PAL starts tighter security measures for US-bound passengers

October 3, 2017 - 7:10 AM
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(Reuters file)

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Airlines started on Monday the dry-run of tighter security measures for U.S.-bound passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

Passengers can expect additional check-in procedures as part of the regulatory requirements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The dry run was conducted on the Manila-Los Angeles, Manila-San Francisco, Manila-Honolulu and Manila-Guam flights.

Because of the tighter procedure, PAL is advising US-bound passengers to be at the airport three to four hours before their scheduled departure.

Since July, PAL has been implementing additional screening for larger than smartphone portable electronic devices of its US-bound passengers.

The move is also in accordance with the directives of the US Department of Homeland Security, which PAL said will be effective until June 2018.

PEDs such as laptops, tablets, portable DVD players, cameras, scanners, printers, among others, are required to undergo additional screening at the Redundancy Screening Checkpoint. Medical devices are exempted from the additional screening.

PEDs are allowed onboard the aircraft once they are cleared at the checkpoint.