New Security Measures For All US-Bound Flights

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New Security Measures For US-Bound Flights From Asia Coming Next Week - One Mile at a Time

Well, it looks like we can soon expect additional security screening on flights from Asia to the US. While I’m not sure how widely applicable this is, The Korea Times reports that airlines are advising US-bound passengers to arrive at Incheon Airport at least 4-5 hours before departure starting October 26, 2017. That’s probably way overdone, but the idea is that something new is being implemented as of then.

So it looks like we’ll now see security interviews when departing Asia, much like we see when departing out of certain European airports. I can appreciate the concept of security interviews on departure, as it’s something that Israel has done incredibly effectively. However, I don’t get the same sense of skill and professionalism when being interviewed on a US-bound flight. That’s not because of the individuals doing it, but because of their lack of training.

For those departing Incheon Airport, apparently this additional questioning won’t initially apply on Asiana and Korean Air, as they’ve requested a deadline extension because they’re relocating terminals.

So while this is only being reported out of Korea as of now, I see no reason Korea would be singled out, and this wouldn’t apply to other gateways in Asia as well. I guess we’ll see next week.
 
No more in-town checkin for Cathay Pacific flights to the USA - Australian Business Traveller

DavidFlynn said:
Cathay Pacific travellers heading from Hong Kong to the USA are no longer able to use the convenient in-town checkin facility at Hong Kong's Airport Express stations at Hong Kong Central and Kowloon.

It's fallout from the latest clamp-down imposed by the US Department of Homeland Security and removes one of the greatest time-savers for business travellers, who until now have been able to dump their checked luggage at the station, check in for their flight and either speed their way to the airport or spend the rest of the day in Hong Kong.

The move doesn't impact travellers heading to any other Cathay Pacific destination, and Cathay's flight CX888 to New York via Vancouver is exempt from the new rules.

Also caught up in the changes are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines (which has daily flights between Hong Kong and San Francisco).

A statement issued by Cathay Pacific advises that "while passengers may still check in online, they are asked to check in their baggage at the dedicated counters on Aisle B at Hong Kong International Airport , where they will be subject to a short security interview."

"Passengers without check-in baggage should proceed to the boarding gate directly as early as possible, where they will be also be subject to a short security interview."

The airline suggests that all passengers travelling to the US "arrive at the airport three hours prior to departure to ensure they can proceed through all airport checkpoints in good time."
 
I don't understand the problem with in town check-in. Are US authorities afraid of bombs detonating in HK? Aren't the in town check in bags security screened?
 
Flights to the USA: Airlines to perform new security screenings for all passengers

All incoming flights to the US will be subject to new security screening procedures, with both American citizens and foreigners, including Australians, possibly facing security interviews with airline employees.

The announcement from the US Transportation Security Administration comes after several global long-haul airlines - Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Air France, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Emirates and Lufthansa - said they would begin the new security interviews starting on Thursday.

However, the airlines offered different descriptions of how the interviews would take place, ranging from another form a traveller would have to fill out to actually being questioned by an airline employee.

The new rules will affect 325,000 airline passengers on about 2100 commercial flights arriving daily in the United States, on 180 airlines from 280 airports in 105 countries.

"The security measures affect all individuals, international passengers and US citizens, travelling to the United States from a last point of departure international location," said Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the TSA. "These new measures will impact all flights from airports that serve as last points of departure locations to the United States."

She said it would include "heightened screening of personal electronic devices" and stricter security procedures around planes and in airport terminals.

A Virgin Australia spokesperson said the airline had implemented the new security measures for flights to the US and that they were expected to have minimal impact on travellers.

"There are no new restrictions about what can be carried on board US bound flights, but passengers and their belongings may be selected to undergo additional screening," the spokesperson said.

"Guests travelling to the USA are encouraged to arrive to the airport at least three hours prior to their flight departures with an electronic or hard copy of their flight itinerary and proceed to the gate at least 75 minutes before their scheduled departure."

A Qantas Group spokesman said the airline did not expect any impact on check-in queues for Qantas or Jetstar flights as a result of the new measures, but advised US-bound passengers to arrive at the airport with plenty of time ahead of their flight.
 
Are US authorities afraid of bombs detonating in HK?

http://www.traveller.com.au/flights-to-the-usa-airlines-to-perform-new-security-screenings-for-all-passengers-gz8gij said:
Alexandre de Juniac, CEO of the International Air Transport Association, said the industry understood security threats to aviation were made regularly but in this case the US government had not shared any specific dangers before changing the rules.

"What we have seen is very strange," he told reporters in Taipei. "Unilateral measures announced without any prior consultation... That is something that is very concerning and disturbing."

#makeairtravelgreatagain
 
They really want people to come to the US don't they?

But helpfully this means that the scrutiny once you ARRIVE in the US will be much less (but I suspect this wont be the case - US immigration officers enjoy their powertrips and they wont let that be taken away from them)
 
SeatBackForward, many years ago I experienced 'difficult' USA immigration officers but in recent years I haven't had any problems at all.

