Word with the fuzz!
Sep 13, 2018, 1:35 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: EL AL Matmid, BA Executive Club GfL, GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,085
I did one mileage run from LGW to JER and back a few years ago. It only earns 40 TPs each way in CW, but in this instance it reduced the price of my TLV-LON return by about $200, so it was well worth it! I didn't do an instant turnaround, but went out and returned after a short while. I was met at lthe lounge by two police officers who wanted to know why I was in Jersey, and why for such a short time. I explained I was doing it for the miles and they laughed and went away.
Sep 13, 2018, 2:08 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,379
Or EZE on BA. Only time I’ve been welcomed at LHR with a posse of customs officers - who picked the first X people off the plane, so all CW. Having just been through Auckland where the quartantine officers help you repack your bag (^) it makes Border Force surliness another class (even many CBP officers in US have ability to crack a joke or engage in small talk - which is surely part of the job. Officer Hass at DFW always lodges in my mind, “I always like to give visitors a little “Hassle”. Enjoy your stay.”)
My limited experience with UK customs makes me glad it seems to be almost non existent at Heathrow (which I've always found strange - do they scan bags before they reach the belt?).
I still remember from something like 10 years ago when an over-enthusiastic customs agent at the old Kent International Airport almost grabbed my bag off me in eagerness to go through it, then looked visibly disappointed when they found out I was British and just waved me through.
It's what initally woke me up to the racial bias you always hear about but had never really noticed (I have interesting skin that goes from milky white in winter to dark brown in summer - which makes me look Middle Eastern/North African).
Sep 13, 2018, 2:24 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,110
All the events described here sound like someone's simplistic heuristics misfiring on things that happen often and are not new, only newly known and not understood.
Sep 13, 2018, 2:33 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA 1MM lifetime gold, Starwood gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 719
I was going to take my 2 year old on a few consecutive weekend CE sale trips to HEL to see Santa and get him to BAEC gold, but I think I will ditch that plan now.
Apart from being held for a couple of hours in a glass cubicle in MIA when en route from EZE-CDG in August 2006, I've had no issues with frequent trips, including same day turnarounds in EU destinations when positioning for longer ex-EU trips. No issues whatsoever in the UK.
Apart from being held for a couple of hours in a glass cubicle in MIA when en route from EZE-CDG in August 2006, I've had no issues with frequent trips, including same day turnarounds in EU destinations when positioning for longer ex-EU trips. No issues whatsoever in the UK.
Sep 13, 2018, 3:31 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glasgow / London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 3,457
My only issues are coming back into the UK! My passport NEVER works in the e-machines, despite working everywhere else in Europe, and I'm always questioned for longer than everyone else. They scrutinise my passport, ask where I've been and check my flight number before letting me through, and then always write something down as I leave the desk. It's very strange!
Last edited by Filthy Monkey; Sep 13, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Sep 13, 2018, 3:44 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,718
My only issues are coming back into the UK! My passport NEVER works in the e-machines, despite working everywhere else in Europe, and I'm always questioned for longer than everyone else. They scrutinise my passport, ask where I've been and check my flight number before letting me through, and then always write something down as I leave the desk. It's very strange!
Sep 13, 2018, 4:00 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: uk
Programs: BA Gold, Shangri-La Golden Circle Elite, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 565
What were you wearing?
Not quite the same situation as the OP, but recently I had a a trip where I was travelling LIN-LCY-DUS, and border force asked me what I was doing entering the UK at LCY. Told him I was transiting, and he said "There's no direct flights from Milan to Dusseldorf?". I told him it was a cheaper fare (in reality I needed the J tier points). In hindsight, I probably should have said I needed the mileage, in case they started probing deeper and found that my fare wasn't that cheap.
Not quite the same situation as the OP, but recently I had a a trip where I was travelling LIN-LCY-DUS, and border force asked me what I was doing entering the UK at LCY. Told him I was transiting, and he said "There's no direct flights from Milan to Dusseldorf?". I told him it was a cheaper fare (in reality I needed the J tier points). In hindsight, I probably should have said I needed the mileage, in case they started probing deeper and found that my fare wasn't that cheap.
Sep 13, 2018, 7:40 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: England
Programs: BA Bronze, EK Silver
Posts: 47
EK bumped my name off the original connection and put me on the next flight which was 3 hours later. What's worst was that the BHX plane landed in time for boarding to begin on the original connection and as I had carry on only I actually made it to the gate only to be told my name wasn't on the list so no go!
I bought these tickets via Amex travel, is there grounds for compensation even though the airline got me to the destination albeit much inconveniently later?
Back on topic, I've noticed that my bags gets checked quite often at security lately though it could be the amount of electrical gizmos and cables in there. I'm actually a bit worried for the flight back to the Uk now. More specifically if I'm running late and have to have a word with the rozzers again thus missing any flights.
I bought these tickets via Amex travel, is there grounds for compensation even though the airline got me to the destination albeit much inconveniently later?
Back on topic, I've noticed that my bags gets checked quite often at security lately though it could be the amount of electrical gizmos and cables in there. I'm actually a bit worried for the flight back to the Uk now. More specifically if I'm running late and have to have a word with the rozzers again thus missing any flights.
