Anything to declare?
Nov 20th 2003, 1:15 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,082
Anything to declare?
Have you ever stood in-line and sweated about something being discovered in your luggage?
What's the most unusual thing you've packed?
What's the most unusual thing you've packed?
Nov 20th 2003, 1:20 pm
#2
Under Achiever
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 185
4 large Cadbury Easter eggs that caused quite a stir a Newark Liberty back in March, the foil wrapping set off all the alarms.
Nov 20th 2003, 3:48 pm
#3
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Anything to declare?
Originally posted by BrigieDarling
Have you ever stood in-line and sweated about something being discovered in your luggage?
What's the most unusual thing you've packed?
Have you ever stood in-line and sweated about something being discovered in your luggage?
What's the most unusual thing you've packed?
I was a little panickstricken because the penknife has great sentimental value and I usually remember to detach it from the keychain and pop into my checked in baggage.
On this occasion, I'd forgotten and I was concerned that it'd be confiscated and I'd not be able to get it back.
As it turned out, my keychain went through the x-ray machine undetected and I picked up my bag (with the penknife in) with no disruptions.
I was kind of shocked that the penknife wasn't spotted as there were at least two TSA employees peering at the screen as my bag passed through the x-ray machine.
NC Penguin
Nov 20th 2003, 3:54 pm
#4
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,545
Re: Anything to declare?
Originally posted by BrigieDarling
Have you ever stood in-line and sweated about something being discovered in your luggage?
What's the most unusual thing you've packed?
Have you ever stood in-line and sweated about something being discovered in your luggage?
What's the most unusual thing you've packed?
A whole Stilton cheese, in multiple wrappings to try and hide the "aroma". Made it through.
Nov 20th 2003, 4:10 pm
#5
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Fishy!!
On my trips to Paris (both by air and on the Eurostar), I have brought back fish.
I usually buy it on the day I depart, wrap it very well in newspaper and pop into my suitcase (hardsided variety). I've never had a problem with anybody, inc. customs.
I had the same plan for my visit to NY in 97. I went down to South Street Seaport on Sunday morning at about 2.00am, hoping to buy fish but I was devasted to find that they didn't open on Sundays. Had the place been open, I would've bought some fish (whole fish with the head and tail on), wrapped it in newspaper and brought it with me back to the UK.
Other odd things I've packed in my suitcase on my travel inc. Japanese porn mags (not considered porn in Japan but if UK customs got their hands on the mags, I'd probably have got in trouble), jars of cassoulet weighing 3/4 kg each.
I did have the experience of travelling back to the UK this year just before Easter with my Easter eggs. At US customs, I was stopped and questioned. All my luggage, inc. hand luggage was x-rayed. It was kind of funny to see all the egg shapes in my suitcase.
I'm pondering whether or not it's worth trying to slip back into the US just before New Year with a haggis or not.
NC Penguin
I usually buy it on the day I depart, wrap it very well in newspaper and pop into my suitcase (hardsided variety). I've never had a problem with anybody, inc. customs.
I had the same plan for my visit to NY in 97. I went down to South Street Seaport on Sunday morning at about 2.00am, hoping to buy fish but I was devasted to find that they didn't open on Sundays. Had the place been open, I would've bought some fish (whole fish with the head and tail on), wrapped it in newspaper and brought it with me back to the UK.
Other odd things I've packed in my suitcase on my travel inc. Japanese porn mags (not considered porn in Japan but if UK customs got their hands on the mags, I'd probably have got in trouble), jars of cassoulet weighing 3/4 kg each.
I did have the experience of travelling back to the UK this year just before Easter with my Easter eggs. At US customs, I was stopped and questioned. All my luggage, inc. hand luggage was x-rayed. It was kind of funny to see all the egg shapes in my suitcase.
I'm pondering whether or not it's worth trying to slip back into the US just before New Year with a haggis or not.
NC Penguin
Nov 20th 2003, 4:22 pm
#6
I'm as thick as a plank!
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 360
Re: Anything to declare?
As it turned out, my keychain went through the x-ray machine undetected and I picked up my bag (with the penknife in) with no disruptions.
I was kind of shocked that the penknife wasn't spotted as there were at least two TSA employees peering at the screen as my bag passed through the x-ray machine.
NC Penguin
Nov 20th 2003, 4:31 pm
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Chicago, was in Ohio, Go Bucks
Posts: 366
Re: Anything to declare?
