Luggage screening and checking at the airport

To make the flight as safe as possible, all passengers go through several stages of inspection before boarding. Not only personal belongings are checked, but also the citizen himself.

In order to freely obtain a departure permit, you must familiarize yourself with the baggage screening rules at the airport in advance.

Upon arrival at the airport, citizens must check in for the relevant flight and receive a boarding pass. It indicates the date and time of the scheduled departure of the aircraft, the flight number, the seat in the aircraft cabin and the boarding gate number.

To find out which check-in counter you need to go to, just look at the electronic scoreboard in the waiting room.

The passenger must have an appropriate identity card with him (for example, for a flight to another country, a citizen of the Russian Federation presents a passport).

After the end of the registration procedure, the passenger expects:

• customs control;
• migration and border inspection;
• pre-flight inspection of baggage at the airport.

If you are flying not on an international, but on a domestic Russian flight, after completing the registration procedure, you just need to go through a pre-flight security check and a passport validation check.

In most cases, passengers carry a personal carry-on bag and / or baggage to be transferred to a special compartment in the aircraft. These things are subject to mandatory checks for the presence of items prohibited for carriage. These measures are used to combat terrorism and ensure safe flight.

At the check-in desk, you can arrange for your items to be checked in to the luggage department. Carry-on baggage and luggage must be weighed to avoid overweight (dimensions and weight limits for items that you can take with you depend on the internal policy of the particular airline). The overweight is paid additionally.

How is carry-on baggage checked at the airport?

Carrier companies set certain limits on the size and weight of luggage. In most cases, a bag weighing up to 10 kilograms inclusive for Economy Class and up to 15 kilograms for Business Class is allowed on board. On average, the size of luggage cannot exceed 115 cm in total length, height and width.

The passenger has the right to take with him:

• technical devices (smartphone, laptop);
• necessary clothing;
• any book;
• things bought in Duty Free;
• medicines;
• etc.

Carry-on baggage must be weighed at check-in. In case of exceeding the limits set by the company for the carriage of free baggage, the citizen will be forced to make an additional payment at the carrier's rates.

Carry-on baggage is checked using technical devices. If suspicious or prohibited items are found, the airport employee has the right to insist on a personal search.

Pre-flight security check at the airport

A citizen who has not passed or refused to undergo pre-flight security control cannot be allowed to fly. The passenger himself, his luggage and available carry-on luggage are subject to verification. To pass security, you must prepare your passport, ticket and boarding pass in advance.

There are the following inspection methods:

• using an introscope;
• X-ray scanner;
• stationary metal detector;
• individual (otherwise personal) inspection.

The first method is the most popular. It can be used to check the baggage and outerwear of the passenger. Personal search is provided in exceptional situations, while it is carried out by an employee of the same gender as the examined citizen.

During the examination, at least two witnesses must be present. Along the way, the corresponding protocol is drawn up.

For example, if a passenger has an implanted device or contraindications to being examined by a scanner, he will have to go through an individual check.

When inspecting things with the help of special technical devices, a citizen must take off his outer clothing, shoes, items that have metal inserts (for example, a belt, earrings, watches, etc.).

Border control

If you have purchased tickets for an international flight, after check-in and screening, you will have to check your identity documents and the legality of entry into another country. In the latter case, we are talking about whether the passenger has an appropriate visa or migration card.

Citizens of the Russian Federation can enter and leave Russia according to the following documents:

• international passport;
• service or diplomatic passport;
• a certificate of return to the country.

If you have lost your passport while on the territory of a foreign state, you still have the right to return to Russia. To do this, it is enough to contact the Russian consulate located abroad.

customs control

Some items must be declared before departure (for example, alcoholic beverages, large amounts of money, tobacco products, indivisible items weighing more than 35 kilograms, etc.). In order to exclude the chance that the passenger has things that are prohibited for carriage or subject to declaration, customs control is carried out.

Citizens who do not have the items listed above go through the "green corridor". The rest of the passengers must go to the "red corridor" to declare their belongings and pay the appropriate fee levied in a situation where the amount of duty-free entry has been exceeded.

Usually a surcharge is required for the transportation of tobacco, alcohol, perfumes, etc.

If an airport employee discovers prohibited things on a citizen, he draws up an appropriate one. The confiscated items are transferred to the Department of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, and the citizen may not be allowed to take off.

How is baggage visible at the airport?

Airports of the Russian Federation and other countries are equipped with special technical devices for inspecting things.

Baggage check at the airport can be carried out by the following devices:

• introscope;
• X-ray scanner;
• radiation level control device;
• stationary metal detector.

X-ray scanners can detect the presence of dangerous objects (for example, explosives or weapons) in a person.

To carry out a safe inspection, a radio wave scanner "SafeScout" by Provision L3 Communications is used, which does not have a negative effect on pregnant passengers, people with pacemakers and children.

A hand-held scanner (eg ProVision ATD) can be used for personal examination. To record radioactive radiation, airport employees use special mobile devices.

Carry-on baggage and luggage are usually checked with an inscope.