USA Travel: Now you have to plan more time at the German airport
If you are traveling to the USA, you should plan more time at the German airport from now on: Since Thursday, stricter regulations apply for entry. Accordingly, air travelers are checked more closely than before. For example, airlines can ask their passengers before departure.
As reported by Focus Online, the airlines responded to a request from the US Department of Transportation. According to information from Spiegel Online could be prevented by the new measures, a global laptop ban on board.
Checks can be interviews or questionnaires
The actual look of the new checks is obviously left to the discretion of the airlines. According to Focus, Lufthansa spoke of "short interviews at check-in, at the document control or at the gate". AirFrance wants to hand passengers an additional questionnaire before departure.
The Federal Foreign Office recommends "be at the point of departure early on and in case of doubt, make direct contact with your airline".
So far, passengers have to fill in a questionnaire that airlines usually hand out on the flight. Upon arrival in the United States, border guards inspect every foreign passenger.
US travelers must also obtain an electronic entry permit ("ESTA") prior to departure. For citizens of some countries, such as Syria or Somalia, entry is completely prohibited.
