Following criticism, CAA nixes early check-in rule

Passengers flights tomorrow should check in two hours before departure, rather than the three hours announced previously, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said yesterday.

The CAA had said last week that passengers should check in three hours early as a result of new safety measures that went into effect last Thursday. However, complaints from a number of passengers and airline companies prompted a rethink.

Nevertheless, both China Airlines and EVA Airways said yesterday that passengers flying to the US were still advised to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure.

The new safety measures stipulate that passengers may not carry more than 100ml of liquid in their carry-on luggage. The liquids must be placed in a transparent plastic bag for inspection purposes.

Predictably, the new requirements caused problems at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport last Thursday.

Most passengers knew that they had to arrive at the airport at least three hours before boarding, but many did not know about the 100ml limit on liquids.

Some also found that check-in counters were not open when they arrived, forcing them to wait for a few hours and then stand in long lines when the counters eventually opened.

Sales airport duty-free shops were also affected, as customers were unsure if they would be permitted to take their purchases with them.