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Norwegian Air said it was one of the carriers affected. Bernd Settnik DPA/PA Images

US-bound passengers on a number of airlines to face stricter security interviews from tomorrow

Carriers affected include Norwegian Air, Air France and Lufthansa.

US-BOUND TRAVELLERS will face security interviews before checking in for flights at a number of global airlines beginning tomorrow as anti-terror measures are stepped up around the world.

The issue will affect a number of flights to the US, but it is not believed that the enhanced measures will add to longer queue times at preclearance through Dublin Airport.

Lufthansa, Emirates, Air France and Norwegian Air confirmed to AFP today that US authorities had asked for tougher controls at departure airports for non-stop flights to the United States. Other carriers issued statements also confirming the new measures.

“In addition to the controls of electronic devices already introduced, travelers to the USA might now also face short interviews at check-in, document check or gate,” a Lufthansa spokesperson said.

The implementation will take place on 26 October. The security of our passengers and staff is our top priority.

Emirates said passengers would be subjected to “pre-screening interviews at the check-in counter” whereas Air France said it expected to apply an additional “security interview.”

Cathay Pacific said it would halt services allowing passengers to check in luggage from downtown Hong Kong or curbside at the airport, and instead interview them at check-in gates.

Longer check-ins expected

The airlines suggested that passengers arrive early for their flights to account for any additional delays caused by the new rules.

Norwegian said that its passengers would receive instructions by SMS message and that check-in desks would open four hours before departure for flights to the United States.

The US Transportation Security Administration confirmed that a package of new security measures, including direct screening of passengers, more checks for personal electronic devices, and other measures, were being introduced.

Spokeswoman Lisa Martinez said the measures would affect around 2,100 daily flights to the United States from around the world.

“These measures, both seen and unseen, include enhanced screening of passengers and electronic devices as well as heightened security standards for aircraft and airports,” she said.

But she would not confirm the specific use of check-in interviews.

Worries over terrorism

The new measures came as President Donald Trump’s administration is working to toughen controls on refugees and immigrants amid worries that jihadist groups like Islamic State and Al-Qaeda are both trying to send potential attackers into the United States and to smuggle bombs on board a US-bound flight.

On Tuesday, Trump issued an executive order ending a moratorium on refugee arrivals but re-imposing controls on those coming from 11 countries, most of them with Muslim majorities.

Previously, the administration has banned laptops and larger electronics from cabins on flights from certain Middle East hubs, and has attempted to impose a blanket visa ban on some countries – a measure now tied up in the courts.

The White House has insisted the new controls are designed as anti-terror safeguards but Trump’s critics have accused him of unfairly targeting Muslims with blanket measures.

Last week, US lawmakers from the House Homeland Security Committee visited airports in Europe and the Middle East to inspect security conditions and discuss counter-terror cooperation.

“The timing of this visit to Europe and the Middle East was critical, as terrorists remain intent on taking down aircraft,” said Representative John Katko in a statement Wednesday.

“We must do all that we can to stay ahead of the evolving threat to the global aviation sector.”

© AFP 2017

Read: Ryanair tells pilots they will likely have to take all their annual leave in first three months of next year

Read: Ryanair has delayed the introduction of its new stricter cabin bag rules

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thosj Carroll
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:01 PM

    I’m not going to the USA as long as Trump is President…..

    159
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    Mute Gary Kavanagh
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:01 PM

    @Thosj Carroll: He’ll be devastated.

    327
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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:13 PM

    @Thosj Carroll: I went to LA in September. Flew American airlines and before I checked in at terminal 2, I was grilled for about 15 mins by security. Not just me.. everybody. Really personal questions too. Made me very uneasy but just assumed that’s America today. Afraid of everything.

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    Mute Simon O'Connor
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:17 PM

    @Thosj Carroll: Sad!

    19
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    Mute Grumpy Bollovks
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:20 PM

    @Peter Cavey: they are just drones doing their job, best to nod and agree with them. If they want to find out anything about you they can in a few seconds

    41
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    Mute Simon O'Connor
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:20 PM

    @Thosj Carroll: 8 years is a long time to not visit the US!

    46
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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:43 PM

    @Grumpy Bollovks: totally.

    10
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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Oct 26th 2017, 12:07 AM

    @Peter Cavey: We let America think they own a bit of Ireland at two airports. Imagine any country trying to claim a bit of America.

    23
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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Oct 26th 2017, 12:13 AM

    @Peter Cavey: What was the really personal questions they ask you?

