Checked baggage searched & all aerosols cans confiscated at HKT - WHY?

[cosi]

Who conducted the search ? Airline staff or immigration/security/police ?
Was your party the only group searched on this flight ?

With tables set up obviously prearranged & planned (unless the tables are always there)

Our departure date was the same day as the Thai's celebrate New Year.

Using transit time from Surin Beach to the airport is 30 minutes.

We allowed 45 minutes, but it still took 60 minutes.

All checked baggage is X ray when you enter the terminal.

Then it was a long hike to Terminal 2 for the VA check in and which time, the flight was being called, 80 minutes before departure. (later to discover VA does not access to a aerobridge and it is a bus job)

Tables look like they had been specifically erected and searched was completed by 1 security contractor with other watching.

I did notice the large garbage bin contained lots of items.

One other couple was checking in, but they only had hand luggage.

Flight was only 60% full

 

[extracta]

I have never had my luggage searched in front of me in Thailand at check-in and had aerosols confiscated from checked luggage.

Something is not quite right here.

This is not new. When V Australia flew to HKT I had my luggage checked prior to check-in at HKT on each trip,,,

 

[MelUser]

THis is done out of Hong Kong and Nadi at the gate for flights to Australia. It is basically where the Australian Government does not trust the airport quality - or more correctly where the airport is not accredited to Australian government's liking.

I have enquired in Fiji and it is only done for Australian flights. NZ ,USA everyone else is fine.

 

[muppet]

Yep. Happened to me in april. They just rummaged around with their grotty hands. Nothing was taken. Aerosols sighted and left in place.

 

[get me outta here]

Yep. Happened to me in april. They just rummaged around with their grotty hands. Nothing was taken. Aerosols sighted and left in place.

To keep the grubby hands off my clothes I wrap little bundles in plastic bags that can simply be patted down. I think they like it as it's protects them from dirty washing too.:-|

 

[ozbeachbabe]

My toolbox always gets xrayed while checking in at akl, (it goes down the fragile lane) they always confiscate my can of inox

Inox, WD40 etc are flammable so are classed as DG's & are not permitted in checked ir carryon luggage.

Just about most things you would spray on your body are okay.

 

[JohnK]

And John, there are some places where you just do as they say unless you want to spend time locked up...

I agree with you. Never ever take on the Thai military, or even those that fantacise about being in the Thai military. Very scary.

This is not new. When V Australia flew to HKT I had my luggage checked prior to check-in at HKT on each trip,,,

Very interesting. So the "Australians" visiting coughet have somehow managed to make the Thais think that all luggage needs to be checked on departure from coughet.

As I mentioned earlier have not seen this in either Bangkok or Chiang Mai so news to me. More reason to avoid coughet, if there wasn't reason enough before....