Continental stops collecting passports

After getting so much flak in its handling process, Continental Micronesia will no longer collect the passports of transiting passengers to Guam even if they have no visa to Guam and the United States.

The policy cover passengers coming from various points in Asia and from the Micronesia islands, eligible to transit in Guam International Airport, but who do not have a visa to enter Guam or the United States. US Immigration laws require passengers to transit without visa as long as they present their passport to the carrier.

The change in procedure was also an offshoot of meetings between the airline officials, Philippine Consulate and the INS.

Instead of surrendering their passports, travel agents/passengers will be asked to provide a photocopy of the “bio and photo” page of the travel document and the tickets upon check-in.

Since it is still necessary for transit passengers to be seen by Immigration and Naturalization Service staff in Guam, the connecting coupon, boarding pass and the I-94T form will be retained by the airline until completion of the INS process and departure from Guam.

According to Wally Dias, staff vice president for sales and promotion, the reduction of such impediments for the use of Guam Airport as a transit point would it a viable hub in the Asia Pacific region.

“Our passenger service management has worked diligently and remained pro active in developing programs to speed up transit handling time at the Guam airport,” he said.

Continental Micronesia has been besieged by complaints from passengers due to inefficiency of the airline staff to ensure that the passports are sent to Guam after these have been collected on Saipan.

At one point, a Filipino passenger bound for Indonesia was not allowed to board the flight since the airline staff on Saipan simply forgot to send the travel document.

A subsidiary of Continental Airlines, Continental Micronesia provides service to 25 destinations in the Asia Pacific region. The airline employees about 1,800 people and has 19 jet aircraft in its fleet.

On Saipan, Continental Micronesia has drastically reduced its operation to stop incurring huge losses brought about by the decline in tourism economy as a result of Asia’s financial crisis.