Bordering Corruption (or Conniption)?

[JohnK]

Didn't try to argue the toss with LAX staff, but did notice it went into a filing drawer off to the side a bit rather than the bins right in front of them with everything else. Must have been a fun Xmas party at LAX that year!

Perks of the job? This is so low it's beyond belief? Anything confiscated should be disposed of not for personal consumption of security personnel.

 

[jpp42]

Perks of the job? This is so low it's beyond belief? Anything confiscated should be disposed of not for personal consumption of security personnel.

I'm of two minds about this. Yes, I know that to be sure there is no corruption it's appropriate for the rules to officially state that everything must be disposed of. But if it's clearly against the rules, like a whole bottle of wine being brought into International security, I'm sort of okay with it being a "perk of the job" if these items didn't make it to the landfill every time. These staff work at low wages and difficult hours and they deserve a perk or two from time to time IMO.

 

[Hvr]

These staff work at low wages and difficult hours and they deserve a perk or two from time to time IMO.

Not an excuse for corruption, an explanation maybe but not an excuse. And where does it stop?

There have previously been reports of staff at LAX wanting a packet of Tim Tams to be moved to the head of the immigration line.

If this continues how long until it becomes two packets, or even cash?

There's not a time of day, day of the week, or day of the year I haven't been on duty. This year will be the first time in nine years I'm not working Christmas/New Year. It was never appropriate to take any gratuity from a customer.

For the security people, when would it become an 'expectation' that you would bring a bottle of alcohol to expedite your passage. And then not being able to pass through without payment? It's a slippery slope. Especially since security can say anything to the police and cause you to have a very bad day.

Transparency.org has a 'Corruption Perceptions Index' the CPI uses a scale from 0 TO 100. 100 is Very Clean and 0 is Highly Corrupt. For 2021 the USA is rated 67 (Australia is 73).

2021 Corruption Perceptions Index - Explore the results

How does your country measure up in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index?

www.transparency.org

Actions such as noted above drive down the scores.
Corruption starts small and quickly escalates.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Not an excuse for corruption, an explanation maybe but not an excuse. And where does it stop?

There have previously been reports of staff at LAX wanting a packet of Tim Tams to be moved to the head of the immigration line.

If this continues how long until it becomes two packets, or even cash?

There's not a time of day, day of the week, or day of the year I haven't been on duty. This year will be the first time in nine years I'm not working Christmas/New Year. It was never appropriate to take any gratuity from a customer.

For the security people, when would it become an 'expectation' that you would bring a bottle of alcohol to expedite your passage. And then not being able to pass through without payment? It's a slippery slope. Especially since security can say anything to the police and cause you to have a very bad day.

Transparency.org has a 'Corruption Perceptions Index' the CPI uses a scale from 0 TO 100. 100 is Very Clean and 0 is Highly Corrupt. For 2021 the USA is rated 67 (Australia is 73).

2021 Corruption Perceptions Index - Explore the results

How does your country measure up in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index?

www.transparency.org

Actions such as noted above drive down the scores.
Corruption starts small and quickly escalates.

Absolutely agree. I've seen this in other organisations too. When new people start they either join the team of corrupt staff or leave quickly. Who else remembers some of the stuff that went on in NSW Police and RTA in the 1980s, where the "perks" were seen as a necessary too up to salaries?

 

[drron]

Absolutely agree. I've seen this in other organisations too. When new people start they either join the team of corrupt staff or leave quickly. Who else remembers some of the stuff that went on in NSW Police and RTA in the 1980s, where the "perks" were seen as a necessary too up to salaries?

Or QLD pre Fitzgerald.

 

[JohnK]

I'm of two minds about this. Yes, I know that to be sure there is no corruption it's appropriate for the rules to officially state that everything must be disposed of. But if it's clearly against the rules, like a whole bottle of wine being brought into International security, I'm sort of okay with it being a "perk of the job" if these items didn't make it to the landfill every time. These staff work at low wages and difficult hours and they deserve a perk or two from time to time IMO.

I guess we could go on and on.

Cars used to go missing at the wharves. They turned blind eye. These ended up in their raffles. They were well paid.

But I don't think low paid staff is an excuse. How about giving the person the opportunity to go back and checkin the alcohol? They won't do that as it jeopardises the supply of alcohol at the party.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Perks of the job? This is so low it's beyond belief? Anything confiscated should be disposed of not for personal consumption of security personnel.

It might have been something more innocent, especially if in public view.

Maybe the alcohol was put in a place where it can’t be accessed by minors? Or maybe it was being separated as a flammable liquid?

 

[Ade]

How about giving the person the opportunity to go back and checkin the alcohol?

IME, at BKK, at least, the staff gave me the option to check in the booze bottle. But I only had my backpack as my carry on (with the duty-free liquor purchased at CMB in a sealed bag) and the DFAT staff told me that with just my backpack, with no clothes or padding, the bottle might break during baggage handling ... so it was upto me to see if doing that was worth the booze .. I chose to leave the booze behind and sign the register that booze was taken off me at the gate pre-boarding.

