American Pilot Upsets Australian Airport Staff & Authorities
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Racist and ridiculous comments aside....sorry my compatriots were embarassing.....sorry some of the expats from all places are embarrasing here in the gulf....and after 15yrs plus....trust me All nationalalities...fall into the embarrasing category....dare to differ???? bring it on!!!!
Join Date: Aug 1999
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I have only ever been treated well by Immigration in Perth, but wish I could say the same for Sydney. Same country.
As irritating as it is, there are some people it is just not worth pi$$ing off, so I don't. Like my barber. Last time I let him know what I thought of his views I ended up looking like a cue ball. Same with Immigration. Unless you want your bag upside downed and a body cavity search, bite your tongue lad.
As irritating as it is, there are some people it is just not worth pi$$ing off, so I don't. Like my barber. Last time I let him know what I thought of his views I ended up looking like a cue ball. Same with Immigration. Unless you want your bag upside downed and a body cavity search, bite your tongue lad.
Join Date: Jan 2000
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There'd be some EK captains willing to put money on a guess of the name of the FO in question.
... but putting that aside, BNE Customs is one of my pet bugbears. The Oz "Jack's as good as his master" attitude is fine tuned in the Sunshine State in the way they seem to positively relish putting crews who've worked for 12 or more hours, all too frequently back of the clock, and then have to line up behind many hundreds of pasengers.
Not having a crew lane in BNE would seem to be a conscious decision made by some senior (and in my opinion, misguided) Customs official who thinks he is being terribly clever in putting those stuck up aircrew firmly in their place.
A case of Oz tall poppy syndrome at its worst.
... but putting that aside, BNE Customs is one of my pet bugbears. The Oz "Jack's as good as his master" attitude is fine tuned in the Sunshine State in the way they seem to positively relish putting crews who've worked for 12 or more hours, all too frequently back of the clock, and then have to line up behind many hundreds of pasengers.
Not having a crew lane in BNE would seem to be a conscious decision made by some senior (and in my opinion, misguided) Customs official who thinks he is being terribly clever in putting those stuck up aircrew firmly in their place.
A case of Oz tall poppy syndrome at its worst.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I have to say SYD customs are without doubt the rudest bunch of people I have ever come accross. PER / BNE / MEL I have never had any problems with but SYD staff have got some serious attitude problems!!
I myself got into an arguement with those w**kers. Got in after a long flight and it was a very busy customs hall. Crew were deciding which baggage hall to go through as the one were our bags were was extremelly busy. A customs officer came racing out in front of all the passengers and began accusing the crew of pushing in, that they thought they were above themselves, that in Aussssstralia there ain't special treatment for crew and they can get to the back of the queue just like everyone else. Fine if they were pushing in but they hadn't even entered a queue as yet!
I felt it imperitive that I told the woman what I thought of her and her rude attitude. She threatened to have me arrested, told me I was in Australia now and she is a customs officer in Sydney Australia (she reminded me of this about 5 or 6 times!) when I laughed at her pathetic attitude she got even more enraged. Luckily one of the managers came and interupted this conversation we were having and I was sent to other Customs hall. As I was leaving she was still shouting and screaming at me.
Point of the story is they have serious attitude problems, and if it happens again I would do exactly the same and stand up for the crew. I have heard so many other stories of similar tales relating to this bunch in SYD, and funnily enough even from Aussie crew also. Regardless of what a 'special' country Australia is, with all its fight against pests and that bull, Customs officers especially in SYD are not god and have absolutely no right to treat crew like that when they have done nothing wrong.
3 worst Customs in the world:
1 - SYD
2 - LAX
3 - MIA
I myself got into an arguement with those w**kers. Got in after a long flight and it was a very busy customs hall. Crew were deciding which baggage hall to go through as the one were our bags were was extremelly busy. A customs officer came racing out in front of all the passengers and began accusing the crew of pushing in, that they thought they were above themselves, that in Aussssstralia there ain't special treatment for crew and they can get to the back of the queue just like everyone else. Fine if they were pushing in but they hadn't even entered a queue as yet!
I felt it imperitive that I told the woman what I thought of her and her rude attitude. She threatened to have me arrested, told me I was in Australia now and she is a customs officer in Sydney Australia (she reminded me of this about 5 or 6 times!) when I laughed at her pathetic attitude she got even more enraged. Luckily one of the managers came and interupted this conversation we were having and I was sent to other Customs hall. As I was leaving she was still shouting and screaming at me.
Point of the story is they have serious attitude problems, and if it happens again I would do exactly the same and stand up for the crew. I have heard so many other stories of similar tales relating to this bunch in SYD, and funnily enough even from Aussie crew also. Regardless of what a 'special' country Australia is, with all its fight against pests and that bull, Customs officers especially in SYD are not god and have absolutely no right to treat crew like that when they have done nothing wrong.
3 worst Customs in the world:
1 - SYD
2 - LAX
3 - MIA
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Very kind of you to offer black stain, how generous! Guess it has to be rubber coz you ain't got one.
Fortunately I only go there for work, would't step into the coutnry for all the gold in the world.
