ADDITIONAL SECURITY SCREENING BEFORE CHECKING-IN FOR AUSTRALIA FLIGHTS.
This is what happens at Cebu Pacific Air check-in counter:
If you're taking the Manila to Australia flights , make sure to alot additional time for the additional security screening before check-in. You line up twice at check-in: first, for the swab testing of the INSIDE of your check-in luggage for chemical residue, and second, for the checking in of luggage and issuance of boarding pass. YOU CANNOT CHECK-IN YOUR LUGGAGE WITHOUT YOUR LUGGAGE BEING SWABBED FIRST AND CLEARED OF CHEMICAL RESIDUE.
MY TIPS:
1. Arrive at the check-in counter 4 hours before departure.
Checking in at the Cebu Pacific counter, from lining up, swabbing and issuance of boarding pass took 1.5 hours.
Good thing the flight is at 1 pm. The immigration line is usually short during late mornings for early afternoon flights.
2. Pack your things in a suitcase rather than a sealed box.
It will be difficult to put everything back and seal it once they open it to swab the inside of your box. Pack your things in an orderly fashion so nothing gets misplaced once they open the luggage.
3. Make sure that a blue sticker has been placed on your luggage to indicate that your luggage has been inspected and swabbed.
Sometimes the handlers fail to put a sticker. It happened to us. So we reminded them. So I don't know exactly what will happen to the luggage if it was checked in without the sticker.
Regarding the carry on luggage, they don't inspect it at check-in. But they thoroughly check the contents of the carry-on at the boarding gate, before boarding the plane.
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