Ridiculous security procedures travelling to Australia

[JohnPhelan]

the CIA and the KGB blow up a bunch of buildings and the world changes...

Que??? I really hope you're not saying what I think you're saying ....

 

[Clayton J Scott]

Que??? I really hope you're not saying what I think you're saying ....

Just love all the conspiracy theories so thought I would throw that into the mix, it is true though... isn't it?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They wouldn't even put it in a tamper proof bag for me, they just wouldn't sell it to me at all.

So tamper proof bags are no go for AU flights then. But allowed for all other non-AU and non-US destinations. Crazy. And not many USA airports have duty free on arrival either (but then in a lot of the US alcohol is fairly cheap anyways)

 

[browski]

A few years ago, I was flying from Saipan to Guam. There was a really rude TSA lady inspecting bags. I commented that she was rude and that she shouldn't be taking it out on the passengers. She said to me that "Everything has changed since 9/11".
I replied "What's 9/11?"
She said "You know, 9/11".
I said "Never heard of it, it must be an American thing".

 

[Clayton J Scott]

A few years ago, I was flying from Saipan to Guam. There was a really rude TSA lady inspecting bags. I commented that she was rude and that she shouldn't be taking it out on the passengers. She said to me that "Everything has changed since 9/11".
I replied "What's 9/11?"
She said "You know, 9/11".
I said "Never heard of it, it must be an American thing".

I love it - treat everyone like a terrorist because of 9/11 - great response

 

[danmancs]

Since this thread has made the AFF gazette, I thought I might comment once again! I'm not sure I buy into the conspiracy theories going around regarding duty free revenue, my point was more about the difference in security level for flights departing to Australia in comparison to those to the rest of the world. I don't understand how it is that Australia believe itself to be more vulnerable or likely to be attacked by terrorists than say the US, the UK, or anywhere in mainland Europe. I'm pretty sure Brisbane is way way down on the list of high profile targets that any terrorist network might be considering, and certainly far enough down the list for it to be unjustifiable to deny me my duty free single malt in HKG.

And I may have been mistaken about ALL australian flights, but there were certainly a number of AU bound CX flights there in the cordoned off area, and I thought I saw a QF tail through the window.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

errr... if a plane was hijacked then bne might no longer be the destination.

but I agree, stupid rule that could be reversed instantly. except they don't want to, or think they don't need to because DF is already cheap here (and who would have told them that???)

 

[jolie82]

Flying back to Australia from BKK 2 weeks ago we were very grateful the Emirates Check-in hostess advised us that we could not take liquids >100ml on the plane including duty free and went as far to say as DO NOT BUY DUTY FREE OVER 100ml. Not sure whether the Check-in people were telling every traveller though. Went through security/x-ray/metal detectors then through to duty free before gate. At the gate was a second security check going through all carry on luggage and some poor holidaymakers had to chuck a 1L bottle of Tanqueray into a bin.

 

[drewbles]

Skype calls?? WTF??....Obviously you haven't travelled to the UAE. Skype is banned, blocked by the rulers of these Emirates, as is utube and facebook in China.

Anyone who has enough time to waste reading these stupid messages should get something productive to do, like learning to spell before making public fools of themselves.

Enough said, though at least I can spell.

<redacted> (as you made typos before claiming to be able to spell) but if you know what you're doing, there are plenty of work arounds for skype and facebook.

I know plenty of people who live in China, and travel to the UAE and use these services frequently.

And obviously you did have time to read these 'stupid messages' let alone reply to them

<redacted>

 

[StormCatBomber]

Well I believe it goes further than just alcohol. On a trip to the USA last year, I purchased a DSLR camera before departing. On my return into Melbourne, we were pulled aside & threatened to have the GST imposed on us for our goods (as we declared them). What sort of wrought are Customs trying to pull here? An ABSOLUTE JOKE!!!!

 

[Rebekkap]

Well I believe it goes further than just alcohol. On a trip to the USA last year, I purchased a DSLR camera before departing. On my return into Melbourne, we were pulled aside & threatened to have the GST imposed on us for our goods (as we declared them). What sort of wrought are Customs trying to pull here? An ABSOLUTE JOKE!!!!

Surely the rort there is that you're buying something duty free, which is duty free because it's for use overseas, then bringing it back into the country.

I realise everyone does it, but that doesn't make Customs doing their job and enforcing the rules a bunch of "wroughters"!

 

[StormCatBomber]

However, we are still supporting Australian businesses by purchasing before going overseas. Duty free is just a system that encourages one to spend in the country you are in, before spending your money in some other country. I am sure most items would be cheaper overseas compared to here in Australia (duty free just being that extra incentive before spending our cash overseas).

 

[Robmn]

Surely the rort there is that you're buying something duty free, which is duty free because it's for use overseas, then bringing it back into the country.

I realise everyone does it, but that doesn't make Customs doing their job and enforcing the rules a bunch of "wroughters"!

That's correct, you can buy DF then export it out of the country or buy and claim TRS before departure (30day rules apply) but you have to declare it on the way back in (if its over $1000) but they will depreciate the use from your tax liability.

 

[k_sheep]

Is it school holidays or a full moon or something? <What's with all the newbies?>

 

[MEL_Traveller]

However, we are still supporting Australian businesses by purchasing before going overseas.

hmmm - i wonder if the staff at the australian duty free shops are being paid the difference in their wages for the very high prices we pay?

 

[drsmithy]

Just love all the conspiracy theories so thought I would throw that into the mix, it is true though... isn't it?

It's as true as the idea that the Australian Government is preventing travellers buying duty free booze in a handful of Asian countries to protect some pitifully insignificant amount of tax revenue.

 

[drsmithy]

Well I believe it goes further than just alcohol. On a trip to the USA last year, I purchased a DSLR camera before departing. On my return into Melbourne, we were pulled aside & threatened to have the GST imposed on us for our goods (as we declared them). What sort of wrought are Customs trying to pull here? An ABSOLUTE JOKE!!!!

You appear to have a poor understanding of what "duty free" actually means.

 

[Clayton J Scott]

Is it school holidays or a full moon or something? <What's with all the newbies?>

Yeah I mean this discussion forum for Australian Frequent Fliers used to be cool until people started using it... oh wait

 

[nonscenic]

It's as true as the idea that the Australian Government is preventing travellers buying duty free booze in a handful of Asian countries to protect some pitifully insignificant amount of tax revenue.

Indeed any conspiracy theory is a compliment to the intellegence of the alledged conspirator. I suspect that any anomalies on carry on liquids are the result of performance concerns about security at particular airports.
I for one would welcome bans on the carriage in carry on of alcoholic liquids. Aircraft fuel consumption would be reduced and the hazard of several litres of flammable fuel above passengers' heads in heavy bottles is a serious safety concern.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Aircraft fuel consumption would be reduced and the hazard of several litres of flammable fuel above passengers' heads in heavy bottles is a serious safety concern.

i don't see duty free flammability as being a major concern. I can only remember one accident where it was claimed that duty free alcohol fueled a fire post crash (KE). Should we also ban aerosols which are given out in amenity kits? Potential for explosive shrapnel there.

Jet A on the other hand is a proven hazard.