    12
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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Oct 26th 2017, 12:20 AM

    @Grumpy Bollovks: They can vet anyone in two hours, while the Garda usually take months to vet someone & we have plenty of Gards here who abuse data protection laws by being nosy& abuse their power & look up about their girlfriends,neighbours etc & can find any info they want in a few minutes at most while ordinary citizens & civilians have to wait 2-3 months for Garda vetting to be finalised & pay too for the privilege which is just another tax and FG should want it free & fast as it’s a tax on jobs & job seachers which FG say they against.

    19
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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Oct 26th 2017, 12:21 AM

    @Jay Lane: asked me about my parents, where they were from (both Irish) asked me how I met my other half… She was being asked the same question by another security officer. Where I lived, worked, job title, how I get to work, car I drive.. bombarded with questions. I think I passed cause they let me into their bananas country.

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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Oct 26th 2017, 12:30 AM

    @Peter Cavey: Did they want proof of any answers whilst giving you the third degree? What advice can you give for Irish wanting to travel there in the next year?

    16
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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Oct 26th 2017, 12:38 AM

    @Jay Lane: once you get through security and move through US immigration, they need proof of where you are staying. I suggest you bring a printout of hotel bookings to show them. Other than that, no real proof. Oh.. and make sure you have an ESTA visa.. get it from the links on the are Lingus website.. seems to be the cheapest.

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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Oct 26th 2017, 12:40 AM

    @Peter Cavey: What’s someone car got to do with anything?

    21
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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Oct 26th 2017, 12:46 AM

    @Jay Lane: exactly.. or what my retired parents in their 70′s have got to do with me wanting to go on holidays to America. I think the questions are irrelevant.. it’s how you answer them. If you stutter or stumble, it may give an indication you are lying or have something to hide.

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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Oct 26th 2017, 1:00 AM

    @Peter Cavey: Thanks

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    Mute lavbeer
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    Oct 26th 2017, 5:31 AM

    @Jay Lane: anyone know if they are fussy about passports expiring in the next 6 months after travelling there?

    I for similar line of questions going to Birmingham in the UK last year. Whole plane queued up to meet 4 members of the Border Police welcoming committee. Strange one.

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    Mute Robbie Patterson
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    Oct 26th 2017, 10:24 AM

    @Thosj Carroll: Mad B#stard

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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Oct 26th 2017, 5:57 PM

    @lavbeer: How could that have happen or be allowed as we are supposed to be in the Common Travel Area? We are not obliged to have any passport going to the UK just ID with national identity on it. Surely new PSC cards should be accepted in UK and the whole of EU instead of our ripped off passport fees. Sky’s Stop,Search,Seize documentary showed UK citizens being allowed in Dublin and rightfully with no passport and basic student or workplace photo ID. Irish Garda said as we Common Travel Area that’s absolutely fine and so it should be as CTA should have separate lines in Irish and UK airports beside EU & Non EU lines otherwise what’s the point of us being in the so called Common Travel Area. Did UK ask every Irish person personal questions or were ye allowed through as soon as they knew you are Irish and had every right to travel freely there?

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jan 30th 2018, 10:47 AM

    @Peter Cavey: and their terrorists are virtually all home grown.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jan 30th 2018, 10:47 AM

    @Simon O’Connor: never been to the USA and no desire to visit this basket case country

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jan 30th 2018, 10:49 AM

    @Jay Lane: dont!

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    Mute Shane Russell
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:10 PM

    “Business or pleasure?”

    “Jihad actually”

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    Mute Bingobango
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:58 PM

    @Shane Russell: That’s you banned anyway.

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    Mute Awkward Seal
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    Oct 26th 2017, 8:55 AM

    @Shane Russell: isn’t Jihad a bit of both? All business then 21 virgins.

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    Mute Shane Russell
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    Oct 26th 2017, 11:54 PM

    @Bingobango: still here!

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    Mute Dermot Killian
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    Oct 27th 2017, 4:26 AM

    @Awkward Seal: that’s a good one.

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    Mute Grumpy Bollovks
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:18 PM

    Arrive at the airport 2 days before your flight

    97
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:02 PM

    I’ll give the US a miss for a while.

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    Mute Dermot Killian
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    Oct 27th 2017, 4:28 AM

    @Fiona deFreyne: you want be missed. What if we give you a miss? You need us more than we need you! Think about it.

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    Mute Chad Rockett
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:29 PM

    Another overreaction by the US.
    Why don’t they look at how the major countries in Europe operate and simply put armed troops on patrol in their cities.

