Woman is fined $500 by customs officials for carrying an APPLE
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
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She didn't get fined for an apple. She got fined for lying on her customs form/kiosk.
You have to declare even snacks that you brought with you on the trip. Its simply, just say you have food and your luggage gets scanned. I did it once with Stroopwaffels. Its not that hard to not lie.
You have to declare even snacks that you brought with you on the trip. Its simply, just say you have food and your luggage gets scanned. I did it once with Stroopwaffels. Its not that hard to not lie.
#17
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,229
We aren't talking about an apple. We are talking about lying on your customs declaration. How odd that you think there are degrees to lying.
#18
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,434
I'd bet a lot of people reading this thread will be more careful about their customs forms in the future.
#19
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,229
But, I can bring cookies in and declare them. If I don't declare wrapped cookies, its a $500 fine and a loss of GE.
#20
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,229
I don't see any overreaction. Especially with her being GE. She should know better.
#21
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,034
In 2010 I got caught with an apple I'd forgotten about and in 2015 I was reminded of the shame when I had my GE interview. At that time I was warned that any more apples and I'd be thrown out of the program and not allowed to re-apply because now I knew the rules. I really like apples but I've managed so far to stay clean.
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Land of Enchantment!
Programs: Southwest RR, Alaska Mileage Plan™
Posts: 341
She wasn't fined for carrying an apple. She was fined for not declaring an apple.
She didn't forget it. She says she was saving it for later. She lied, and then got caught on a random search.
Sucks to face consequences when you break laws. She now also blames Delta because they gave her the apple and didn't warn her not to lie about it.
She didn't forget it. She says she was saving it for later. She lied, and then got caught on a random search.
Sucks to face consequences when you break laws. She now also blames Delta because they gave her the apple and didn't warn her not to lie about it.
SHe is facing an expensive lesson, sad to say.
#24
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Location: San Antonio
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And the very definition of insanity is being fined $500 for an apple, especially when it is very clear that agents have some discretion on the matter. A ban on importing agricultural goods is important to protect our crops, etc. That does not mean that an agent can't also be a reasonable and thinking person. Even if bringing the apple was fully intentional, and not a mistake, I still think $500 is crazy and frankly just wrong.
#25
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Minneapolis, formerly the shores of Lake Minnetonka
Programs: DL PM (and KM)
Posts: 394
Some of you are real hard liners. I'm pretty sure she wasn't intending to deceive CBP and sneak the apple in. She likely just forgot that she had it. I get it, that's her fault and she's responsible, nobody should be debating that. But it's a pretty simple mistake without much harm done, a $500 fine is quite excessive.
I do think she's making this worse on herself than she has to...blaming Delta is a joke. She should have just owned up to making a mistake and forgetting about it. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some liberties taken in that article too, especially how the CBP agent is described as acting. Someone who blames Delta for this would likely try and play the pity/sympathy card and do whatever they could to make CBP look like the bad guy too.
I do think she's making this worse on herself than she has to...blaming Delta is a joke. She should have just owned up to making a mistake and forgetting about it. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some liberties taken in that article too, especially how the CBP agent is described as acting. Someone who blames Delta for this would likely try and play the pity/sympathy card and do whatever they could to make CBP look like the bad guy too.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,046
In 2010 I got caught with an apple I'd forgotten about and in 2015 I was reminded of the shame when I had my GE interview. At that time I was warned that any more apples and I'd be thrown out of the program and not allowed to re-apply because now I knew the rules. I really like apples but I've managed so far to stay clean.
#27
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
In 2010 I got caught with an apple I'd forgotten about and in 2015 I was reminded of the shame when I had my GE interview. At that time I was warned that any more apples and I'd be thrown out of the program and not allowed to re-apply because now I knew the rules. I really like apples but I've managed so far to stay clean.
#28
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY Metro
Programs: SPG Titanium, United Premier 1K
Posts: 1,601
Regardless of which side of this debate you are on, "lying" is the first thing they get you on if they want to get you on something. Look at how many famous people got convicted of "lying" and not the original crime they were investigated on. Moral of the story: when in doubt, just declare it.
#29
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,106
Lying requires intention to deceive. If she legitimately forgot she had the apple, she wasn't lying.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: Delta Plat
Posts: 3,363
I guess none of you have flown into New Zealand.