Friday, June 22, 2018

A Detailed Look At American Airport Security Guidelines

By Henry Olson


Secure airline travel is an integral part of the safety code of every nation. Over the years, there have been numerous reviews of American airport security by different administrations. Following the inauguration of the current administration, new laws came into effect in the year 2017. This article examines some of the rules that have taken effect.

There are numerous glaring differences between American guidelines and those generally adhered to in the rest of the world. For travelers heading to America, stricter checks are always a part of the deal. The stricter laws are, in actual sense, aimed at mitigating the ever increasing risk posed by terror and unchecked immigration.

The new rules state that all US bound travelers ought to be questioned prior to getting into their aircraft. This is a law that also applies to US citizens traveling home from abroad. Some carriers have even taken the extra step of providing their passengers with fill out forms for this purpose. Air France is one airline that does this. Majority of the others undertake oral interviews as part of the check in process.

As these advanced checks are known to take time, most airlines require US bound passengers to arrive for check in earlier than usual. If you are due to travel soon, you might want to confirm the appropriate check in time with your airline. Some are known to recommend as much as 3 hours advance arrival. Flights originating from certain countries do not subject their passengers to such advanced checks nonetheless. They include those from Canada, Ireland and certain territories in the Caribbean.

Nowadays, electronics undergo far more screening than they used to be subjected to in the past. This measure came following the increased usage of electronics in explosives concealment. In the year 2017, the US administration placed a ban on laptops on incoming flights. However, this directive was short lived. The government is still keen on reinstating the ban, at least according to its recent rhetoric. Nonetheless, the process of screening electronics is non intrusive thanks to the use of sniffer dogs and modern scanning machines.

It would be wise of you to make it a point to check the TSA website regularly. There are policy updates and words of advice that get posted every now and then. While at it, research out about prohibited liquids and just how much of the permitted liquids one can include in his baggage.

Data gathered by the TSA indicates that there are 280 airports that operate direct flights to the US from several countries across the world. To be given the green light to operate direct US bound flights, an airport must conform to several rules spelt out by the authority, even if it means overwriting the existing air travel laws in the concerned country. As such, a country may be required to change its passport printing and issuance mechanisms. The permitted airports are based in more than 100 countries.

The most controversial part of the security process when entering the US is the pat down screening. Over the years, there have been many complaints over how intrusive the process usually is. This notwithstanding, you should brace yourself for it if you plan to visit.




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