More Courage Needed
I am flying home to the USA in a few days. When I read in the Jordan Times the announcement that all passengers flying to the States need to check in at least three hours before flight time, I asked the ticket agent the reason. He said that this is a new requirement by America for all passengers, world wide, flying into the USA. Knowing that Jordan isn’t being singled out for additional scrutiny takes out some of the sting. However, an article in the New York Times: Hurdle for U.S. Getting Data on Passengers, NY Times, May 31, 2006, points out some interesting details regarding this new regulation.
Three hours before a flight give the American authorities access to 34 categories of information about passengers planning to enter the USA. The extent of this information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, itineraries, and payment information – including credit card numbers. Due to the excessive amount of private information that the airlines are required to divulge, the European Court found that the European Council lacked the authority for making the deal with America in the first place. They are insisting on re-negotiating the agreement soon. In the meantime, any country refusing to cooperate with America faces the possibility that their airline will be refused landing rights in the USA.
This subject begs an important question: Why do nations cooperate quickly with the US on issues that are clearly distasteful or morally repugnant to their cultural values, and worse yet, when issues are illegal according to their national laws? Thank goodness the European Court has the courage to condemn this agreement.
ASH
Three hours before a flight give the American authorities access to 34 categories of information about passengers planning to enter the USA. The extent of this information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, itineraries, and payment information – including credit card numbers. Due to the excessive amount of private information that the airlines are required to divulge, the European Court found that the European Council lacked the authority for making the deal with America in the first place. They are insisting on re-negotiating the agreement soon. In the meantime, any country refusing to cooperate with America faces the possibility that their airline will be refused landing rights in the USA.
This subject begs an important question: Why do nations cooperate quickly with the US on issues that are clearly distasteful or morally repugnant to their cultural values, and worse yet, when issues are illegal according to their national laws? Thank goodness the European Court has the courage to condemn this agreement.
ASH
posted by joladies at Friday, June 02, 2006
3 Comments:
That 3 hour "requirement" is a bunch of BS. It is the same stateside...they "ask" you to check in 3-4 hours in advance for international flights. Last month the flight to AMM was at 10pm, and I checked in at 8 PM, left the airport to eat and was at the gate at 9. The only requirement is that you must be aboard the plane 20 minutes prior to departure due to TSA requirements. I've arrived for check-in at QAIA, 45 minutes prior to departure and just 3 weeks ago was there probably 1 hour prior to departure. You'll take your chances of making the flight and may need some extra dinars handy to get through everything so fast, but it's possible. And once your bags are checked and on the plane, they'd rather wait for you then take the time to find your luggage and remove it from the plane...as from what I know, a passenger must travel with their checked lugguage. In Amsterdam and Frankfurt they even call passengers by name via the PA system. In the US you only get the flight number and destination.
If you notice, for RJ you must reconfirm flights 72 hours prior to departure....this is not a requirement for those departing from the US though. I think that if you don't reconfirm your reservation is considered vacated. From what I recall, this was enforced prior to 9-11. What I've noticed recently though, is that seat assignements aren't permitted when you reconfirm at the RJ Office in AMM or Irbid. That is made at airport during checkin. I recall hearing that this is what the US has requested from RJ.
I've heard of flights that were already airborne from Eurpoe being diverted to some small airport in Maine after there was a name hit for one of the passangers. And while boarding/deplaning you may see he passanger manifest envelopes being carried to and from the plane. I am not sure what that's all about...but I am sure it's in name of security.
Also, you make know that RJ has employed air marshalls for a long time and let me assure you that no funny business is tolerated by those guys.
Have a safe flight and welcome home :-)
We got back to the US last week and didn't mind the extra wait at the airport.
My first 'culture shock' moment was right there at passport check...I was staring at all those Americans in the same room. It was so strange to be surrounded by them and they really did look all the same!
I suspect that Air France and British Airways have the same requirement, and would be as easily denied if they refused to comply.
The United States, like Jordan or Botswana, has a complete right to control its borders. For example, I'm not keen on the ten dinar entry and exit fees at the border, but it's not enough to make me stay away. If three hours is a travel burden people can't bear, they can go elsewhere.
Having said that, I believe all this air line security is stupid. No one will ever again successfully take over an airliner again, the passengers will see to that as they have in 5 separate airline disorders since September 11. United 93 is the future real security, all this is just window dressing to make people "feel safer".
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