Originally Posted by
joshnesbit
because in my experience at most UK airports (unlike european airports) i've found that there isn't really an 'exit' once you're in departures - it's a one-way system.
Lhr, lgw and stansted are like that, but ncl, gla, edi, abz, all mix domestic arrivals with departing pax and there are exits from the departure area.
Also intl pax could hypothetically purchase duty free items and give to arriving domestics, thus circumnavigating the system. This is why in the US they hold onto your duty free when youve purchased it and give it to you at your gate when boarding the flight.
Hypothetically an international pax could buy duty free and then just leave the airport with it and put it in their car or give to a friend and then reclear security and get on their plane.
You could do it even at airports with no direct exit from the departure area.
I am sure if it was believed to be a big problem then a system similar to the us system could be introduced.
That said, owing to baggage being collected at final destination in the uk (unlike the us where you collect bags and clear customs at point of entry) there are customs protocols in domestic arrival areas even off domestic flights. So it may not be as easy as it sounds.