Any country with customs officers wearing shorts and long socks, that is built on the oppression of minorities and that can't have a character of it's own and an identity is no country for me.
Enjoy!
Surely you must have some shorts and long socks at home to impress your firends at week end barbeques.
Fortunately I only go there for work, would't step into the coutnry for all the gold in the world.
Any country with customs officers wearing shorts and long socks, that is built on the oppression of minorities and that can't have a character of it's own and an identity is no country for me.
Enjoy!
Surely you must have some shorts and long socks at home to impress your firends at week end barbeques.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Ozzies aside, nothing can put a damper to your day than waiting for hours in a danky little office until a customs officer you may have offended decides everything is in order and you are free to go.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Sydney
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Some local info re why there are no crew lanes in AUS
Despite numerous requests from the airlines through both the local Airline Operators Committees (AOC) and the Board of Airline Representatives Australia (BARA) to the Fed Govt, Customs and AQIS (Aussie Quarantine) have steadfastily refused to open dedicated crew channels at "the back of the hall" ie where you pass through with your bags to be X-Rayed. More often than not there is not even a reply, just a continous NO!
HOWEVER ...
Customs and the Prime Ministers department are about to do a trial for "fastracking" premium pax through the back of the hall, and as part of this it MAY be extended to Tech and Cabin Crews
It is still not dedicated crew channels, but at least we are moving in the right direction
Stay tuned for crew channels hopefully coming to an Aussie airport near you !
Despite numerous requests from the airlines through both the local Airline Operators Committees (AOC) and the Board of Airline Representatives Australia (BARA) to the Fed Govt, Customs and AQIS (Aussie Quarantine) have steadfastily refused to open dedicated crew channels at "the back of the hall" ie where you pass through with your bags to be X-Rayed. More often than not there is not even a reply, just a continous NO!
HOWEVER ...
Customs and the Prime Ministers department are about to do a trial for "fastracking" premium pax through the back of the hall, and as part of this it MAY be extended to Tech and Cabin Crews
It is still not dedicated crew channels, but at least we are moving in the right direction
Stay tuned for crew channels hopefully coming to an Aussie airport near you !
Someone mentioned JFK Customs. Always been curteous to myself, unlike the unfortunates who have passports from certain countries, who have to queue for hours with pax to be "interviewed" by some official. Often these unfortunates get to the hotel 2+hours after everyone else. I can't understand why the f**k these crew are able to get a visa issued at a US Embassy, and then go through more grief everytime they land.
And as for ATC at JFK, they are the absolute rudest, non standard muppets i have ever had the displeasure to talk to. The taxiways have obstructions everywhere, nice little blue poles to whack. Right thats better, off my chest
I have never had a prob in OZ, in Perth they are very nice in my experience. Treat 'em nice, and hopefully you will be.
EGGW
And as for ATC at JFK, they are the absolute rudest, non standard muppets i have ever had the displeasure to talk to. The taxiways have obstructions everywhere, nice little blue poles to whack. Right thats better, off my chest
I have never had a prob in OZ, in Perth they are very nice in my experience. Treat 'em nice, and hopefully you will be.
EGGW
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What was a F/O doing mouthing off about crew wanting special attention etc., at Australian airports. Surely when a crew are together shouldn't the spokes person be the Captain and Captain only. Or maybe it is CRM out of control and the F/O's are now more assertive and over riding the Captain's at this company.
Join Date: Jun 2005
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If you speak of my rectum, it is because it's the only thing that you will ever see and if you are kind enough I'll even spray you, so you won't forget the experience.
Kamel turd, the reason I post the way I do, is exactly to get the likes of you worked up, and see, it works.
Aussies for whoever they may be live with a set of values totally their own, constantly looking at their belly button for reassurance as if the world revolved around them.
Let me reassure you it does not. I don't come from Australia, I live very well thank you, and I don't need to be reminded of how tightly wrapped your head is in your flag.
As far as I know, there are no aussie restaurants around the world, but there are italian, lebanese, vietnamese, Japanese restaurants etc... in OZ, guess that speaks for your culture and the lack thereof.
If I recall properly, Gay parade is in Sydney not in Abu Dhabi. So surely you must be one of those guys parading there in skimpy shorts to show us your weak assets if any, since you have none for brains. Or was it your daddy?
Question: Did you get your CPL on a self propelled lawn mower? What was instrument rating like, looking at your quartz watch bought for $1.99 with your plastic shoes from a travelling aborigenous salesman?
Kamel turd, the reason I post the way I do, is exactly to get the likes of you worked up, and see, it works.
Aussies for whoever they may be live with a set of values totally their own, constantly looking at their belly button for reassurance as if the world revolved around them.
Let me reassure you it does not. I don't come from Australia, I live very well thank you, and I don't need to be reminded of how tightly wrapped your head is in your flag.
As far as I know, there are no aussie restaurants around the world, but there are italian, lebanese, vietnamese, Japanese restaurants etc... in OZ, guess that speaks for your culture and the lack thereof.
If I recall properly, Gay parade is in Sydney not in Abu Dhabi. So surely you must be one of those guys parading there in skimpy shorts to show us your weak assets if any, since you have none for brains. Or was it your daddy?
