Manual of the good user of airports and airlines
Any passenger who travels frequently has internalized these mandatory regulations at airports and airplanes. However, there are many others that escape us and that skipping them could mean paying a large fine. The mild ones range from 60 to 45,000 euros and the very serious ones reach 225,000.
To prevent this from happening or simply avoid a confrontation with security personnel, we have developed the good user's manual for airports and airlines . This is what you need to know to move through the terminals without problems.
1) BEING DRUNK IS FORBIDDEN
When talking about alcohol and airplanes, it is inevitable to remember Melendi. It was a famous episode that he starred in in 2007 when he was arrested for boarding drunk and disrupting the flight. That's not to mention when in 2011 Gerard Depardieu stunned his fellow passengers by pissing in the Citijet aisle , regional subsidiary of Air France. The sale of alcohol is allowed on board but drunks are not well seen. Airlines can take action against disruptive passengers and this includes those who, traveling under the influence of alcohol or drugs, endanger the safety of the aircraft or its passengers. They can refuse your shipment and leave them on the ground or even make an intermediate stopover to force them to get off.
2)MONEY WITH LIMITS
Breaking the piggy bank before leaving on a trip is not a good idea . The exit or entry into Spain of metallic currency, bank notes and bearer bank checks can never exceed 10,000 euros per person and trip. In national territory, this amount could reach 100,000 euros. The measure aims to help prevent money laundering. Thus, those interested in squandering in the stores of the Big Apple or paying in cash for the purchase of technology in Japan must communicate the outflow of money to the Ministry of Finance by filling out form S-1.
3) FINES AND EVEN ARRESTS FOR SMOKING
Smoking at the airport is not only prohibited, but penalized. If it is done in isolation, the fine is 30 euros, but the accumulation of three offenses is considered a serious offense that could range from 601 to 10,000 euros. On board the plane, the restriction and penalty is much greater. The stewardesses notify you before starting the flight and, in addition to paying the penalty, they can force you to leave the flight (if it has not yet left) or stop you upon arrival in the country of destination . Another case would be what happened in 2009 to a Sudanese who was sentenced to receive 30 lashes for smoking on a plane.
4) BEWARE OF SOUVENIR MAGNETS
Taking a souvenir magnet from the visited site does not have to cause problems, but if you buy an excessively large one you may encounter difficulties when passing the control. Magnets are considered dangerous goods that can only be transported by plane if certain conditions are met. It is not surprising that they force us to leave them on the ground, so in order not to expose ourselves to losing them, it is advisable to choose to take another souvenir to family and friends.
5) BEWARE OF TOY GUNS
You see them as your child's harmless toy but at the security check they can be mistaken for dangerous weapons. Toy guns are one of the objects whose transport in hand luggage is prohibited by the European Commission. The list includes laser guns, catapults, firearm-shaped lighters, blades, and open razors. Screwdrivers, baseball bats and canes are also not allowed . The rule is less restrictive than in 2008, when fishing rods, ice skates and skateboards were also not accepted.
6) PHOTOS NOT
No matter how excited you are when you go on a trip, it is important to control yourself, especially when taking photos inside the airport. The National Security Program for Civil Aviation includes the prohibition of taking images in the airport area. Specifically, they cannot be done at access controls, at passenger, crew and employee security controls and in critical security areas such as cheek yards, service roads and platforms. Posters distributed around the airport announce it, but If you break the rule, it is advisable to accept the reprimand and delete the photo. Otherwise you can expose yourself to pay one of these penalties.
7) The DNI, IN RULE
You may think that it is silly, but if you try to catch a flight with an expired DNI, you run the risk of staying on the ground. Surely you have friends who have already experienced it . While you can legally move around Spain with your DNI expired -only for a few months-, airlines do not allow passengers to fly with expired documentation (even if only a few days have passed). In such a case voucher with renewal receipt or passport.
