Passengers warned of six-hour check-ins

[Sazz]

Passengers were today warned to prepare for unprecedented six- hour check-ins for transatlantic flights this summer.

New security checks required by the US authorities will lead to chaos at Heathrow and Gatwick, a leading charter airline said.

The checks - known as the Advanced Passenger Information System - will be mandatory from this summer, adding crucial extra minutes to the check-in process, said Travel Trade Gazette magazine.

The head of regulation at holiday firm First Choice, one of Britain's biggest, said: 'If it takes an extra half a minute per passenger to collect this information, you are looking at an extra three hours' check-in for a full 767.

This would create an enormous number of people congreating at airports.'

Passengers are already told to allow three hours for check-in, causing huge queues at Heathrow and Gatwick.