Each country has different security standards for coming and connecting passengers. Every year, millions of passengers take connecting flights through airports worldwide. However, frequent flyers may have noticed that you might face another check at some airports not at others. Here’s a look at why this is.
London Heathrow and Munich Airport
For those living or journeying through Europe, the biggest difference can be seen in London Heathrow and Munich Airport. Once you get off a flight to the UK, you must complete another security screening despite only having traveled from a secure terminal and the aircraft itself.
However, it’s a different story in Munich or Oslo, where you can simply step off the first aircraft and walk to the next gate without any more hassle. The reason for this lies in government policy only.
Dubai, Hong Kong, and Tokyo Narita all require a second security
However, it’s only these three airports that are singled out. Dubai, Hong Kong, and Tokyo Narita all require a second security check for transit passengers, while Munich, Amsterdam Schiphol, and select others do not.
Given the sensitive nature of airports, some countries demand all passengers entering the country, even if they stay airside, to undergo screenings to their own standards. This confirms that all arriving passengers are complying with local laws and removes any potential risks, however small.
The US is well known for its advanced requirements for passengers flying to the country. For connecting flights, passengers have to undergo a second screening to ensure they are not carrying liquids over 100mL or anything else prohibited under local law. This means a secure place must be made only for passengers flying to the US.
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However, other countries are willing to depend on the security checks that occur at origin airports instead. Since detailed security plans are exchanged when approving flights between any two new airports, there is no high risk of things going amiss on one side of the journey. This explains why almost globally, connecting domestic flights have no security once airside. Munich, Oslo, and others extend this convenience to international al services as well.
It’s important to mention that rules around security are never consistent and may change even by destination or point of origin. For example, sometimes connecting flights from small airports may require extra screening for those coming from hub airports. Notably, this may even affect duty-free buys since items bought in one country may not be permitted to be carried into the EU, for example.
The best way to avoid a surprise is to add a period to connections on the off-chance there is security. Given the huge queues at airports globally right now, it might be good to add a few hours to make you can make your flight well in time.
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