Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2010

If you’re traveling to the US, be prepared for even tighter security measures than before. Following the failed attempt by a man to blow up a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day, America’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued new directives for all flights traveling to the United States from a foreign location. All passengers on international flights bound for the US will be subject to random screening and body checks. At Narita Airport, authorities have started to increase “threat-based” screening of passengers acting in a suspicious manner, while airline companies have also beefed up the number of security guards at the airport. Meanwhile, a new directive from the TSA says that passengers must remain seated for the final hour before landing, although it adds that each plane’s captain will have discretion over whether to enforce this measure. Either way, travelers should allow extra time for check-in and the boarding process and, as always, check their flight status before leaving home. For the latest updates, visit the TSA website at www.tsa.gov.