American Pilot Upsets Australian Airport Staff & Authorities
 

Just heard an American 777 FO with EK causing grief to Australian airport authorities and EK ground staff in Sydney recently after arriving from BKK. Apparently he was arguing with ground staff and authorities as to why there were no dedicated crew channels in Sydney. Why do most of us behave appropriately when confronting another country's rules and regulations and one idiot has to spoil it for the rest of us and what makes him think that he is above the authorities just because he wears a pilot's uniform. We all may have gripes about our companies and others but to behave like a 3 year old when representing your company in official capacity is just plain stupid. Just for the record, a few days later, another 777 crew had all their baggage checked which took up to 2 hours. There are some people you can upset but others you should not piss off. Thanks mate for your inconsiderate actions!!!:=

Well thank god it was an american and not an arab!

This said, shouldn't there be a separate crew channel though?

While I agree that this was not the way to go about it, Australian immigration and customs are just as backward as those of Bengladesh, the only thing missing at australian airports is the PA at Zia international in arrivals.

Mustapha Rex,
I think you are missing the point big fella!:confused:
Also, I gather you have not been to Bangladesh recently. I will take my chances with Oz.

He wouldn't be trying something like that in New York, would he?
I guess not ....
Some people never learn!

Andreas.

just fly from SYD to CHC and compare the friendliness of the immigration staff, the kiwis are super friendly and the ozzies behaive just like dickheads, to check the crew luggage for 2 hrs just shows the caliber of the people working there.

Fatigueflyer, I am not sure who is missing the point...

I would expect this type of handling in DAC but not in the developped world or a country that says it is developped: Australia.

Then again assuming that you are Australian, this one will fly right by you!

DAC anytime over SYD or any OZZIE station, the most backward customs ever seen in my flying career, beet the poms hands down matie! That is one title we can gladly give them without any qualms.

And I agree with goretex, the guy in NZ know what it's all about and it shows...maybe Australians need to learn a few things before they start telling the world how to do it.

The Arabs like Australians....that is why they paid a million BD a year to one to run GF into the ground and EY poached him to run them also into the ground.
Top tip....Hedge your fuel bill.

Why not just say " an EK 777 F.O."? Why does this have to be an issue of nationality? Rude, arrogant, and stupid people come from every country. Remember the 10% rule. Unfortunately for those of us from the States Bush is in the 10% :ugh:

Again, that is assuming this guy was in the wrong. I once made a request to Brisbane immigration when our entire crew were going thru one dedicated lane after returning from Auckland. You know, the one where you are dead tired after multiple time zone changes They were taking about 5 minutes per crew member for some unknown reason. A large number of other counters were open and manned with no passengers waiting. The request I made was reasonable and stated nicely. The response received was sarcastic and rude. I let it go, but I could see how someone might get a little angry at them if they made the same type of response.

Typhoonpilot

Typhoonpilot
 

Ok all you morans! learn from TP, he is the best pilot and surely knows how to control himself at odd situations.
And does not get irritated at all.
"it's in the air= it's me, me, me & only me who is the best"
good job TP
INV

Worse, is very often you do nothing to piss them off in AUS they are just overzealous faggets in shorts and long socks, who have nothing else to do when the SYD gay parade is not on!

It seems more like they are trained to give you hastle over nothing.

Through experience have learnt that arguing with security, immigration or customs personnel at airports is a huge faux pas. These people are very powerful and they should be treated with caution and respect. Not just for my own issues but because it will affect my colleagues as well later on.
I agree that it would be awfully nice to have a crew customs channel in OZ and all other airports we fly to, but alas its not to be. Please remember that Ozzie (and most other nationalities) customs rules, albeit very strict, are not made by the staff at the airport. They, like many other people, have to do their job to the best of their abilities, probably during long and stressful hours and with facilities that may be lacking. I have never had any Ozzy airport staff member be discourteous to me at any stage of my career in EK. A smile and a thank-you does wonders too. (FWIW I'm European not Ozzie)

This is PPprune - a rumour site - so what's written should be taken with a pinch of salt. I cannot confirm if the F/O involved was American (or indeed if he really had an argument), however, if true, he should be ashamed of himself since he would have been wearing an EK uniform and put everybody else in a bad light.
As for the utter lack of basic manners shown by the security and immigration staff at Kennedy Airport, my comments here would probably earn me a black mark from the moderator, so I'll desist. :mad:

Three Rudest Security custom stations in world.