 

[jakeseven7]

IME, at BKK, at least, the staff gave me the option to check in the booze bottle. But I only had my backpack as my carry on (with the duty-free liquor purchased at CMB in a sealed bag) and the DFAT staff told me that with just my backpack, with no clothes or padding, the bottle might break during baggage handling ... so it was upto me to see if doing that was worth the booze .. I chose to leave the booze behind and sign the register that booze was taken off me at the gate pre-boarding.

There’s a video of someone pouring it down the sink of a fountain bubbler on Tik Tok to stop the gate agents taking it for themselves later

 

[flyingfan]

I don’t think staff should be allowed to pocket confiscated items as a ‘bonus’ as it is a slippery slope and will lead to all sorts of corruption and bribery.

When rules are in place, staff shouldn’t risk their jobs and a criminal record over the sake of what might be a petty item.

Slightly different but QF sacked, and then had to reinstate, an FA who allegedly stole some chocs

 

[JohnK]

There’s a video of someone pouring it down the sink of a fountain bubbler on Tik Tok to stop the gate agents taking it for themselves later

And that's what I would do if not allowed to go back to check in.

 

[Vic]

For the security people, when would it become an 'expectation' that you would bring a bottle of alcohol to expedite your passage. And then not being able to pass through without payment? It's a slippery slope. Especially since security can say anything to the police and cause you to have a very bad day.

Transparency.org has a 'Corruption Perceptions Index' the CPI uses a scale from 0 TO 100. 100 is Very Clean and 0 is Highly Corrupt. For 2021 the USA is rated 67 (Australia is 73).

2021 Corruption Perceptions Index - Explore the results

How does your country measure up in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index?

www.transparency.org

Actions such as noted above drive down the scores.
Corruption starts small and quickly escalates.

Being a split off thread I haven't had the benefit of seeing the original story.

But I'm failing to see any relevance to say a bottle of wine could be considered a pay off. Liquids are banned. The wine, presumably, was taken regardless because it was a liquid and the pax got the same standard of service. (note I haven't seen the original story here)

The suggestion that we're going to get to a point of valid people being refused security processing because they don't bring wine is rather strange.

 

[RAM]

And that's what I would do if not allowed to go back to check in.

'hiccup.

 

[Vic]

'hiccup.

hmm

Man chugs liter of vodka in airport security line

A man nearly died from alcohol poisoning after quaffing a liter (two pints) of vodka at an airport security check instead of handing it over to comply with new carry-on rules, police said Wednesday.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[MARTINE]

hmm

Man chugs liter of vodka in airport security line

A man nearly died from alcohol poisoning after quaffing a liter (two pints) of vodka at an airport security check instead of handing it over to comply with new carry-on rules, police said Wednesday.

www.nbcnews.com

That is a brilliant read - I am rolling around laughing.. he would literally rather die than get rid of the booze
Mint

 

[JohnK]

That is a brilliant read - I am rolling around laughing.. he would literally rather die than get rid of the booze
Mint

And risk being denied boarding too.

 

[Ade]

And risk being denied boarding too.

although .... the drink effect might not kick in immediately? A standard drink takes upto 20 mins to take effect and 1 hour to leave the system ... so I'd assume if he made it to the gate within 30 mins of chugging that amount of alcohol, he might still be safe? Again, this guy just drank at least 22 standard drinks in one shot ... hope he lived on to tell his tale ...

 

[MARTINE]

although .... the drink effect might not kick in immediately? A standard drink takes upto 20 mins to take effect and 1 hour to leave the system ... so I'd assume if he made it to the gate within 30 mins of chugging that amount of alcohol, he might still be safe? Again, this guy just drank at least 22 standard drinks in one shot ... hope he lived on to tell his tale ...

Depends how much juice he had in the tank to start - alcoholics can have BAU levels they function with that would tranquillise you and I

 

[Ade]

Depends how much juice he had in the tank to start - alcoholics can have BAU levels they function with that would tranquillise you and I

That is soooo true ... I know someone who can efficiently operate under the influence. His tolerance was so high that he'd comfortably chug half a bottle of whisky straight and then be like nothing happened ...

 

[JohnK]

although .... the drink effect might not kick in immediately? A standard drink takes upto 20 mins to take effect and 1 hour to leave the system ... so I'd assume if he made it to the gate within 30 mins of chugging that amount of alcohol, he might still be safe? Again, this guy just drank at least 22 standard drinks in one shot ... hope he lived on to tell his tale ...

If they did this at security then still quite some way before boarding. Some people can handle alcohol but this much alcohol in one hit could cause someone to pass out at some point.

I still prefer to pour contents down a drain if I cannot take with me.