Customs at Brussels Airport
Aug 25, 2015, 9:05 am
#31
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 29
Great read thanks for your input and the fun stories.
What I don't understand is that I never get stopped at customs!
I travel from BKK to Europe and the US 3-5 times a year and usually only stay for less than a week, and I have not been stopped once in over 5 years, I am a blue eyed, blond, balding, 20kg overweight guy around 40 years old with a passport full of visa to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. I always travel with 2 laptops, iPhone and other electronic stuff, usually wear a pair of Levi's jeans and a knock off t-shirt maybe a pullover if I am travelling to somewhere cold.
I should be the first one stopped for a search but its never happened.
The one time I got an upgrade from NRT to LAX I got stopped on the gangway and asked for my passport.
At LAX once in 10 entries I got asked if I carried more than 10K USD thats all.
I should be one of the guys profiled for carrying drugs or illegal pornographic material but it have never happened and makes me think the system is not working.
Or maybe the system is working to well! So it knows I am clean! Is big brother that good?
What I don't understand is that I never get stopped at customs!
I travel from BKK to Europe and the US 3-5 times a year and usually only stay for less than a week, and I have not been stopped once in over 5 years, I am a blue eyed, blond, balding, 20kg overweight guy around 40 years old with a passport full of visa to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. I always travel with 2 laptops, iPhone and other electronic stuff, usually wear a pair of Levi's jeans and a knock off t-shirt maybe a pullover if I am travelling to somewhere cold.
I should be the first one stopped for a search but its never happened.
The one time I got an upgrade from NRT to LAX I got stopped on the gangway and asked for my passport.
At LAX once in 10 entries I got asked if I carried more than 10K USD thats all.
I should be one of the guys profiled for carrying drugs or illegal pornographic material but it have never happened and makes me think the system is not working.
Or maybe the system is working to well! So it knows I am clean! Is big brother that good?
Last edited by Spacemandk; Aug 25, 2015 at 9:10 am Reason: system working?
Aug 25, 2015, 10:59 am
#32
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Gibraltar/Spain
Posts: 36
Thanks for a fab thread, and although I have never flown to BRU, I am now seriously considering a little weekend trip! Please keep your stories and observations coming, as others have said before me, it is entertaining and very well written.
Aug 25, 2015, 5:13 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
Thanks for the thread FedGuard.
Customs obviously differ slightly around the world with regards to their powers... but the frustrating thing for many passengers is that they never really know what their rights might be.
For example, a customs officer might ask for the password to access your smartphone or other iDevice... but does a passenger have to give it? Ask the question and a customs officer might tell you 'it's in your interests to give it to us'... which doesn't really answer the question of whether you must, by law, give it. (But leaves sufficient doubt as to whether you need to comply of not!)
Sure if the officer wants to search your phone they have the right to do so... but are there times where making it easy for the officer might lead them to looking at the contents where they might not otherwise if they had to go to all the trouble of breaking the code?
Customs obviously differ slightly around the world with regards to their powers... but the frustrating thing for many passengers is that they never really know what their rights might be.
For example, a customs officer might ask for the password to access your smartphone or other iDevice... but does a passenger have to give it? Ask the question and a customs officer might tell you 'it's in your interests to give it to us'... which doesn't really answer the question of whether you must, by law, give it. (But leaves sufficient doubt as to whether you need to comply of not!)
Sure if the officer wants to search your phone they have the right to do so... but are there times where making it easy for the officer might lead them to looking at the contents where they might not otherwise if they had to go to all the trouble of breaking the code?
Aug 25, 2015, 7:00 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
Very informative! Obviously the law however could be slightly different in Australia, or Japan or wherever.
I'm just thinking at the back of my head of a less than ethical customs officer seeing a woman (or man) and they want to check out their personal photos on their phone. Asking 'can I have your password' and 'it's in your best interests' could lead them to getting the code, and checking out personal pictures for which they might not have access if they had to elevate the search and formally break the code of the phone.
I appreciate it is part of an officer's job to ask questions... but giving access to a phone (or other device) where there can be personal pictures starts to cross over the privacy divide. (I'm not talking about where those pictures might be against the law.)
I'm just thinking at the back of my head of a less than ethical customs officer seeing a woman (or man) and they want to check out their personal photos on their phone. Asking 'can I have your password' and 'it's in your best interests' could lead them to getting the code, and checking out personal pictures for which they might not have access if they had to elevate the search and formally break the code of the phone.
I appreciate it is part of an officer's job to ask questions... but giving access to a phone (or other device) where there can be personal pictures starts to cross over the privacy divide. (I'm not talking about where those pictures might be against the law.)
Aug 26, 2015, 1:50 am
#38
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: Shiny metal ones that go clink.
