How to pack smart for additional screening for Australia flights

TRAVEL ALERT: Flying from Manila to Australia? You CANNOT check in your luggage until it’s been SWABBED for chemical residue – yes, every single bag!

Here’s how to pack smart for additional screening:

1. Pack Neatly – Security will ask you to open your bag. So keep the layout clean and simple.

2. Make it easy to open and repack. 

What I did was to place all the contents of my luggage in a good quality vacuum compression bag and vacuum sealed it. So when they opened the luggage, nothing fell out of the bag. They swabbed the inside of the luggage and the top of the compression bag. They didn't open the compression bag. When they're done, I could easily close the luggage because all my items stayed neatly inside the compression bag. 

I bought the vacuum compression bag I used here:

https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.ICVSj

Unlike other bags I bought before, this is made of high quality durable material, with double zipper and leak proof valve. The rubber inside the valve is guaranteed leak proof. I'm very happy with this bag.

I also bought a portable rechargeable pump that I found very easy to use. It's very handy, compact and powerful. Check it out here:

https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.ICeKK

PRO TIP: Arrive Early. This screening adds extra time before check-in. Keep calm and cooperate. Swabbing is quick—but essential for safety and compliance with Australia’s strict border rules.

Additional Security Screening before vhecking In

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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