Maybe 'it depends' on who you strike at the counter.
 
New Security Procedures for Flying to the U.S. are Stupid - View from the Wing

Behavior detection questions are worse. What did you do on your vacation? What do you do for a living? What do you do when you’re alone with your wife? They don’t care about your answers, they care about how you answer — whether you stammer or stretch to think of a story or whether answers come naturally. But the government already revealed this year that there is absolutely no science behind its behavior detection programs.
 
SeatBackForward, many years ago I experienced 'difficult' USA immigration officers but in recent years I haven't had any problems at all.
Maybe 'it depends' on who you strike at the counter.
You're probably right. Same here- entering the Us has become easier if anything, in the times of ESTA and automated kiosks.

Saying that- I am white and hold a German and an Aussie passport. It very well could be a different story if I had a slightly different skin color and, heaven forbid, a dark beard even! :rolleyes:
 
You're probably right. Same here- entering the Us has become easier if anything, in the times of ESTA and automated kiosks.

Saying that- I am white and hold a German and an Aussie passport. It very well could be a different story if I had a slightly different skin color and, heaven forbid, a dark beard even! :rolleyes:

I'm not Caucasian this happened to me on my very first visit to the USA

"Whats your purpose for entering the USA?"
"To visit relatives"
"where are you going?"
"to Seattle"
"whats your occupation?"
"I'm an Engineer"
"are you going to Seattle to find work?"
"No, I'm going to visit a relative and then travelling onto Canada"
"you know there are a lot of Engineers in Seattle"
"I understand a lot of IT companies are based there"
"so you're not going there to look for work?"
"no i'm not that kind of engineer"
"what kind of engineer are you?"
"a civil engineer, I work in the constructioon field"
"So you aren't entering the US to seek work in construction?"

I basically get a variation of the above each and everytime I go to the US - I usually go to attend conferences - to the extent I keep at hand a copy of my itinerary, hotel bookings, conference brochure and outlines of the presentations I will deliver as proof to the Immigration officer.

And of course you have to play nice, because you have no alternative course of action should it turn pear shape.
 
I'm not Caucasian this happened to me on my very first visit to the USA
"Whats your purpose for entering the USA?"
"To visit relatives"

I'm not at all surprised. Though "visiting relatives" is generally a bad answer as they suspect for some stupid reason that you might wanna stay with them. For all it's worth, that has happened to two friends of mine before as well and they're both whiter than white. But in general, I bet your chances for an interrogation are higher as soon as you don't look like Anglosaxon/ Norther European descent. And Americans tend not to necessarily the smartest about it- they often happily include Italians, Greek etc. in their 'Looks a bit like Bin Laden' bucket :rolleyes::eek:
 
I'm flying to the US next week on QF93, if I'm travelling HLO is the interview done at the gate? Is it still possible for F and WP/WP1/CL to board US flights from the lower level entrance using the lift?
 
I'm flying to the US next week on QF93, if I'm travelling HLO is the interview done at the gate? Is it still possible for F and WP/WP1/CL to board US flights from the lower level entrance using the lift?
I flew on QF93 last week, there was no interview at all. Some guy in Security uniform checking the BP and passport as you entered the boarding gate. Yes you can still use the lift.
Upon arrival in LAX I used the US Citizens queue for the machines and was out the door to the baggage area in 5 minutes. Not bad for a morning arrival with an Aussie passport :D
Mind you I had to run straight to the gate for my connecting AA flight no Flounge for me :(
 
I no longer put down visiting (even when I may be) as there can be queries re who, where, when.

Simply put leisure/holiday. .. generally results in less of an interrogation.
 
Said vacation on my last arrival into SFO.

Was asked the usual how long and was I meeting anyone. No I'm not.
What are planning on doing. Riding a few cable cars and trams. (The F Line runs historic trams from cities around the world as the regular tram service. No need to comment :) )
And your not meeting anyone. No.
And you want to ride the cable cars. Yes.

He seemed surprised I traveled alone and wanted to test out their public transport. Can't understand why. No issue to get in but during the questioning he's asking for the fingerprints. Was waiting for the you seem to be sweating a lot today Sir but it never came.

All good and an Irish Coffee or three at the Buena Vista followed by a midnight cable car back to the hotel that night.

Matt
 

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I'm off to the US tomorrow.
I'll have to remember the F line trams in SFO

That's right, they run down Market St and along the Embarcadero to Fishermans Wharf. Previously known as the Market Street Raikway when it was private before becoming the MUNI. Easy to spot as all painted in the colour schemes of their previous owners. They even have a couple of Melbourne teams.
 
they often happily include Italians, Greek etc. in their 'Looks a bit like Bin Laden' bucket :rolleyes::eek:
I'm one of those! I had it explained to me by locals in Memphis that it's because they think we're Mexican, though because there's something not quite mexicany about us, they think we're weird/shady Mexicans
 
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