Eventually inspected by UK Customs Agents: my first time in 5+ years
May 27, 2015, 6:41 am
#31
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,454
Rule of thumb for myself is:
Big/lots of luggage: Got inspected a few times (but since I know the limits and stick to them, never a problem)
Smaller luggage/less pieces: No inspection so far
As said earlier in this thread, searches are not random, but done according to their experience. And I guess their experience says that "more luggage = more chance for smuggling".
But I'm fairly sure those experienced customs guy know more or less the factors they should take into consideration, and don't go only for luggage amount..
Big/lots of luggage: Got inspected a few times (but since I know the limits and stick to them, never a problem)
Smaller luggage/less pieces: No inspection so far
As said earlier in this thread, searches are not random, but done according to their experience. And I guess their experience says that "more luggage = more chance for smuggling".
But I'm fairly sure those experienced customs guy know more or less the factors they should take into consideration, and don't go only for luggage amount..
May 27, 2015, 5:31 pm
#32
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: BD,Skyteam,QF
Posts: 541
I used to get very irritated (10 years ago) when frequently checking IN in Gatwick to return to DUB, as a particular female regularly pulled me over for a frisk search almost every time. It was only this year that I discovered that I have metal clips in me that were part of old surgery. I thought I had been stitched. (take whichever meaning you like!) 
On a visit to Melbourne, the lovely beagle showed a lot of interest in my wheeled laptop bag, which led to a brief chat on the spot, but it became clear that it was the aroma of peppermints that always permeated that bag that had attracted his nose. No peppermints, as I was very careful for all Oz arrivals, even interstate.
On a visit to Melbourne, the lovely beagle showed a lot of interest in my wheeled laptop bag, which led to a brief chat on the spot, but it became clear that it was the aroma of peppermints that always permeated that bag that had attracted his nose. No peppermints, as I was very careful for all Oz arrivals, even interstate.
May 27, 2015, 5:57 pm
#33
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
Security does not equal customs. Security tries to find out if you want to blow up/hijack the plane, customs tries to find out if you want to evade customs/smuggle items into the country. Hence why security checks occur on departure and customs checks on arrival. Customs checks are also not the same as immigration/passport control though they often are grouped together. Pet peeve of mine when people get them mixed up.
I only had a thorough customs check once - when crossing the German-Polish border by car about 15 years ago. Having a trunk full of stuff coming back from Poland must have looked a bit suspicious.
I only had a thorough customs check once - when crossing the German-Polish border by car about 15 years ago. Having a trunk full of stuff coming back from Poland must have looked a bit suspicious.
May 28, 2015, 6:53 am
#34
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: BD,Skyteam,QF
Posts: 541
Security does not equal customs. Security tries to find out if you want to blow up/hijack the plane, customs tries to find out if you want to evade customs/smuggle items into the country. Hence why security checks occur on departure and customs checks on arrival. Customs checks are also not the same as immigration/passport control though they often are grouped together. Pet peeve of mine when people get them mixed up.
I only had a thorough customs check once - when crossing the German-Polish border by car about 15 years ago. Having a trunk full of stuff coming back from Poland must have looked a bit suspicious.
I only had a thorough customs check once - when crossing the German-Polish border by car about 15 years ago. Having a trunk full of stuff coming back from Poland must have looked a bit suspicious.
May 29, 2015, 5:13 am
#35
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: BA, UA, Marriot
Posts: 2,196
I didn't know they had customs inspections at St Pancras. How does that sit with freedom of movement within the EU - as I understood it, there are not supposed to be any customs between EU member states.
May 29, 2015, 5:16 am
#36
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
Sounds more like immigration than customs - possibly in the aftermath of the Lille Loophole debacle?
May 29, 2015, 7:17 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
For one thing, excise duties are payable on alcohol and tobacco products where they are not for the traveller's own personal use
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs...u/index_en.htm
May 29, 2015, 7:22 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
Jul 10, 2015, 12:58 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 107
UK - once, arriving in EDI (or less likely GLA) about 13 yrs ago. I had a small flat box with a framed picture in it, officer specifically asked about and x-rayed that, I can only assume it might have been the flag which caused the inspection. no interest in large carry-on, luggage, etc., but the officer was waiting for me when I went through the green door. Beyond that, questioning was cursory.
Jul 10, 2015, 1:14 pm
#41
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 107
The specified (known) passenger targeting for customs searches based on advanced intelligence come with jetbridge/gate-area interdiction, monitoring from the gate or earlier (pre-deplaning) specific details. Most customs searches in the LON airports are not of this nature.
I then got what is still the most thorough, exhaustive examination/inspection I ever had. I think the agent doing the inspection was genuinely surprised at the end, I must have closely fit a profile they had had good results using in the past. To the great credit of customs, the entire event was very professional.
Last edited by Woofdog123; Jul 10, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Jul 10, 2015, 4:56 pm
#42
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,833
I was once pulled over returning to the UK with ten cases of white wine and a few hundred ciggies inside my car.
Asked if it was for my own personal consumption I said no it was solely for the missus as it kept her quiet whenever I wanted to head off to the pub without her (which let's be honest people is just about every time for most men) .
The customs guy simply laughed and waved me on.
Asked if it was for my own personal consumption I said no it was solely for the missus as it kept her quiet whenever I wanted to head off to the pub without her (which let's be honest people is just about every time for most men) .
The customs guy simply laughed and waved me on.
Aug 9, 2015, 10:35 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: Landry's President's Club, Marriott Silver, Awesomeness EXPLT
Posts: 20,410
Cheers
Howie
Dec 15, 2017, 10:15 am
#44
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 2,290
Things are really not that simple.
For one thing, excise duties are payable on alcohol and tobacco products where they are not for the traveller's own personal use
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs...u/index_en.htm
For one thing, excise duties are payable on alcohol and tobacco products where they are not for the traveller's own personal use
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs...u/index_en.htm
Was just pulled aside for a customs check arriving at St Pancras (UK passport). The officer wanted to know in particular how much cash I was carrying, and where I had been before Paris. (Didn't seem to have anything to do with alcohol or tobacco products.)
I really don't understand why (if?) they have the right to perform these kinds of checks on European travelers traveling within the EU.
Dec 15, 2017, 6:03 pm
#45
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
Are we waking the dead again?
Simple: Booze and tobacco are taxed differently in every country and even intra-Europe there are caps as to how much you can buy abroad and bring back. That control is only going to stop when there's a harmonised tax on booze/tobacco, i.e. never. There are other goods that may/will be controlled by customs intra-Europe. I had a colleague that would get furious every time customs would confiscate medicine he ordered via internet from an other EU country. Checks on cash are quite normal too since it may be transported across border for the sole purpose of tax evasion.
Simple: Booze and tobacco are taxed differently in every country and even intra-Europe there are caps as to how much you can buy abroad and bring back. That control is only going to stop when there's a harmonised tax on booze/tobacco, i.e. never. There are other goods that may/will be controlled by customs intra-Europe. I had a colleague that would get furious every time customs would confiscate medicine he ordered via internet from an other EU country. Checks on cash are quite normal too since it may be transported across border for the sole purpose of tax evasion.