Health checks at EZE
May 3, 2009 | 11:12 am
#1
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Health checks at EZE
I arrived at EZE this morning on UA847 from IAD. All passengers were required to fill out a detailed form from the Argentine Ministry of Health that was distributed during the flight.
Details of previous travel in the past 14 days, and travel after arrival in Argentina were requested, along with addresses and local contact telephone numbers, a contact address and telephone number in the passenger's home country, and an email address. Also details of the arrival flight and seat number were required, along with the usual passport/ID information.
The form was set up for arrival by land, sea, or air, but I don't know whether it has been implemented at other entry points, or for arrivals from other than North America. The form was in Spanish/Portuguese/English, although the English was of poor quality and badly designed, and the form is confusing, since it doesn't detail, for example, the date format required, or whether the departure day or arrival day of the flight should be filled in.
Upon landing at EZE, our aircraft was directed to Terminal B (the AR terminal) to deplane, but we had to wait until an AA aircraft was pulled back from the jetway we needed to use. We had to wait for about 20 minutes on board, since there was not enough room to process all arriving passengers because there were two AA flights that had landed just before the UA flight (at about 9:30 am). Probably there were more than 500 passengers waited to be processed. Passengers who had connecting flights at EZE were allowed to deplane first.
Passengers were lined up in the jetways and into the outside corridor before being scanned individually by a thermal camera before being allowed to proceed into the terminal and into the immigration hall. Influenza information handouts were distributed in Spanish and English. All the healthcare workers were wearing face masks and white coats. Other airport workers had been issued masks, but many of them were clearly uncomfortable wearing them, and were continually pulling them off their faces.
After being scanned, immigration and baggage claim were fast due to the holdup in screening, and the fact that baggage was unloaded during the time were were waiting on the aircraft after landing. Since I only had one checked bag, I was allowed to exit without X-ray screening (this seemed to be the case with passengers without baggage carts).
I was the fourth passenger off my flight, and because they were interleaving the passengers from all three flights, I was able to exit the airport without a significant delay.
However, if anyone is traveling in the rear of the aircraft, and arriving during the morning arrival bank, there will be a significant holdup in waiting to be processed.
John
Details of previous travel in the past 14 days, and travel after arrival in Argentina were requested, along with addresses and local contact telephone numbers, a contact address and telephone number in the passenger's home country, and an email address. Also details of the arrival flight and seat number were required, along with the usual passport/ID information.
The form was set up for arrival by land, sea, or air, but I don't know whether it has been implemented at other entry points, or for arrivals from other than North America. The form was in Spanish/Portuguese/English, although the English was of poor quality and badly designed, and the form is confusing, since it doesn't detail, for example, the date format required, or whether the departure day or arrival day of the flight should be filled in.
Upon landing at EZE, our aircraft was directed to Terminal B (the AR terminal) to deplane, but we had to wait until an AA aircraft was pulled back from the jetway we needed to use. We had to wait for about 20 minutes on board, since there was not enough room to process all arriving passengers because there were two AA flights that had landed just before the UA flight (at about 9:30 am). Probably there were more than 500 passengers waited to be processed. Passengers who had connecting flights at EZE were allowed to deplane first.
Passengers were lined up in the jetways and into the outside corridor before being scanned individually by a thermal camera before being allowed to proceed into the terminal and into the immigration hall. Influenza information handouts were distributed in Spanish and English. All the healthcare workers were wearing face masks and white coats. Other airport workers had been issued masks, but many of them were clearly uncomfortable wearing them, and were continually pulling them off their faces.
After being scanned, immigration and baggage claim were fast due to the holdup in screening, and the fact that baggage was unloaded during the time were were waiting on the aircraft after landing. Since I only had one checked bag, I was allowed to exit without X-ray screening (this seemed to be the case with passengers without baggage carts).
I was the fourth passenger off my flight, and because they were interleaving the passengers from all three flights, I was able to exit the airport without a significant delay.
However, if anyone is traveling in the rear of the aircraft, and arriving during the morning arrival bank, there will be a significant holdup in waiting to be processed.
John
May 3, 2009 | 12:17 pm
#2
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May 3, 2009 | 1:17 pm
#3
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Location: SFO, EZE
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Not to mention having everyone crowd onto the jetways to await being processed!
The Terminal A vendors are probably very unhappy with this turn of events. But never fear, Global Exchange was offering pesos for sale at only 3.18!
John
The Terminal A vendors are probably very unhappy with this turn of events. But never fear, Global Exchange was offering pesos for sale at only 3.18!
John
May 3, 2009 | 1:39 pm
#4
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The forms have been in place for a couple of days now, same as the thermal scanners.
The K regime is doing what it can to look profesional about this whole swine-gate issue.
The forms have been in place for a couple of days now, same as the thermal scanners.
The K regime is doing what it can to look profesional about this whole swine-gate issue.
May 3, 2009 | 1:54 pm
#5
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John
May 3, 2009 | 6:58 pm
#7
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I assumed that Nstor was probably just speaking from personal experience when Cristina doesn't get her way at home.
I'd at least have expected you to be standing as a testimonial candidate for El Partido Acorchado. @:-)
Step up brother Gaucho and testify!
John
I'd at least have expected you to be standing as a testimonial candidate for El Partido Acorchado. @:-)
Step up brother Gaucho and testify!
John
May 3, 2009 | 7:14 pm
#8
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If you arrive in Terminal B there is also a Banco de la Nacin branch after customs for purchasing pesos. Does anybody know if there are ATMs in Terminal B? Anyway, it's only a short walk to Terminal A to access the HSBC ATMs close to the Farmacity store.
John
John
May 4, 2009 | 4:38 am
#9
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John, I would gladly testify at the impeachment proceedings.