Question: Did you get your CPL on a self propelled lawn mower? What was instrument rating like, looking at your quartz watch bought for $1.99 with your plastic shoes from a travelling aborigenous salesman?
Join Date: May 2006
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Hello everyone.
I have an example of both customs and security at Melbourne airport. I am a police officer stationed at a suburban police station, which for those knowing Melbourne is not too far from Tulla. I read these posts as I hold a PPL and am interested in all types of aviation around the world. This will really make you shake your head. But before I go on I must say that most custom workers are people that could not get in to the police and as such have done something along the same lines albeit totally different. Now I am not saying that all customs are d...heads, but that they are there to do a job as best they can. It is true that out of 100 people there are going to be right w...ers, I bet just the same as in your industry, as it is in mine. You sit next to some of these people for 10 hours at a time and at the end of the day can rely on only comms being SOP calls and the like. It is the same for me, but I have to rely on these other people to at the end of the day save my life or at all times back me up without questioning whether he/she likes me or not, so we have a similar duty when working in a team environment.
This little tale still makes me angry when I pass through Mel. While driving the divvy van around, tending to drug addicts, violence etc there was an important job at the airport and it happened to be through the departure area of the international terminal. Not all the details had been passed on to us so we were un-informed to the nature of the job, other than it was quite urgent. Now on driving with the lights and sirens on at high speed and simply driving right up onto the footpath at Tulla and running into the terminal dressed as police with firearms and a blue uniform with the victoria police logo on it you would think that something was up. Well I guess most people would. Not Mel customs and security. I was running at a good pace through the departure hall at Mel and the customs people attempted to intercept me and my partner which was met with anger and a few choice words. On passing those select idiots, we ran through to the security area, where unbelievably I heard some of them say "they can't go through here with guns" and very delicately wanted us to hand over our guns etc. As you can imagine this was also met with such a distaste that it so happened one of the dill security officers ended up on his arse in shock.
My point is this. No matter where you go there will be morons. I spend the vast majority of my existance with them - crooks, not cops. The best thing to do is take a breath and try to relax. Also distance yourself from people that do not do this. People will always want to be pretend police, especially where there is some limited form of power, as in the customs hall. This is not just OZ but worldwide. I have seen it many times. I was once asked to produce my ID at the customs desk to confirm my occupation - which is defenately not required. I showed it and told the half wit at the desk that people like him will never do my job, as they will never be in a position to do yours. A profession is judged by the people in it. It is a shame that pilots etc do this in international terminals and that other people do also, but remember people prove themselves to be idiots as soon as they open thier mouths, so it is probably better to be quiet, I can guarantee you will be out of the arrivals hall sooner rather that later.
I have an example of both customs and security at Melbourne airport. I am a police officer stationed at a suburban police station, which for those knowing Melbourne is not too far from Tulla. I read these posts as I hold a PPL and am interested in all types of aviation around the world. This will really make you shake your head. But before I go on I must say that most custom workers are people that could not get in to the police and as such have done something along the same lines albeit totally different. Now I am not saying that all customs are d...heads, but that they are there to do a job as best they can. It is true that out of 100 people there are going to be right w...ers, I bet just the same as in your industry, as it is in mine. You sit next to some of these people for 10 hours at a time and at the end of the day can rely on only comms being SOP calls and the like. It is the same for me, but I have to rely on these other people to at the end of the day save my life or at all times back me up without questioning whether he/she likes me or not, so we have a similar duty when working in a team environment.
This little tale still makes me angry when I pass through Mel. While driving the divvy van around, tending to drug addicts, violence etc there was an important job at the airport and it happened to be through the departure area of the international terminal. Not all the details had been passed on to us so we were un-informed to the nature of the job, other than it was quite urgent. Now on driving with the lights and sirens on at high speed and simply driving right up onto the footpath at Tulla and running into the terminal dressed as police with firearms and a blue uniform with the victoria police logo on it you would think that something was up. Well I guess most people would. Not Mel customs and security. I was running at a good pace through the departure hall at Mel and the customs people attempted to intercept me and my partner which was met with anger and a few choice words. On passing those select idiots, we ran through to the security area, where unbelievably I heard some of them say "they can't go through here with guns" and very delicately wanted us to hand over our guns etc. As you can imagine this was also met with such a distaste that it so happened one of the dill security officers ended up on his arse in shock.
My point is this. No matter where you go there will be morons. I spend the vast majority of my existance with them - crooks, not cops. The best thing to do is take a breath and try to relax. Also distance yourself from people that do not do this. People will always want to be pretend police, especially where there is some limited form of power, as in the customs hall. This is not just OZ but worldwide. I have seen it many times. I was once asked to produce my ID at the customs desk to confirm my occupation - which is defenately not required. I showed it and told the half wit at the desk that people like him will never do my job, as they will never be in a position to do yours. A profession is judged by the people in it. It is a shame that pilots etc do this in international terminals and that other people do also, but remember people prove themselves to be idiots as soon as they open thier mouths, so it is probably better to be quiet, I can guarantee you will be out of the arrivals hall sooner rather that later.