Clearly and Firmly Eliminate Passenger Anxiety

There is no forced unloading of passenger goods or shipments. Even if there is demolition, it must be videoed intact.

AFP/PHILIP FONG

Haneda Airport, Japan, April 29, 2024.

Every port, including airports, is only a temporary stopover place. Even though it's not the final stop, that doesn't mean the airport should be allowed to cause trouble for passengers. Clarity and smoothness, including regarding luggage, will really help passengers who are tired after a long journey.

Inspection at Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan, is not too strict, especially for the flow of passengers and goods entering Japan. After getting off the plane from Indonesia, Widyantoro (45), who will be staying temporarily in Japan, went straight to immigration.

"There is no inspection at all in the arrival area. Only passport checks and document declarations for carried goods," he said on Saturday (4/5/2024).

Also read: Lost items in luggage

He will go to Japan in September 2023 for a seven-month work assignment. According to him, if all the administrative requirements are met, there will be no issues. Moreover, he will only bring personal clothing and equipment.

When he returned to Indonesia, he brought various souvenirs. There was no further inspection of the luggage containing the souvenirs. He was only asked to rescan the clothing bag. Because, inside there is toothpaste with a weight that exceeds the provisions. The officer took the paste and threw it away.

AFP/PHILIP FONG

Haneda Airport, Japan, April 29, 2024.

Meanwhile, in a report on Monday (29/4/2024), Nikkei Asia discussed two important things about baggage at Kansai Airport in Osaka, Japan. First, there has never been a report of lost baggage from passengers in the 30 years the airport has been operating. Second, the average time for luggage delivery from the aircraft cabin to the baggage claim area is 12 minutes.

Not only are suitcases or other items that wrap passengers' belongings placed in a certain position for speed, but their handles are also facing the passenger so they can be easily taken. Therefore, baggage is not just placed on the conveyor belt randomly. Handlers treat luggage carefully, including wiping suitcases dry if they are wet from the rain.

Also read: Cancel or Delay Flights, US Airlines Must Reimburse Ticket Costs

After collecting their luggage, passengers who have filled in their data online can immediately proceed to the electronic gate. They only need to scan their passport and then exit the airport. Meanwhile, passengers who have not filled in the online form need to go to the immigration counter. After that, they can leave the airport.

There will be no further inspections with the excuse of random checks or anything else. This is because the items have been scanned. Passengers, since their departure from the airport, have been repeatedly informed about the provisions of the goods that are allowed to pass through airports in Japan.

AP PHOTO/LEE JIN-MAN

Passengers at Incheon Airport, South Korea, in January 2023.

Efficiency is also praised at Incheon Airport in South Korea. An Australian resident, Smith, claimed that it only took him 20 minutes from baggage retrieval to exiting the terminal. According to the Sydney resident, East Asian airports are efficient and passenger-friendly for foreign travelers. Lengthy inspections are only conducted on individuals suspected of exceeding their residency permits.

Modern scanner

Examinations with similar reasons are sometimes also seen at Heathrow Airport in England. Passengers with more than three bags of luggage are likely to be checked for a longer time.

Also read: Jastip Polemic and Restrictions on Carry-on Luggage

After passing through immigration, passengers with three or more pieces of luggage are asked to explain what they are carrying. Then, some of them are asked to open their bags.

Disassembly is carried out by the owner of the items, not by officers. The officers only oversee the process. The inspection process is also fully recorded by surveillance cameras. No items are opened by officers in rooms that are not equipped with cameras.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Passengers collecting baggage at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra, Saturday (27/4/2024).

If officers suspect the presence of hazardous or prohibited items, inspections are carried out using machines and tracker dogs. In addition to narcotics and explosives, hazardous or prohibited items include live animals or raw meat as well as living plants.

Don't try to bring chilies or petai into England. Can be confiscated for food and biological safety reasons.

Also read: Residents Hope that the Regulations on Consigned Goods Will No Longer Cause Confusion and Anxiety

For better checks, the British Government poured in millions of pounds sterling. The funds are to replace passenger luggage scanners at airports. The new tool is said to produce clearer images. The new scanner uses CT-scan technology commonly used in hospitals.

Officers are pleased because inspections can be more thorough. Passengers are also happy because they no longer need to take out their computer or tablet from their bags. Passengers can also bring liquids, including drinks, up to 2 liters into the cabin.

Fluid provisions

Until now, in many airports, passengers are only allowed to bring liquids up to a maximum of 100 milliliters when passing through airport checks. Anything more than that must be disposed of.

AP/RICK BOWMER

Collection of lost luggage at Salt Lake City Airport, United States, December 2022.

If you want to drink, buy it inside the terminal and of course the price is multiplied. Widyantoro's experience at Haneda Airport proves it.

At Hong Kong's Chek Lap Airport, passengers entering the waiting area repeatedly have to consume drinks that exceed the allowed amount. As in many airports, passengers at Hong Kong Airport are only allowed liquids or gels in 100 ml packaging. If the capacity of the packaging exceeds this limit, it must be thrown away.

Also read: Customs: Passengers bringing goods from abroad are not required to report

In fact, even if claimed as a beverage or food, it has to be consumed in front of the officer. Rarely are people allowed to just dispose of it. "Finish it," said the officer with an expressionless face.

Meanwhile, for arriving passengers, practically there are not many inspections of goods. Because the examination was carried out by a scanning machine.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE VIA AP/BRETT COOMER

Passengers hand over baggage to officers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, December 2023.

At the airports of Hong Kong or Japan, smuggling does happen. In late March 2024, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department prevented the smuggling of nearly 200 kilograms of gold. The metal was going to be taken to Japan and disguised as engine spare parts.

There have been several drug smuggling arrests in Japan or Hong Kong. The arrests are preceded by intelligence information and strengthened by machine scanning, not based on baseless hunches or guesses.

Search

Australian writer Lee Tulloch told the Sydney Morning Herald about his experience at Sydney Airport. He saw that some of the goods scanning machines were newer. This way, passengers don't have to bother removing the contents of their bags and luggage. This will speed up the inspection.

AFP/PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA

Napoleon Bonaparte Airport in Corsica, April 22, 2024.

Even if there is a search, the Australian Ministry of the Interior has clearly announced its procedures. Institutions responsible for domestic security, including airports, among other things, require searches to be conducted by two officers.

The gender of the searcher must be the same as the one being searched. If requested, the searcher must provide a closed room for the search. The search cannot be conducted if these things cannot be provided.

Also read: Regulations for Exemption from Import Duty on Goods Consigned by Migrant Workers Finalized

Tulloch said that indeed, due to the limited space, sometimes it takes time to queue for inspection. "There's no need to be angry. Everyone wants it to be finished quickly. Officers and passengers alike don't want to be in that situation," he said.

Just like at Heathrow Airport, officials at Sydney Airport do not unpack luggage without the owner present. Forced unpacking is only done if the luggage is suspected to contain dangerous and highly flammable or explosive items. Such cases are only done after the luggage has been scanned and it is almost certain that there are items falling under this category.

AFP/THOMAS SAMSON

Orly Airport on the outskirts of Paris, France, April 25, 2024.

If the contents are only rendang, bread, or even toys, there will be no forced inspection by officers for any reason. Even if it will be examined, the entire process must be recorded on video. It is not allowed to only take photos. The examining officer's identity must also be clearly stated.

So, passengers or owners of goods shouldn't worry. If they have followed the rules that have been clearly announced, there is no need to be anxious. (AP/REUTERS)