Last edited by milehighmike; Sep 13, 2018 at 7:53 pm
Sep 13, 2018, 8:27 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: SYD
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH D, QFF, EB
Posts: 404
I've been stopped by the police once at LHR and that was boarding a flight to NBO. They quite openly stated that I was stopped purely to meet quotas. I used to get stopped every time at the Canadian border. Started after I flew from SYD in 2005. They couldn't accept a UK passport holder could fly from Australia. The last couple of times through AMS they have questioned me, the end result each time is they think I travel too much. In contrast after being questioned in MIA a few years ago I have no issues at all and get waved through quite quickly.
Sep 14, 2018, 1:20 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,520
Categorically none, you can forget that idea. The police has the right to carry out its investigation within the framework set by the law, and based on your missing your original departure, EK did the right thing in rebooking you at the earliest opportunity including respecting MCT for your new departure. You can forget that idea I think.
Sep 14, 2018, 1:36 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Around somewhere
Programs: Gold, Some red card and some hotel cards.
Posts: 709
As to refusing or being vague in saying where you come from does it really matter if you tell them as they probably already know as all API information is passed on to the destination country as soon as your flight leaves. Did hear it has to be done within 10 minutes of the flight taking off. Although Border force cannot actually stop a British Citizen entering the UK they can make it hard for you and are entitled to ask any relevant questions to ascertain you are a UK citizen including where you have travel from. Some being vague will certainly raise a few questions.
I spend quite a bit of time at an UK Airport border taking to the officers in my current job.
Sep 14, 2018, 2:14 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
Categorically none, you can forget that idea. The police has the right to carry out its investigation within the framework set by the law, and based on your missing your original departure, EK did the right thing in rebooking you at the earliest opportunity including respecting MCT for your new departure. You can forget that idea I think.
That is odd, as unlike the rest of Europe, the "e-machines" are just a man hiding behind a flimsy wall looking at multiple TV screens.
My impression was that in the rest of Europe it is a manual process, but in the UK it is partially automated.
For a time I was flagged and my passport was instantly rejected by the e-gate as soon as I placed it on the reader, but the flag seems to have been lifted. I figured out why and will try not to trigger it again
I hope AMS-BKK is not actually an automatic trigger as I'm doing another one of those soon...
Although Border force cannot actually stop a British Citizen entering the UK they can make it hard for you and are entitled to ask any relevant questions to ascertain you are a UK citizen including where you have travel from.
Sep 14, 2018, 2:19 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,609
I have an week long ex AMS to BKK via HKG comprising two trips to Kathmandu sandwiching one to Penang next year.
should I just hand myself in to the Police now and throw myself before the mercy of the courts?
should I just hand myself in to the Police now and throw myself before the mercy of the courts?
Sep 14, 2018, 3:40 am
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: England
Programs: BA Bronze, EK Silver
Posts: 47
Categorically none, you can forget that idea. The police has the right to carry out its investigation within the framework set by the law, and based on your missing your original departure, EK did the right thing in rebooking you at the earliest opportunity including respecting MCT for your new departure. You can forget that idea I think.
Anyone have any experience on this? Have asked on the EK forum but it's a bit quite on there. I booked it through Amex travel.
Back on topic, I distinctly remember last year flying from HKG to HND with a connection in Osaka and being stopped by security at baggage screening. They took my bag to one side and gave it a thorough inspection, then asked me questions about my travel activity, specifically that I was flying in from HKG on a UK passport but not returning to the UK after or to having a return ticket in place with the same airline. It does sound like they're trying to monitor unusual travel patterns to monitor trafficking.
Thankfully substance abuse is certainly not one of my vices so at least I don't have to worry about that.
Sep 14, 2018, 4:15 am
#30
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
Originally Posted by :D!;30202234
My wife's passport rarely works at the e-gate. On our last UK re-entry, the officer at the failed e-gate desk told her to look into a camera next to him, which matched her face to her passport photo using software, or so he claimed. He then said she needed to be more careful to place the passport flat on the reader (the machine in AMS?? which sucks your passport in created a small bend in her photo page 3 years ago).
My impression was that in the rest of Europe it is a manual process, but in the UK it is partially automated.
For a time I was flagged and my passport was [i
My wife's passport rarely works at the e-gate. On our last UK re-entry, the officer at the failed e-gate desk told her to look into a camera next to him, which matched her face to her passport photo using software, or so he claimed. He then said she needed to be more careful to place the passport flat on the reader (the machine in AMS?? which sucks your passport in created a small bend in her photo page 3 years ago).
My impression was that in the rest of Europe it is a manual process, but in the UK it is partially automated.
For a time I was flagged and my passport was [i
instantly[/i] rejected by the e-gate as soon as I placed it on the reader, but the flag seems to have been lifted. I figured out why and will try not to trigger it again I hope AMS-BKK is not actually an automatic trigger as I'm doing another one of those soon...
I hope AMS-BKK is not actually an automatic trigger as I'm doing another one of those soon...