Originally Posted by SoFlyOn
I assumed that Nstor was probably just speaking from personal experience when Cristina doesn't get her way at home.
I'd at least have expected you to be standing as a testimonial candidate for El Partido Acorchado. @:-)
Step up brother Gaucho and testify!
John
I'd at least have expected you to be standing as a testimonial candidate for El Partido Acorchado. @:-)
Step up brother Gaucho and testify!
John
May 30, 2009 | 8:35 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,917
I arrived at EZE this morning on UA847 from IAD. All passengers were required to fill out a detailed form from the Argentine Ministry of Health that was distributed during the flight.
Details of previous travel in the past 14 days, and travel after arrival in Argentina were requested, along with addresses and local contact telephone numbers, a contact address and telephone number in the passenger's home country, and an email address. Also details of the arrival flight and seat number were required, along with the usual passport/ID information.
The form was set up for arrival by land, sea, or air, but I don't know whether it has been implemented at other entry points, or for arrivals from other than North America. The form was in Spanish/Portuguese/English, although the English was of poor quality and badly designed, and the form is confusing, since it doesn't detail, for example, the date format required, or whether the departure day or arrival day of the flight should be filled in.
Upon landing at EZE, our aircraft was directed to Terminal B (the AR terminal) to deplane, but we had to wait until an AA aircraft was pulled back from the jetway we needed to use. We had to wait for about 20 minutes on board, since there was not enough room to process all arriving passengers because there were two AA flights that had landed just before the UA flight (at about 9:30 am). Probably there were more than 500 passengers waited to be processed. Passengers who had connecting flights at EZE were allowed to deplane first.
Passengers were lined up in the jetways and into the outside corridor before being scanned individually by a thermal camera before being allowed to proceed into the terminal and into the immigration hall. Influenza information handouts were distributed in Spanish and English. All the healthcare workers were wearing face masks and white coats. Other airport workers had been issued masks, but many of them were clearly uncomfortable wearing them, and were continually pulling them off their faces.
After being scanned, immigration and baggage claim were fast due to the holdup in screening, and the fact that baggage was unloaded during the time were were waiting on the aircraft after landing. Since I only had one checked bag, I was allowed to exit without X-ray screening (this seemed to be the case with passengers without baggage carts).
I was the fourth passenger off my flight, and because they were interleaving the passengers from all three flights, I was able to exit the airport without a significant delay.
However, if anyone is traveling in the rear of the aircraft, and arriving during the morning arrival bank, there will be a significant holdup in waiting to be processed.
John
Details of previous travel in the past 14 days, and travel after arrival in Argentina were requested, along with addresses and local contact telephone numbers, a contact address and telephone number in the passenger's home country, and an email address. Also details of the arrival flight and seat number were required, along with the usual passport/ID information.
The form was set up for arrival by land, sea, or air, but I don't know whether it has been implemented at other entry points, or for arrivals from other than North America. The form was in Spanish/Portuguese/English, although the English was of poor quality and badly designed, and the form is confusing, since it doesn't detail, for example, the date format required, or whether the departure day or arrival day of the flight should be filled in.
Upon landing at EZE, our aircraft was directed to Terminal B (the AR terminal) to deplane, but we had to wait until an AA aircraft was pulled back from the jetway we needed to use. We had to wait for about 20 minutes on board, since there was not enough room to process all arriving passengers because there were two AA flights that had landed just before the UA flight (at about 9:30 am). Probably there were more than 500 passengers waited to be processed. Passengers who had connecting flights at EZE were allowed to deplane first.
Passengers were lined up in the jetways and into the outside corridor before being scanned individually by a thermal camera before being allowed to proceed into the terminal and into the immigration hall. Influenza information handouts were distributed in Spanish and English. All the healthcare workers were wearing face masks and white coats. Other airport workers had been issued masks, but many of them were clearly uncomfortable wearing them, and were continually pulling them off their faces.
After being scanned, immigration and baggage claim were fast due to the holdup in screening, and the fact that baggage was unloaded during the time were were waiting on the aircraft after landing. Since I only had one checked bag, I was allowed to exit without X-ray screening (this seemed to be the case with passengers without baggage carts).
I was the fourth passenger off my flight, and because they were interleaving the passengers from all three flights, I was able to exit the airport without a significant delay.
However, if anyone is traveling in the rear of the aircraft, and arriving during the morning arrival bank, there will be a significant holdup in waiting to be processed.
John
May 30, 2009 | 8:49 pm
#11
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As far as I can tell from the local press reports, this is still going on... all flights from the North American areas that are affected are diverted and processed through terminal B.
May 30, 2009 | 9:25 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Todays UA flights landed at Terminal B and departed from A. Not sure where I Landed in the past, but it did seem rather older than the Departure terminal. Bummer if we are going to be delayed on arrival due to the Swine.. Its kind of over here in the states. Whats your thoughts on the terminals.. Thanks
May 30, 2009 | 9:39 pm
#13
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Well... EZE is a disgrace as an international airport no matter what terminal you end up in.... of course Terminal B is even worse than A. Suggest you fill out all the paperwork in advance and you should be fine.
Cheers
Alex
Cheers
Alex
May 31, 2009 | 9:12 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 53
I will be going to Buenos Aires on June 4. Do you think they will be doing the health checks then?
May 31, 2009 | 5:01 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 101
This was still going on at MDZ as of 5/18 (granted different airport and now nearly two weeks ago). They just looked at our form and let us off when everything looked normal.
Of course, even when we flew back on the 26th they were still wearing the masks in the airport everywhere you went.
Of course, even when we flew back on the 26th they were still wearing the masks in the airport everywhere you went.