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    Mute Simon O'Connor
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:34 PM

    @Chad Rockett: Great idea – bring in the army to scare the sh*te out of normal civilians

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    Mute Chad Rockett
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:40 PM

    @Simon O’Connor: Nonsense. Deploying troops on city streets and concrete slabs to prevent vehicle related massacres is far more assuring to the public than having strict immigration controls.

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    Mute Paddy Hayden
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:42 PM

    @Simon O’Connor: Yeah , but think how much less time you’ll have to spend in airports , especially ones like Brussels . Some people never get to leave those kind .

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    Mute Paddy Hayden
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:46 PM

    @Chad Rockett: I see your point Chad , I would like to do a cost analyses on the wage bill for 300 troops on the streets , compared to those costly immigration people .
    I wouldn’t be surprised if it worked out cheaper to have armoured cars on the streets , than border checks .

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    Mute Chad Rockett
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:52 PM

    @Paddy Hayden: How can you put a cost on virtue signalling how progressive we are?

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    Mute Paddy Hayden
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:59 PM

    @Chad Rockett: Financial cost should never be a factor in virtue signalling , the cost in human life however , now that’s open to debate .
    Surely the occasional massacre of pedestrians is a small price to pay .

    6
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    Mute Ken Loughman
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    Oct 26th 2017, 6:00 PM

    @Simon O’Connor: They already have armed civilians scaring the sh*te out of normal civilians…

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jan 30th 2018, 10:52 AM

    @Simon O’Connor: rubbish, armed army personnel give people confidence

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:18 PM

    If you’ve an address in a certain little village in north Kilkenny you’ll probably sail through though as you are clearly a bit of a legend

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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Oct 25th 2017, 10:59 PM

    America is very paranoid

    59
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    Mute Gary Kavanagh
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:01 PM

    @Jay Lane: It’s PC gone mad Jay. Though it’s only a matter of time before someone blows themselves up on a luas here.

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    Mute Paddy Hayden
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:22 PM

    @Gary Kavanagh: The yanks are trying to prevent a repeat of people flying planes into skyscrapers , we in Ireland have our own solution , don’t build skyscrapers .

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    Mute Paddy Hayden
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:28 PM

    @Jay Lane: Just because you’re paranoid , it doesn’t mean they aren’ trying to kill you .

    18
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    Mute Declan McArdle
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    Oct 26th 2017, 1:19 AM

    @Paddy Hayden: Liberty Hall is still an eyesore…

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    Mute Ne
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    Oct 26th 2017, 5:55 AM

    @Paddy Hayden: Terrorists, meanwhile, have pretty much forgotten that either planes or skyscrapers exist, and have long since moved on to other methods.

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    Mute Dermot Killian
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    Oct 27th 2017, 4:33 AM

    @Jay Lane: cautious is more like the word you are looking for. Remember the twin towers. A few of yours died in that terrorist event. Let’s not be too glib.

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    Mute Dermot Killian
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    Oct 27th 2017, 4:40 AM

    @Jay Lane: Cautious is the more correct word.

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    Mute David Bonner
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    Oct 26th 2017, 6:45 AM

    Kip

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    Mute Nick Allen
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    Oct 26th 2017, 7:27 AM

    They are just the updated ESTA questions

    4
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    Mute John D
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    Oct 26th 2017, 12:55 PM

    The US needs to worry more about its own citizens, they’re the ones responsible for Vegas massacre and countless others.

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    Mute Dermot Killian
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    Oct 27th 2017, 4:38 AM

    @John D: Did you forget about your own terrorist events over a 20 yr period. I recall some ‘precautions’ being taken. Get serious about security measures. There always too much before the event and too little after. Pray you do not have a return of your bad times. Sucking up to Islamic terrorists will not protect you.

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    Mute Damien Conlon
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    Oct 26th 2017, 1:40 AM

    All questions irrelevant once someone who’s on your flight is caught before boarding with these useless tactics,

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    Mute Cram Wood
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    Oct 26th 2017, 6:52 AM

    Papers please!

    2
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    Mute Noel
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    Oct 26th 2017, 6:03 AM

    Can we still carry guns if going to USA anybody know have permit for them!

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jan 30th 2018, 10:56 AM

    @Noel: great idea, just give all visitors the loan of a hand gun on their arrival to protect themselves from the all those bad hombres, hand them back on exit.

    1
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    Mute Ken Loughman
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    Oct 26th 2017, 4:47 PM

    This situation makes me glad that I already have a fear of flying. Not that I’d want to set foot in that country anyway…

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    Mute Sean Stevenson
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    Oct 25th 2017, 11:06 PM

    Lol

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