Originally posted by PrincessofWales
a friend of mine recently flew to London and back via Washington Dulles on BA, she realised on returning that she had a canister of mace hanging from her hand bag....that got through US and UK security screening....
a friend of mine recently flew to London and back via Washington Dulles on BA, she realised on returning that she had a canister of mace hanging from her hand bag....that got through US and UK security screening....
Nov 20th 2003, 4:35 pm
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,113
I always used to sweat it up the first few trips back to the UK, because I was so worried that the customs would charge me on all the clothes, records and other goodies I used to bring back that put me way over the small $140(I think) pound gift limit. I soon realised that they were more worried about yardies and drug smugglers to worry about my extra polo shirt 
Nov 20th 2003, 4:42 pm
#9
Never right in the head!
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,465
Re: Fishy!!
Originally posted by NC Penguin
On my trips to Paris (both by air and on the Eurostar), I have brought back fish.
I usually buy it on the day I depart, wrap it very well in newspaper and pop into my suitcase (hardsided variety). I've never had a problem with anybody, inc. customs.
I had the same plan for my visit to NY in 97. I went down to South Street Seaport on Sunday morning at about 2.00am, hoping to buy fish but I was devasted to find that they didn't open on Sundays. Had the place been open, I would've bought some fish (whole fish with the head and tail on), wrapped it in newspaper and brought it with me back to the UK.
Other odd things I've packed in my suitcase on my travel inc. Japanese porn mags (not considered porn in Japan but if UK customs got their hands on the mags, I'd probably have got in trouble), jars of cassoulet weighing 3/4 kg each.
I did have the experience of travelling back to the UK this year just before Easter with my Easter eggs. At US customs, I was stopped and questioned. All my luggage, inc. hand luggage was x-rayed. It was kind of funny to see all the egg shapes in my suitcase.
I'm pondering whether or not it's worth trying to slip back into the US just before New Year with a haggis or not.
NC Penguin
On my trips to Paris (both by air and on the Eurostar), I have brought back fish.
I usually buy it on the day I depart, wrap it very well in newspaper and pop into my suitcase (hardsided variety). I've never had a problem with anybody, inc. customs.
I had the same plan for my visit to NY in 97. I went down to South Street Seaport on Sunday morning at about 2.00am, hoping to buy fish but I was devasted to find that they didn't open on Sundays. Had the place been open, I would've bought some fish (whole fish with the head and tail on), wrapped it in newspaper and brought it with me back to the UK.
Other odd things I've packed in my suitcase on my travel inc. Japanese porn mags (not considered porn in Japan but if UK customs got their hands on the mags, I'd probably have got in trouble), jars of cassoulet weighing 3/4 kg each.
I did have the experience of travelling back to the UK this year just before Easter with my Easter eggs. At US customs, I was stopped and questioned. All my luggage, inc. hand luggage was x-rayed. It was kind of funny to see all the egg shapes in my suitcase.
I'm pondering whether or not it's worth trying to slip back into the US just before New Year with a haggis or not.
NC Penguin
Nov 20th 2003, 5:22 pm
#10
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Fishy!!
Originally posted by Yosser
so what exactly is inside a Japenese 'porn mag'.....is it kinky?
so what exactly is inside a Japenese 'porn mag'.....is it kinky?
NC Penguin
Nov 20th 2003, 5:56 pm
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Chicago, was in Ohio, Go Bucks
Posts: 366
I would like to declare my love for my wife.
Nov 20th 2003, 6:08 pm
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
I was a little worried about the 2 christtmas cakes I brought back to the US after my trip home in Sept... esp I fibbed at customs and told them I was only carrying chocolate.
Ash
Ash
Nov 20th 2003, 6:17 pm
#13
Never right in the head!
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,465
Originally posted by BritishInOhio
I would like to declare my love for my wife.
I would like to declare my love for my wife.
Nov 20th 2003, 7:13 pm
#14
C.G.D.S
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Ireland--->London--->Spain--->Rockport, MA
Posts: 3,353
I've had problems taking parsnips to Chicago on a few occasions. The last time they found three and let me keep one. As I pointed out it was all floppy and soft so was hardly going to cause any damage to the indigenous population.
Nov 20th 2003, 9:10 pm
#15
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,082
Re: Fishy!!
Originally posted by NC Penguin
Other odd things I've packed in my suitcase on my travel inc. Japanese porn mags (not considered porn in Japan but if UK customs got their hands on the mags, I'd probably have got in trouble),
I
NC Penguin
Other odd things I've packed in my suitcase on my travel inc. Japanese porn mags (not considered porn in Japan but if UK customs got their hands on the mags, I'd probably have got in trouble),
I
NC Penguin