Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone had experience of the supposed BIG holdups at UK airports due to the Spanish authorities needing detailed inof. of all travellers.

I believe the new ruling came in on wednesday of this week.

We are travelling next week and wondered how it might affect us.

Thanks...............

carolinej.

Hi,

By its very nature Globespan operates out of three Scottish and 1 English airport. I would imagine that unless you are flying from Glasgow, check in delays should be minimal,since the airports at Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Tees Valley are fairly quiet airports. Glasgow however, as a major International airport could be quite a different story.

Fibby.

Ask yourself this question would anyone actually notice any more major delays at check in at Gatwick? The place is at saturation point in its passenger handlling facilities. It used to be that the two hour check-in left you hanging around the departure lounge for an hour and a half. Now two hours is absolutely vital to get past Tonys Scaremongering Anti-Terrorist Security Screening and his Immigration Conrols. When my wife flew out a couple of Saturdays ago she arrived at 1130 for a flight at 1520 to Granada. It actually took the full two hours to get through to the departure lounge. Right up to doors closed on the aircraft there were people still arriving at the gate. I am too much of a cynic to believe that this is nothing whatsoever to do with the so called terrorist threat, its about Control. And its one of the main reasons I left the country. The country has gone totally to pot. Of course Blair will never experience airport check in delays, he and his cronies can bypass all of the checks, and I bet Cherie isnt limited to one clear polybag of makeup or 100 mls of water...

For comparison her check in time at Granada for the return flight a week later was four minutes from checking in to arriving at the security gate and then a further two minutes to get from security to the departure gate.

Also, check out the police at Spanish airports; yes they are armed, but the gun is holstered, and these are just your average Spanish Plod. Then look at the police at Gatwick... West Sussex Police versions of Judge Dredd. Strutting around the place in two's, Heckler and Koch MP5 machine pistols at the port arms position, body armour, I wouldn't go anywhere near them, they scare the sh*t out of me and thats exactly what the government intended.

So if you should encounter any delays, I think its far more likely to be caused by the ineptitude of the government or the fact that Gatwick just cannot handle any more traffic, be it human or aircraft, rather than the requirements of the Spanish Government. The airlines do have the responsibilty to ensure that the information required on each passenger is available, but If the travel agents and or websites are kept updated it really shouldnt be a problem.

I just went on to the local airport website and they seem to be very laid back about it.

I was going to ring and see what we were supposed to do as we fly out on Thursday but I don't think i'll bother now.

Laury

Advance Passenger Information (API) for passengers to SPAIN

New rules apply for passengers flying to Spain from 13 June 2007.

The Spanish Government have introduced new regulations whereby airlines must provide the Spanish authorities with certain personal information about passengers before the aircraft leaves the UK. This information is known as Advance Passenger Information (API).

All the required API information (full name, nationality, date of birth, passport number) is on the traveller's passport.  Passengers need only present their passport at airport check-in and the airline's representative will then be responsible forwarding the information. 

Airlines may also offer passengers the opportunity to register the required API information before arrival at the airport either through their websites or travel agents.

Spain is the first European country to require the collection of API for visitors but the policy is expected to be introduced in other member countries.  

Thanks for the info LauryC, we are going to get there a bit earlier Wednesday just in case!

Rgds,

Flew from Cardiff to Alicante on 15 June (for long weekend) - no hold ups at all.  When we arrived at Alicante airport at 13.50 there wasn't even anybody checking the passports on arrival.

When we flew back today (18th) no delays whatsoever.

Ann

Thanks for all your postings!

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a breeze too!

FLying into Murcia instead of Alicante, as Monarch opened this new route in May.

Hope I don't get lost on the way to our place!!!

Rgds,bv

According to the Daily Express, the new regulations only come into effect today.

Noreen

Oh gawd nfm2862!!!!!

That means all these postings are BEFORE the new regulations!

Not much hope for me tomorrow then!

Advanced Passenger Information (API) required for travel to Spain from 13 June

25 May 2007

Spain is bringing in new security rules from 13 June 2007

All airlines will be required to collect specific information from every passenger travelling to Spain, under the Advance Passenger Information (API) regime.

Airlines will be responsible for collecting the compulsory information - full name, nationality, date of birth and passport number, either through their websites, travel agents, or at check-in.

Spain is the first European country to require collection of API for visitors. However, the policy is expected to be introduced in other EU member countries over the next 12 months.

If you have any questions, please contact your airline or travel agent for more information

This was on the Luton airport website Fibby, so not all postings were in vain!

Sorry Laury if Im almost repeating your post - but in response to Daily Express comment, it does specify June 13th as the start of the new regs.

Fibby

This message is on the Monarch Website today.

Have a great trip.

Noreen

Advance Passenger Information (API) for ALL Spanish flights - data collected at airports with no current delays to check-in process. There is no need to contact Monarch prior to travel.

From 19 June, all passengers traveling on flights to Spain will be required to provide additional information prior to their flight as the Spanish Government moves to introduce entry procedures, similar to those used in the US.

All passengers will be required to provide their full given names, surnames, nationality, date of birth and travel document number (passport or ID card number) when checking in for their flight. This process will require the check-in agent to swipe the passport through a computer, or to manually enter the data, if the required computer system is not available at the departure airport.

A trial has been successful completed at Manchester Airport plus Scottish Airports and is currently underway at London Gatwick, with all other UK bases starting to collect the data in the coming weeks.

Please check-in as normal, all data is collected at the airport so there is no need to contact Monarch prior to travel.

Passengers booked on scheduled flights and wishing to use the online check-in facility or CUSS (Common User Self Service) check-in kiosks at Manchester will be able to provide their data at the ‘fast bag-drop’ desk or at the departure gate.

Obviously the airlines and airports are deciding for themselves as to when to introduce the more stringent checks, the start date being 13th June.(Wasnt having a dig at you Noreen, just posting what I had read).

Most airlines appear to have nipped it in the bud early by encouraging passengers to give their information on the appropriate websites when booking online, the only hold ups will be when passengers checking in havent given their details (usually those booked at travel agents/through tour operators from what I understand).

Have a great holiday Sue, Im sure you'll be fine finding your way, just smell the vino!

Seems to be some confusion over dates, it DID come into force on the 13th however Spanish Authorities were giving Airlines a bit of time to get to grips with it before fining them for missing/incorrect info.

The honeymoon period was supposed to end on the 19th but if airlines are showing that they are trying to get the info then they will not be fined as much.........

I fly from Liverpool to Malaga on the 3rd July with Easy Jet, they emailed all UK to Spain passengers and asked them to log on and input the information needed, shouldn't be any delays there hopefully.

Flybe just said they will collect the data at checkin as I posted earlier.

Laury

Thanks for the good wishes Hobby, the vino will be warm when we get there, but who cares, I will still get it down my neck!!!

Rushing now, doing last minute things before our flight at 5.30 this afternoon.

Will be on line in Spain, so yous lot don't get rid of me that easy!!!!!

I will give you all weather report daily, just to rub it in!!!!

Kind regards,

Have a good trip Fibby.

We fly out in the morning and Flybe e-mailed me to offer online check in.

I did it and they didn't ask for any extra information at all, just the passport numbers.

Seats are allocated and boarding passes printed. No queues for us.

 Hasta Luego

Laury