BA ‘express arrivals’ pass appeared to have no use in Sydney
Feb 21, 2019, 3:32 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: SYD
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH D, QFF, EB
Posts: 404
As someone who cannot use the electronic gates in SYD the express path can be really useful if the flight lands after a couple of other flights.
I have had some interesting discussions with the customs guys, I declared an animal skin, they asked what animal, I told them and offered to get it and the paperwork out. They said don't worry, has it been correctly tanned, did it have any blood on it. When I responded I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't correctly tanned, they laughed said good point and just waved me on my way. This is not an unusual experience for me with either Aus or NZ.
I have had some interesting discussions with the customs guys, I declared an animal skin, they asked what animal, I told them and offered to get it and the paperwork out. They said don't worry, has it been correctly tanned, did it have any blood on it. When I responded I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't correctly tanned, they laughed said good point and just waved me on my way. This is not an unusual experience for me with either Aus or NZ.
Feb 21, 2019, 3:48 am
#17
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK.
Programs: Nowt of note.
Posts: 1,628
Last time I went to Oz I had cause to tick the box which lumps prescription medicine in with illicit drugs, weapons, and pornography. The customs guy said "prescriptions is it? just go through mate" without wanting to see anything in my bags. Best of all, the something-to-declare line was virtually non-existent whereas there were ~50-odd people queuing to declare nothing.
Feb 21, 2019, 4:10 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,552
I often have things to declare (wooden items, food etc.) and it usually adds about 15-20 minutes to the process at most.
One time though, I was shocked that two quarantine officers did not know what teak was. They thought I said "tick" and thought I had brought insect specimens... I said it was a type of wood but it did not register with them somehow, and I eventually showed them what teak was (it was a part of a boat I took in my suitcase to have it reworked in Australia), and they were like "Oh, so "teak" is wood???" I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
One time though, I was shocked that two quarantine officers did not know what teak was. They thought I said "tick" and thought I had brought insect specimens... I said it was a type of wood but it did not register with them somehow, and I eventually showed them what teak was (it was a part of a boat I took in my suitcase to have it reworked in Australia), and they were like "Oh, so "teak" is wood???" I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
Feb 21, 2019, 5:37 am
#19
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,139
I often have things to declare (wooden items, food etc.) and it usually adds about 15-20 minutes to the process at most.
One time though, I was shocked that two quarantine officers did not know what teak was. They thought I said "tick" and thought I had brought insect specimens... I said it was a type of wood but it did not register with them somehow, and I eventually showed them what teak was (it was a part of a boat I took in my suitcase to have it reworked in Australia), and they were like "Oh, so "teak" is wood???" I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
One time though, I was shocked that two quarantine officers did not know what teak was. They thought I said "tick" and thought I had brought insect specimens... I said it was a type of wood but it did not register with them somehow, and I eventually showed them what teak was (it was a part of a boat I took in my suitcase to have it reworked in Australia), and they were like "Oh, so "teak" is wood???" I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
