Spain to adopt US-style border control
Phil, Prince of the Belgians AKA chocolate teapot
Spain to adopt US-style border control
Ginny McGrath
British visitors to Spain could face airport delays next month due to
plans by Spanish airport authorities to introduce US-style entry
procedures.
Under the new regulations, all British visitors entering Spain will
have to submit Advance Passenger Information (API), which includes
date of birth and passport number. The regulations are set to be
introduced on June 13. Visitors who don't submit this information
after the intended date, via their airline or travel agent, may be
barred from flights.
BA says it will not allow passengers to board a flight to Spain if
they have not submitted the API because the airline could face fines
of up to 60,000 euros from Spanish authorities if passengers are found
not to have complied with the new regulations.
Despite the fact that the proposed deadline is less than one month
away, some British airlines offering flights to Spain remain unsure of
how they will collect the tax because they have been given little
notice by Spain's Ministry of the Interior. Ryanair says that it will
comply fully with the Spanish API requirements, "and will provide
details for passengers in due course". EasyJet told Times Online
Travel that it is still undecided on how to collect the information
from passengers.
A spokeswoman said: "EasyJet is aware of the change in requirements
and is working with the Spanish authorities to achieve compliance as
soon as possible."
Meanwhile, British Airways has adapted its website to allow passengers
to enter the information using the "Manage my Booking" facility on
www.ba.com and will prompt passengers to enter their details at the
time of booking. It says passengers can also give the information to
check-in staff at the airport, although the carrier warns this could
spark delays.
A statement issued by BA said: "Staff at check-in desks will also be
able to collect API data but passengers are strongly advised to supply
the information prior to arrival at the airport, or at a self service
kiosk where available, to avoid unnecessary delays."
However, Ignacio Vasallo, director of the Spanish Tourist Office told
Times Online Travel that travellers should not be aversely affected.
"The Spanish government has established a lead-in period during which
time the UK travel industry can adopt technical solutions to ensure
that introduction of these requirements don't affect travel from the
UK to Spain," he said.
The new rule, issued by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior will
apply only to countries that are not signed up to the Schengen treaty,
an agreement which allows free travel, without presentation of a
passport, between the 15 European countries that are members. The UK
is not a member of this scheme.
Runge1
"Phil, Prince of the Belgians AKA chocolate teapot"
<michael...@yahoo.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
1179566138.9...@o5g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
Tom Peel
> http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/news/article1798138.ece
>
> Spain to adopt US-style border control
> Ginny McGrath
>
> British visitors to Spain could face airport delays next month due to
> plans by Spanish airport authorities to introduce US-style entry
> procedures.
A typical piece of anglocentric reporting. The regulations apply to
visitors from all non-Schengen countries, not just Brits.
T.
tim.....
"Tom Peel" <le...@freenet.de> wrote in message
news:5bamhmF...@mid.individual.net...
> Phil, Prince of the Belgians AKA chocolate teapot wrote:
>> http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/news/article1798138.ece
>>
>> Spain to adopt US-style border control
>> Ginny McGrath
>>
>> British visitors to Spain could face airport delays next month due to
>> plans by Spanish airport authorities to introduce US-style entry
>> procedures.
>
> A typical piece of anglocentric reporting. The regulations apply to
> visitors from all non-Schengen countries, not just Brits.
where does it say in the article that it is only Brits?
It is a British newspaper, I wouldn't expect it to say
"visitors from Mali" as this is of no interest to Brits.
tim
David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)
> "Tom Peel" <le...@freenet.de> wrote in message
> news:5bamhmF...@mid.individual.net...
[]
> > A typical piece of anglocentric reporting. The regulations apply to
> > visitors from all non-Schengen countries, not just Brits.
>
> where does it say in the article that it is only Brits?
>
> It is a British newspaper, I wouldn't expect it to say
> "visitors from Mali" as this is of no interest to Brits.
I agree with you on that, but that's a sideshow. Having to give this
information prior to a flight won't necessarily have an impact on
"airport delays." The Times article claims "US-style border control" but
gives no further details- I doubt it will be anything _like_ US border
control, and other than giving a few details at check-in or booking,
most people won't even notice. Quite why Spain thinks this will do
anything to 'help' I don't know. I think it will do bugger all- just
based on this article's details, I'm a little surprised they're doing
it.
--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
(don't email yahoo address) usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
allan
Does anyone know how Ryanair are going to handle this? I've looked at
their website
and can't find anything about it. We have a pre-booked flight to Spain
in July and since
we only have hand luggage have paid the the extra for check 'n' go.
Knowing them I suspect they'll make us queue up at ckeck in, for which
we've paid not to do, and probably charge us again for the privilege
of having to do it.
Allan