Posts: 132
Absolutely fascinating!
Silly question, but have you ever had someone come up with a totally over the top reason for bizarre flying, and it turns out to be true and innocent?
I think of some of the flying we do on FT which should set off massive red flags, but is all about earning miles. Or burning the same.
The only time I've ever been stopped - thank goodness - was when I was on a six day round the world trip in First involving 12 stopovers. After three days of flying I finally got to Canadian customs from Australia on my way for a night Ina pub in London, then the middle east, and via odd places in Asia I'd never heard of and the US.
I should have known I'd hit trouble when the Air Canada system on the bridge in La Guardia flagged up 'doccheck alert'.
Canadian customs... Can I see your passport. "Which one?" (I am a dual citizen)
That set em off... As did where did you come from? Mentioning that I spent the night in New York, but not the city, the casino in Las Vegas because the UA lounge there was so poor got me a full check of my very small hand luggage. "For a week trip sir?" No, only a night, but six days drinking at the front of a plane.
Only got away when my flight to LHR was boarding. Oh, and I said to the supervisor, who clearly just wanted me gone so long as I didn't enter Canada that I was just burning bmi miles but there was no direct availability.
"Ain't that the truth" he remarked, escorting me up the airbridge.
Oddly, haven't been back to Canada since then.
Silly question, but have you ever had someone come up with a totally over the top reason for bizarre flying, and it turns out to be true and innocent?
I think of some of the flying we do on FT which should set off massive red flags, but is all about earning miles. Or burning the same.
The only time I've ever been stopped - thank goodness - was when I was on a six day round the world trip in First involving 12 stopovers. After three days of flying I finally got to Canadian customs from Australia on my way for a night Ina pub in London, then the middle east, and via odd places in Asia I'd never heard of and the US.
I should have known I'd hit trouble when the Air Canada system on the bridge in La Guardia flagged up 'doccheck alert'.
Canadian customs... Can I see your passport. "Which one?" (I am a dual citizen)
That set em off... As did where did you come from? Mentioning that I spent the night in New York, but not the city, the casino in Las Vegas because the UA lounge there was so poor got me a full check of my very small hand luggage. "For a week trip sir?" No, only a night, but six days drinking at the front of a plane.
Only got away when my flight to LHR was boarding. Oh, and I said to the supervisor, who clearly just wanted me gone so long as I didn't enter Canada that I was just burning bmi miles but there was no direct availability.
"Ain't that the truth" he remarked, escorting me up the airbridge.
Oddly, haven't been back to Canada since then.
Aug 26, 2015, 3:04 pm
#40
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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The shared stories in this thread are great. Life is certainly full of colorful characters. 
I've seen customs perform open baggage searches at CPH and LHR in recent weeks (and also at various U.S. airports), but it did require a glance over while passing baggage claims/customs to get back landslide. [I get to avoid BRU for most of the summer and the rest of this year. ]
How did you guess? 
Thank you for your very complete and detailed answer.
Regarding the "chatting": I sometimes have the impression that the conversations they are having do distract them from doing their job. Maybe just an impression.
Another thing: I often see passengers baggage getting searched in public (on the tables on the left side when exiting). I think it's awkward to say the least. Even if I had done nothing wrong, I wouldn't feel at ease if it happened to me. I don't see this at other airports, maybe the lack of space at BRU is also responsible for this procedure?
Thank you for your very complete and detailed answer.
Regarding the "chatting": I sometimes have the impression that the conversations they are having do distract them from doing their job. Maybe just an impression.
Another thing: I often see passengers baggage getting searched in public (on the tables on the left side when exiting). I think it's awkward to say the least. Even if I had done nothing wrong, I wouldn't feel at ease if it happened to me. I don't see this at other airports, maybe the lack of space at BRU is also responsible for this procedure?
]
Last edited by GUWonder; Aug 26, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Aug 26, 2015, 3:13 pm
#41
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: DL 0.22 MM, AA 0.34 MM, PC Plat Amb, Hertz #1 GC 5*
Posts: 7,511
Absolutely fascinating!
Silly question, but have you ever had someone come up with a totally over the top reason for bizarre flying, and it turns out to be true and innocent?
I think of some of the flying we do on FT which should set off massive red flags, but is all about earning miles. Or burning the same.
...
Silly question, but have you ever had someone come up with a totally over the top reason for bizarre flying, and it turns out to be true and innocent?
I think of some of the flying we do on FT which should set off massive red flags, but is all about earning miles. Or burning the same.
...
With border/customs, I've just learned to be boring, and be honest. The rest will take care of itself.
And awesome stories, keep them coming!
