FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines said Monday it will implement stricter security measures for its US-bound flights.
The airline advised its passengers going to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Guam and New York to expect a different check-in setup and to be at the airport three to four hours before departure.
The move is in line with the regulatory requirements of the US Department of Homeland Security for all flights operating from the last point of departure to the United States, PAL spokeswoman Maria Cielo Villaluna said.
On Monday, PAL conducted a simulation to implement the expanded check-in procedures and heightened security measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for all US-bound passengers.
The airline is seeking the understanding and cooperation of passengers as it carries out this “run through” designed to ensure a seamless implementation of the additional check-in procedure sometime in the future.
In July, PAL imposed a measure subjecting all the portable electronic devices larger than a cellphone or smartphone of passengers bound for the United States to additional airport screening.
Villaluna said the electronic devices that exceed the size limit must be surrendered by passengers to the airline for additional screening at the Redundancy Screening Checkpoint. But she said necessary medical devices are exempted from additional screening.Ӭ
The approximate size of a commonly available smartphone is considered to be a guideline for passengers.
The large electronic devices that will be subjected to additional screening include laptops, tablets, E-Readers, cameras, portable DVD players, electronic game units larger than a smartphone and travel printers/scanners.
Villaluna said passengers must ensure that their large PEDs have enough battery charge to power up the PED during the additional screening process and remove their electronic protective casing during inspection.