Traveling through airport? Do you get pulled over alot by customs?

[FandangoKango]

So do you get pulled over alot by customs when you come back to the us if you travel more than 3 times a year?

[download3000]

not sure but am about to travel out of the country for the 1st time in my life to south america, i am taking alot of stuff to giveaway i hope customs does not pull me over :/

[GreenBean]

@download, you should not have too much trouble.

Before you pack, check your gifts are acceptable.

All airlines have a Dangerous Goods list. (seriously)
Make sure you have nothing that is on it. eg, perfumes should not have a high alcohol %
TSA has stringent requirements as to what is acceptable.

TSA: Prohibited Items

There's nothing worse than being denied permission to fly & it could affect travellers' insurance claims

[GTB]

suprised everyone don't get stopped

i remember a month or two ago on way to this theme park the lady on the train was interrogated by customs and she was only going over for a wedding, and she looked like a sweet lady, not a terrorist so goin on that it seems like the US is a tough place to get into

[GTB]

most form of liquids are banned from flights

ink cartridges are even banned from airplanes now

if you sell them they need to be sent by land

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by FandangoKango

So do you get pulled over alot by customs when you come back to the us if you travel more than 3 times a year?

Going to depend on what destinations you are visiting and returning from....

Frequent trips to Colombia might raise a flag (or 3).

Trips across the pond to England or Europe might not.

Each passenger is assessed. Your passport, wether it's US or foreign, gets scanned into a world wide data base. Anything strange is flagged and a passenger is profiled.

Customs or Immigration may speak to a passenger based on that

[GTB]

and don't smuggle owt back fandango

i saw you on banged up abroad

[rsot]

Heh the only posters are folx who are not living permanently in the US - ironic yet funny =)

[FandangoKango]

Lol, you guys are funny.

[oompaloompa]

can anyone tell me why the laptop case is always checked, every time, the laptop is opened? does this happen to everyone? Also they always write something down on a clipboard after the search, I asked why few times and told it was 'routine'......

shall I tell you what was funny last time, him checking the buggy with mini in it and getting kicked violently in the face by 2 year old shouting 'bad man'.....

[GTB]

^^^^^ LOL i know all two well about violent 2 year-olds lol

i got one

he's a reet little bruiser,one tough cookie,he beats his elder siblings up all the time

talk about the terrible two's

[rsot]

Laptop case is checked because the linings can be fitted to hold cocaine, other illegals stuff, explosive putty, etc. Same for laptop - they write down the number of electronic things checked...figure most of it is to prove that these customs "officers" are not sitting around looking pretty...

[RedShootingStar]

I dont want to thread bomb, but this site is interesting to see some weird sh!t people try to sneak past customs.....

Weirdest stuff stopped at customs

[GreenBean]

I detest flying into LAX same time as any of the Asian flights are landing.

What they try to bring in is unbelievable.
Sniffer dogs go into melt down.

[RedShootingStar]

Originally Posted by GreenBean™

I detest flying into LAX same time as any of the Asian flights are landing.

What they try to bring in is unbelievable.
Sniffer dogs go into melt down.

Can you expand on this lol......

[jeffweico]

Originally Posted by GreenBean™

I detest flying into LAX same time as any of the Asian flights are landing.

What they try to bring in is unbelievable.
Sniffer dogs go into melt down.

I detest flying into LAX because it is LAX....

Seriously, one of the worst airports in the country!

[jbluntz]

I detest flying period, unless I have plenty of floor space where I can roll around and foam at the mouth.

[FandangoKango]

It would suck to get your laptop checked by customs and they see you have 50 user account with different names lol. You could really be in some trouble! lol

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by RedShootingStar

Can you expand on this lol......

Korean Airlines flight arrived in same time as mine.

Air India flight as well

( take note of the airlines)

In all 11 international flights down and requiring processing.....

Baggage carousel slowly moving. Now flights get directed to certain carousels usually.

The sniffer dogs, little beagles AND bigger labs, all dressed neatly, are SO ready. Sniffs sniff there as they go past suitcase, poorly wrapped cardboard boxes that have been used as luggage. Independently two dogs drop by luggage. That's it. Not moving anywhere. Not being called off on command.
Message from the dogs is 'This is mine ,Master'.

A total of 7 passengers eventually come to the bags. One was a Korean family and the other Indian.....
Usual exchange 'is this your luggage etc etc etc.' They dont want to open the luggage. It's just presents, clothes yada yada yada.

Dogs meanwhile are eyeing them off to make sure they aint going to get 'that' case.... bear in mind these dogs are so laid back & always eager to do their duty.

Finally, luggage opened.... in the case of the Air India flight, the case is FULL of neatly wrapped presents. (Was Christmas etc). The dog has a hissy fit over 2 parcels....parcels get opened, get checked. First glance it looks like spices. Nope, nearly 2lbs of opium all wrapped in it.

The Korean case.... a casserole dish full of their wonderful kimchee. 99% of the passengers had hysterics of laughter.
Dogs ARE so proud of themselves.

Clearng that day took nearly 4 hours of fun

[Gamefreak]

Never had any issues with customs. family on the other hand not so lucky.

[FandangoKango]

Originally Posted by Gamefreak

Never had any issues with customs. family on the other hand not so lucky.

What happened to the family?

[Gamefreak]

Pulled over and search. Always embarrassing to have those idiots feeling you up and having everyone watch you like its a prono film in the making.