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The newest phase of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) is scheduled to be introduced Friday, January 18, 2002. The nation's airlines will be required to do security inspections on all checked luggage, which equates to millions of additional pieces of luggage being screened. Prior to September 11, only two to ten percent of all checked baggage was screened. In 2000, 1.4 billion, or 3.8 million pieces of luggage was checked and screened per day. The security act, which Congress passed in mid-November, gave airlines 60 days to create an efficient way of screening all checked luggage. Most airlines have declined to discuss their plans. The new law makes the airlines responsible for meeting the 60-day deadline, but 30 days later, overall responsibility for airline security moves to the federal government. During the next several months, federal employees will replace privately hired screeners. The act specifies only four methods airlines can use to screen bags after the 60-day deadline: explosive-detection machines, bomb-sniffing dogs, hand searches of luggage and matching baggage to passengers who've boarded. All four methods mentioned in the security act have merits, but none is foolproof. Aviation experts fear the new law will create extreme delays while the airlines strain to revamp their baggage-handling systems to meet the deadline. If you are checking your bags on and after January 18, GTM suggests you allow extra time in addition to the recommended 1 1/2 hour advance check in. ©2001 Gateway Travel Management. All Rights Reserved.
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