8) TRANSPORT TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL
Heavy smokers should not get carried away and impulsively buy tobacco in countries where it is cheaper. Transportation is restricted. The Spanish Customs only allows to introduce in the country "200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco" . A cardboard would be the transportable limit, it contains 10 packs that in turn have 20 cigarettes. In terms of alcoholic beverages, the norm allows the introduction of 16 liters of beer, four of wine, two liters of beverages with a degree of less than 22% vol. and one of beverages whose degree exceeds 80%.
9) LASER POINTERS, BAD IDEA
This law affects both inside and outside the airport. Aiming at aircraft or facilities is prohibited. The fine for non-compliance can reach 3,000 euros.
10) SOUVENIR MEAL
You can bring some typical pasta from the visited country, but you have to be careful with other foods. Customs regulations indicate that food of animal origin (meat, meat products, milk and dairy products) cannot be brought into Spain for personal consumption or in luggage. The exception is powdered infant milk and in its original packaging and food under medical prescription. The rest of the food -pasta or sweets come in here- can be entered in a maximum of one kilogram per person.
11) TRAVELING WITH MEDICATION
For a diabetic, transporting insulin and syringes is something natural, but many times putting it in the carry-on bag is not so easy. Liquid medicines are exempt from the restrictions that apply to other liquids as colognes or creams whenever their use is necessary during the trip (outbound flight + stay + return flight) . So as not to find yourself with obstacles in control It is recommended to bring the medical prescription or justification of your particular condition.
12) IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SEARCH MINORS
If you are traveling with your child and they are going to be searched, you should first know that the established rule prohibits this practice. The search should be authorized by the father, mother, guardian or legal representative of the minor and must be in a reserved place to preserve the privacy and dignity of the minor. The adult is free not to authorize the search although in that case the staff can prevent access to the rest of the airport facilities.
13)BEHAVE GOOD WITH THE SECURITY
Attacks against the authority, its agents and public officials also affect airport security personnel. The new Law for the Protection of Citizen Security qualifies these crimes as serious infractions, so the fine would be greater than 45,000 euros . Think twice before disobeying, resisting authority, or refusing to show your ID.
14) THE DANGER OF RUNNING IN AN AIRPORT
There is no rule that prohibits running through the terminal but the security agents look suspiciously to those who do and often make them suspect. The security cameras record you while you put yourself in the shoes of an athlete to catch the flight that he is about to leave. At that point, you may be detained and your luggage searched. The rush is not good.
15) BE CAREFUL WITH ENTERING THE BOARDING AREA WITHOUT A CARD
You may have been without your partner for months. You might be excited to see her waiting in the gated area while she waits for her bag to come off the carousel. However, you have to control yourself and not get carried away by the desire to meet. Entering the restricted access area without a boarding pass, even if it is to advance a reunion, is penalized with a very serious sanction . Only adults authorized to accompany 14-year-olds traveling alone are exempt, although they must carry a specific card issued by the airline.
16) TRAVELING ANIMALS
Taking your pet on a trip is one thing and quite another to bring a bichino as a souvenir. Pets such as dogs, cats or birds can be accepted as checked baggage or in the passenger cabin if they weigh less than 8 kilos. In both cases it is mandatory to pay excess baggage and present your veterinary passport. If you want to bring it from a third country, it is different. In principle, only pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) can be introduced. These must be identified with a clearly legible tattoo or with an electronic identification system (chip) and must carry a certificate or passport issued by a veterinarian certifying their vaccination. The access of exotic animals is much more restricted and in no case can they travel in the cabin. The entry of these animals as well as live plants must go through Customs with an Official Phytosanitary Certificate. In addition, the bouquets of flowers cannot exceed six units in flowers. The law also indicates a list of vegetables whose entry is prohibited.
17) NOT EVERYTHING IS PUBLIC
You can inform yourself, read all the national and European area safety regulations, ask friends who travel frequently... but you will never be one hundred percent informed . The National Security Program for Civil Aviation contains a non-public part whose dissemination is restricted. Surprises also exist when we move through airports and planes.
**ONE PLUS)**
electrical and electronic equipment in hand luggage, since March 1, 2015 , are reviewed separately. Computers, cameras, mobile phones, dryers, battery-powered toys, irons ... will be inspected individually.
* This article was originally published on December 13, 2013.
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