Aug 26, 2015, 3:36 pm
#42
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Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
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I've done lots of quick long-haul vacations in business or first class cabins with hand luggage only. And I've not been flagged down for a search on even 1% of such trips of mine. That said, being amongst the very first off the plane makes it somewhat more likely to be asked questions (or asked for passport) by any receiving border control authorities at the gate/jetbridge/door itself.
The AC@LGA doc-check alert when scanning the boarding pass on the bridge is most commonly a result of the agent wanting to validate that a passport or NEXUS card is presented and valid for travel to Canada. It would be very unusual for this kind of flag at LGA to be related to being flagged by Canadian border authorities. Not impossible, but just very unusual for most AC@LGA "doc check" flags at the boarding time.
Absolutely fascinating!
Silly question, but have you ever had someone come up with a totally over the top reason for bizarre flying, and it turns out to be true and innocent?
I think of some of the flying we do on FT which should set off massive red flags, but is all about earning miles. Or burning the same.
The only time I've ever been stopped - thank goodness - was when I was on a six day round the world trip in First involving 12 stopovers. After three days of flying I finally got to Canadian customs from Australia on my way for a night Ina pub in London, then the middle east, and via odd places in Asia I'd never heard of and the US.
I should have known I'd hit trouble when the Air Canada system on the bridge in La Guardia flagged up 'doccheck alert'.
Canadian customs... Can I see your passport. "Which one?" (I am a dual citizen)
That set em off... As did where did you come from? Mentioning that I spent the night in New York, but not the city, the casino in Las Vegas because the UA lounge there was so poor got me a full check of my very small hand luggage. "For a week trip sir?" No, only a night, but six days drinking at the front of a plane.
Only got away when my flight to LHR was boarding. Oh, and I said to the supervisor, who clearly just wanted me gone so long as I didn't enter Canada that I was just burning bmi miles but there was no direct availability.
"Ain't that the truth" he remarked, escorting me up the airbridge.
Oddly, haven't been back to Canada since then.
Silly question, but have you ever had someone come up with a totally over the top reason for bizarre flying, and it turns out to be true and innocent?
I think of some of the flying we do on FT which should set off massive red flags, but is all about earning miles. Or burning the same.
The only time I've ever been stopped - thank goodness - was when I was on a six day round the world trip in First involving 12 stopovers. After three days of flying I finally got to Canadian customs from Australia on my way for a night Ina pub in London, then the middle east, and via odd places in Asia I'd never heard of and the US.
I should have known I'd hit trouble when the Air Canada system on the bridge in La Guardia flagged up 'doccheck alert'.
Canadian customs... Can I see your passport. "Which one?" (I am a dual citizen)
That set em off... As did where did you come from? Mentioning that I spent the night in New York, but not the city, the casino in Las Vegas because the UA lounge there was so poor got me a full check of my very small hand luggage. "For a week trip sir?" No, only a night, but six days drinking at the front of a plane.
Only got away when my flight to LHR was boarding. Oh, and I said to the supervisor, who clearly just wanted me gone so long as I didn't enter Canada that I was just burning bmi miles but there was no direct availability.
"Ain't that the truth" he remarked, escorting me up the airbridge.
Oddly, haven't been back to Canada since then.
Last edited by GUWonder; Aug 26, 2015 at 3:47 pm
Aug 26, 2015, 4:58 pm
#44
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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I've come into BRU from the US (or Canada) multiple times a year for many years now, and I almost always do so without luggage. I haven't been flagged down for customs' questioning or searches in BRU at any point of time in the last ten years at least.
That said, I'm also likely to be coming into BRU for no more than three nights, with my typical stay there being less than that. Sometimes I enter into BRU for a day with nothing more than a small backpack. Not that my stay duration in BRU is all that clear to potentially interested parties, as often I'm coming in on a one-way ticket and leaving under separate means or via separately ticketed PNRs.
FedGuard, your stories are great and I like the jokes. If a well-intentioned, humorous play with words gets passengers to get annoyed, it's usually the doing of the person who is annoyed because they let themselves be annoyed.
If you want to check out more funny things at customs control:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...country-2.html
That said, I'm also likely to be coming into BRU for no more than three nights, with my typical stay there being less than that. Sometimes I enter into BRU for a day with nothing more than a small backpack. Not that my stay duration in BRU is all that clear to potentially interested parties, as often I'm coming in on a one-way ticket and leaving under separate means or via separately ticketed PNRs.
FedGuard, your stories are great and I like the jokes. If a well-intentioned, humorous play with words gets passengers to get annoyed, it's usually the doing of the person who is annoyed because they let themselves be annoyed.
If you want to check out more funny things at customs control:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...country-2.html
Last edited by GUWonder; Aug 26, 2015 at 5:10 pm