America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - Protecting you against sandwiches

YYZ-PHX HP gates at T3 Pre-clearance at US Customs - "I see you have a sandwich. You cannot bring it into the US." B1: "I am bringing it onto my HP flight as they don't provide meals and I will eat it long before we land." US Border Patrol (armed): "Once you enter this area, you are in the US. Your sandwich might have mad cow disease and we protect the American people". B1: "But this is Canada and my sandwich will be digested." US:"Throw it out now - in Canada - over there, not here! We have sandwich-sniffing dogs to check." :eek: (Undisclosed activity) Enter boarding lounge. Public Service Announcement "For those travelling on America West to Phoenix, no meals will be available for purchase so buy a sandwich at the food shop in the lounge." B1 thinks "Hmmm - where are we? Does this deli have a thing with the border guards or the announcer? Won't buy sandwich - they'll probably get mine from trash and sell it back to me." Get on HP790 "Welcome aboard. We will be selling sandwiches and other crud and over-priced head phones for the eastbound movie on the westbound flight." Hmmm. Okay, so we go home from Phoenix. Luckily, the return flight is overbooked and B1 got to see Cleveland and an AC flight (AP miles) and have a $300 voucher for HP. :p Also got NW World Perks for both flights on HP according to the file. We'll see LESSON: HP wants you to buy sandwiches from them. The US Border Patrol is mainly after your sandwich - I wonder if they arrest people at less formal crossings, such as the Rio Grande, for bringing their lunch.

Even if you brought a veggie sandwich in they'd claim it may have mad cow. :rolleyes: At least you got some AP miles ^ We need a disjointed jaw emoticon a la the South Park movie.

As I recall, after you pass through pre-clearence, right at the gate area, there is a place to get some food so that you can still buy food other then that found on board. I also suspect that no matter what carrier you flew into the U.S., you would have had the same problem.

I was going into Vancouver and stopped at Canadian customs. They took my packaged meat from me - Canadian Bacon. I said, "I though it had residency!" They didn't think it was funny, but cautioned me to always declare all food products as sometimes they are not allowed and there is a serious fine for not declaring all food.

I've flown YYZ to both PHX and LAS on HP numerous times. I have often had lunch or another meal with me and have never had difficulty bringing it past customs. If they gave you a hard time, there is a chance that you gave them a hard time first... They do, however, take very seriously bringing back any raw foods, particularly meat or citrus, in order to protect the country's food supply.

You may think it's funny to make fun of the rules, but the reason that countries like Australia and New Zealand have managed to keep several pests and diseases out of the country is that they have very strict rules about what agricultural products can enter the country.

Before making fun of the rules, you should seriously consider why the rules exist. And why blame HP? They had nothing to do with US Customs...

If they gave you a hard time, there is a chance that you gave them a hard time first... They do, however, take very seriously bringing back any raw ...And why blame HP? They had nothing to do with US Customs...
That's good. There are two sides and we need to negotiate.
1) I did not give them a hard time. Nothing
2) Everything was cooked
3) HP made it clear that they do not provide food and I should bring my own lunch.
And by not bringing your sandwich from California into Canada you are sparing us from the same problems. Makes sense. Protects our citrus crop.

I was going into Vancouver and stopped at Canadian customs. They took my packaged meat from me - Canadian Bacon. I said, "I though it had residency!" They didn't think it was funny, but cautioned me to always declare all food products as sometimes they are not allowed and there is a serious fine for not declaring all food.


That is excellent!

I guess the six pack of Molson that I have in my bag is in violation as well.

I guess the six pack of Molson that I have in my bag is in violation as well.
1) There is no "Canadian bacon" in Canada. The customs officer is trained to recognize that one.
2) There is no such thing as "a six pack of Molson" in Canada. Don't even mention it. You could try to say you've got "six Canadians" but that could lead to other complications. Just say "six brewskis".

1) There is no "Canadian bacon" in Canada. The customs officer is trained to recognize that one.


Thanks. Next you'll be telling me there's no Easter Bunny!

I miss back bacon... what passes for "Canadian bacon" in the US is pretty much just glorified ham... and doesn't even have peameal...

I miss back bacon... what passes for "Canadian bacon" in the US is pretty much just glorified ham... and doesn't even have peameal...


mmm....My favorite is the Montana's real canadian bacon burger,.....mmmm




I go to/from CA once a month, now you know, buy it on the other side of customs, believe it or not that food is "cleared". on the other side of the customs area, you are in "U.S. restricted space", so if the rule is no food, its no food.