Check-in, Luggage and Visa
It is always best to be completely prepared in a timely manner to prevent inconvenience. Marine and Offshore Travellers significantly deals with TIME. A hassle free flight is primarily happening from CHECK-IN, with the proper VISA requirements and enough LUGGAGE to carry.
Be informed with mta7 partners’ local airline rules and restriction on baggage and check in, depending in locations, people and immigration visa policies.
CHECK IN and BAGGAGE
With airports that seem busier than ever, airline staffing reductions creating longer lines at check-in and airport security wait times that can be entirely unpredictable, there is a “two to three hours” rule. Never fail to check your flight status.
Most airlines will send you (short message service) SMS of your flight status updates if you sign up on their websites. There are some sites that may send you the same thru SMS if you will also sign up, like Trip It.com or FlightStats.com
The TRADITIONAL CHECK-IN, you are expected to stand in line at the airline`s counter to get your boarding passes. In this case you need to check in early.
EVENING CHECK-IN, a possibility of checking in the night before, some airlines may charge service flat rate, in most cases all passengers must be physically present in order to check in. This service normally offers in European countries.
CHECK-IN AT THE RAILSTATION, this is available at over 50 railway stations in Europe, a passenger may check in their luggage the day before of the flight, boarding passes is being issued with complete seat assignment
The convenient way of checking in is ONLINE on a web or through a mobile device. Some airlines will only permit online check in 48-24hours prior to departure.
Checking inn for your flight at a SELF-SERVICE CHECK-IN KIOSK two to three hours before your departure. In Greece, several airlines are allowing Web Check In out of Athens, these are: AF,AZ,A3, BA, CY, DL, EK, EY, FB, IB, KL, KM, LH, LO, LX, MS, OA, OS, QR, RO, SK, SQ, SN, TK, & VV
Ironically, in the Philippines the flag carrier (PR) is not allowing web check in, but most airlines are check in online permitted.
For Seaman Traffic most air lines allow baggage up to 40kilos or piece concept (23kg/pc) depending on the destination of the seafarer. In Greece, they allow 2pieces baggage per passenger except for USA on the following airlines: LH, LX, AC, OS, US and UA. There are times by mistake, the airlines in US airports charge seaman for the 2nd luggage.
South Africa partner reminded to always check baggage allowance, most airlines are moving towards the piece concept, which should not exceed a certain weight or charges may apply.
In line with checking in, most airlines transfers all flights to the new Terminal D at the Boryspil airport (Kyiv, Ukraine) in October 2012, all passengers on the following airlines will now arrive and depart from the new airport:
BA started on the 10th of October< br/> OK started on the 13th, AF/KL on 25th, LH & OS on 28th of the same month.
VISA
Is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant`s passport.
Seamen in most cases may obtain visa upon arrival with the complete seaman`s documents such as Letter of Guarantee (LOG) must also indicate if Transit With Out Visa (TWOV) and an OK To Board.
In the UK under certain circumstances, seaman may need a visa to enter/transit the USA. Many traveler are eligible for visa free travel to the USA, provided they complete an online ESTA visa waiver at least 48hours before departure.
African countries require a sufficient time in obtaining a visa, due to a long period of processing before visa are authorized. While Greek citizens need visa to the following countries, India processes 4 working days and China in 2 working days.
The following websites are used as reference aside from advisory from each partner:
and your local airlines website.