Additional checks may be required at the departure gate.

• Canadian airline officials have been among the most aggressive in new screening techniques and as of this writing, they are banning carry-on luggage except for purses and laptops for flights leaving Canada for the US. Will this change? Probably.

• British Airways tells THETICKET that travelers inbound to the US from the UK are restricted to a single carry-on that must conform to normal size standards. Purses and briefcases will have to be placed inside carry-ons. Again, this could change.

• Passengers everywhere will be seeing more frequent use of full-body scanners at the upwards of two dozen US airports where they are in operation. More international airports are adding the screeners and that will continue.

Further good news for international passengers: This is the slowest travel period of the year so experts say huge delays and long lines are not routinely expected.

By David Wilkening

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Your Comments (1)

Typical of the TSA

What a wonderful way to welcome visitors to the US -penalize everyone! Why doesn't the TSA adopt the technique Israel uses of profiling passengers?

By Russell Forgham, Tuesday, January 19, 2010