Load Toad
23rd Jul 2007, 10:41
My aged parents arrived in Hong Kong today 23rd July from Paris on AF188 having transferred from an AF flight from Manchester earlier in the day.
Being aged they made a couple of errors; on arriving at Manchester they had too many toiletries in their carry on and duly had then confiscated. Toothpaste and shaving cream. Whatever.
At Manchester they asked the Duty Free shop if they could take duty free through Paris to HKG.
They were told yes and duly bought three bottles.
On arriving in Paris and transferring - they were searched again - including my fathers walking stick - the three bottles were confiscated as they were told they were not in sealed bags. They had a receipt showing they had been bought that day - the confiscating security type people would not issue a receipt and said the only option was to call the police. Being short on connection time my parents wanted - but did not have time - to do this.
I thought - that you could take DF through flight transfer if it was purchased on the same day - and it was unopened? Is this not the case.
Some of these 'security measures' seem to have nothing to do with security - and everything to do with theft.
My parents - being a bit old are quite put out - they lost 30 quids worth of presents (DF) - they were either given incorrect information - or they were ripped off - or they didn't understand the system.
Anyway - kind of spoiled their day and they won't be using Air France or Paris again. That won't be a big deal to Paris or CDG I suppose even if my parents tell al their friends they were ripped off.
Being aged they made a couple of errors; on arriving at Manchester they had too many toiletries in their carry on and duly had then confiscated. Toothpaste and shaving cream. Whatever.
At Manchester they asked the Duty Free shop if they could take duty free through Paris to HKG.
They were told yes and duly bought three bottles.
On arriving in Paris and transferring - they were searched again - including my fathers walking stick - the three bottles were confiscated as they were told they were not in sealed bags. They had a receipt showing they had been bought that day - the confiscating security type people would not issue a receipt and said the only option was to call the police. Being short on connection time my parents wanted - but did not have time - to do this.
I thought - that you could take DF through flight transfer if it was purchased on the same day - and it was unopened? Is this not the case.
Some of these 'security measures' seem to have nothing to do with security - and everything to do with theft.
My parents - being a bit old are quite put out - they lost 30 quids worth of presents (DF) - they were either given incorrect information - or they were ripped off - or they didn't understand the system.
Anyway - kind of spoiled their day and they won't be using Air France or Paris again. That won't be a big deal to Paris or CDG I suppose even if my parents tell al their friends they were ripped off.