1. JFK :E

2. LHR :E :O

3. SYD :E

Where is HRW?

Possibly LHR, you mean?

HRW
 

:ok:stands for Hind Rear Wally an abbreviation for any airport in astralia

Sorry Guy's
 

Must dissagree with JFK being the rudest customs people in the states.
MIA tops the list with CLT right behind. I personnaly find JFK guys/gals to be quite decent.

the solution is to sit on the floor with all your crew in the most relaxed posture while they rummage through your stuff and make you wait....maybe even a quick snorey snooze to counter some jetlag...maybe pull out a deck of cards...
i've done it and they couldn't wait to be done with me.

Sorry I find that Customs officials are like policemen. The nicer you are to them the nicer they are back. You be a prick and they will be a prick 10 times over back. Just chill out and roll with the punches, cos really what difference does an extra bit of time waiting gonna make, and getting all high and mighty and saying that you should be treated differently to everyone else is not going to get you anywhere other than the back of the queue.


By the way, haven't there been some well publicized cases of airline crew trying to take in things they shouldn't have, so as such shouldn't they be put under at least as much scrutiny as the paying punters?

Hook, you state this....

''Through experience have learnt that arguing with security, immigration or customs personnel at airports is a huge faux pas. These people are very powerful and they should be treated with caution and respect''

I agree with you to a point. But I think you should have said............ 'APPEAR to treat them with respect''.

I have always 'appeared' to treat customs officials with respect but in some stations, and OZ always fulfills this requirement, THEY are a bunch of clowns !! I have the utmost respect for Ozzies in general, much to the disagreement of my peers, but their customs and immigration morons have a general lack of respect for aircrew. I show them respect, yet they treat our crew like we are criminals. It annoys me, yet I refrain from giving them an excuse to persecute us further. I truly believe it comes down to a jealousy issue with them. They view us as having this glorious lifestyle, which clearly is not the case, and as such give us a hard time when entering OZ on a daily basis. Its much the same as the way Canadian immigration and customs treats aircrew, in my opinion. Just wait till EK has to deal with immigration at Toronto airport. Its a joke and i'm totally certain that there will be some issues in the near future there.

Everyone talks about a lack of 'aircrew' line at some airports. Just wait till you get in line with 4 other airline crews in Toronto, with one customs officer, and then you will wish you could be afforded the relative comforts of OZ. haha. I truly believe these high school flunk outs, are just waiting to take advantage of crew after a 14 hour flight.

I have no doubt this US pilot just lost it when confronted with stupidity. I don't blame him at all, I can totally understand his frustration. Sadly, he will lose in the end, in spite of the fact that he may have been correct to admonish someone who quite frankly, is an 'idiot in a customs uniform.'

At least in Mombai, or Lahore or Damascus, they treat us aircrew with a certain amount of respect. Yes, it is not always warranted but at least that is the starting point when they greet us. Sadly, some places like OZ, Canada and many US ports, that is not the generally the case.

My attitude is this........... pretend to respect them, do as they wish, and then have a good laugh about them when you leave. Generally speaking customs and immigration workers are uneducated, ignorant, 'trailor-park trash' individuals, but that is just my opinion based upon interactions I have witnessed with aircrew.

I don't give a rats ass if anyone disagrees with me, I have seen these morons in action with aircrew, and it makes me laugh. Just smile, give them that condescending look and walk away after complying with their wishes. They live in a different reality than the rest of us, and nothing we say or do will change their point of view with respect to aircrew. Don't give them an excuse to abuse you further.

Bit you Lip
 

Unfortunately, an inbred corporate cultural of being superior to any mere mortal, pilot included, has been allowed to thrive.

Yes anybody with some sense could conduct themselves in a professional manner and provide an efficient passport checking procedure, but that’s wishful thinking.

Don’t lower yourself, stand in line and show no fear..

The only thing about Australian Customs that needs change are the fines for ignorant assholes who would through arrogance and stupidity ruin a mostly pest free environment that supports some of the worlds finest agriculture.

Dont screw our mangos and bananas. Dont like the rules, dont go there. (And where did I first learn that phrase?)

Hang em up with piano wire Johnny and rubber dick them all.