A question for the security guys
 

Here is a question for the security guys ( I don't know if it is valid for this forum but feel free to move it to the correct one:) ).
The missus and I flew back to Dusseldorf yesterday from Dubai via Munich. We bought some perfume in duty free in Dubai which was all sealed in the original packaging. Transferring in Munich we had to go through security again ( which i personally believe is ridiculous ) they took away the sealed packages which were clearly labelled duty free Dubai but my wife was allowed to take through a half used bottle of perfume that was in a clear plastic bag!
Was the sealed perfume an early christmas present for the security guys or is there more danger in a sealed box than an open perfume spray?
Trying to explain the ridiculous nature of the "rules" nearly lead to our arrest:ugh:
Surely there should be some system to allow sealed duty free items which have presumably been security checked to be allowed through other airports on your journey.
So a couple of nice duty free gifts for relatives turned out rather expensive:(

Millerman, whilst I can sympathise with you about your predicament, I can't for the life of me figure out why you expect the Security Dipsticks to frequent what is essentially a pilots website. I mean, if it was 'ThePilotsAndAnyoneWithARemoteInterestInAviation,IncludingSec urityNumptiesAndTheirIlk,EspeciallyAnyoneWhoIsOrderedByTheDf tToDoSomethingAndNotGivenAnyDiscretionBecauseTheyAreNotTrust edThemselvesAndProbablyDon'tHaveTheIqAnywayWebsite' then I could understand you asking your question on here. :rolleyes:

Because having seen previous threads on a similar issue there have been people replying who are obviously involved in the security side of things! Which is also why I asked for it to be moved to the correct forum as I wasn't sure where it should go :=
I admit it was a bit of a shot in the dark and also a chance for me to vent some steam after coming across such :mad: idiots:)

Nice link CB!:E

Security Numpty here. Seems it causes offence to some of the people on this site that this numpty has brains enough to access it never mind post a reply.
The reason I use it as it is very informative and if it wasn't for some of the individuals with such a high and mighty attitude then it would be a greater pleasure to use. CB

Noodnik
Can you actually answer the original questions or were we just singled out for some extremely poor treatment?

This is another anomally of the security regimes throughout europe, I regularly transit through Bergen(for a domestic destination) and on arrival there you can buy duty free and continue on your way however I had not bought any until the very helpful duty free guy pointed out that if I wanted some and wished to continue to the aforementioned domestic destination they would simple seal the goods in a transparent bag with the receipt showing, I was a bit dubious at first but it works, a very sensible and common sense approach if you ask me.

i cant really coment on other countries procedures but when you bought your duty free they should have given it to you in a clear sealed tamper proof plastic bag with the reciptclearly on view. that way you should be able to take it through any europien countrys transfer lounge.

Dear Noodnik

if it wasn't for some of the individuals with such a high and mighty attitude then it would be a greater pleasure to use.

Sounds like the experience I have (too) often have when meeting you and your co-workers during my regular use of airports.

Dear Millerman

In answer to your question.

1. Most duty free shops don't care if you have the goods confiscated they just want the sale.

2. Common sense is the answer to the sealed box part.

3. Don't get stroppy when going through security. The security staff are just following rules laid down by the airport authorities/ government agencies and they're not allowed to use common sense or they get their a***s kicked.

Noodnik - good of you to stick it out and put up with the narrow-minded comments above. I suspect there are not many airport security staff who frequent here, for several reasons.

Millerman - a few too many unknowns in your post, I feel?

Going through security at MUN: often happens when changing airlines, where your luggage is not checked through or where the screening is at the gate. It is not unusual to have to go through 2 sets of screening at some airports.

Was your purchase in containers of less than 100ml and 'presented' in a clear, sealed plastic bag? If not, you really cannot complain.

Noodnik answers another of your queries at 2

Answer 3: I'm fairly sure that some of the 'decisions' made by crew (in accordance, of course, with their orders/instructions) might annoy Noodnik if he/she were travelling as a pax. <and they're not allowed to use common sense or they get their a***s kicked.> - bit like crew, really? "No sir/madam, you cannot drink your own alcohol". Is there any point in Noodnik having a spat about that?

NB: Not directed at Millerman

No, it is not fun trying to operate in this environment. Yes, I would like to see more rapport and humanity in screening, but it is not going to happen, and shouting, screaming and kicking toys out of prams will not help.

When I buy duty free in Stavanger, I'm always asked if I've got an onward flight, so I wouldn't buy it if I did.

Rules are rules, and are plain and obvious for all to see. I have some (quite a lot actually) sympathy for the occasional flyer, but people who fly regularly or read these forums know the current situation, whether or not they agree with it, so shouldn't attempt to take liquids through security. (Although I'm unclear whether the plastic bag should be taken out or your hand baggage for screening).

Finally, I've never had a bad experience with a security numpty, I work on the principle that if you are nice and friendly to them, they will be nice and friendly back (actually, 25 years ago there was an immigration officail in Libya, who was a total prat when the immigration card was updated, but the translation wasn't, and just ripped it up when it was filled in wrongly and sent you back for another card)

Flagon,
I flew Lufthansa on both legs. Anyone who has been through Dubai knows security is pretty tight. The reason I had to go through security was that we arrived in section H and the connection was in section G. If the connection was in section H I would not have had to go through security again!
Anyone who knows me would say that I am a calm and reasonable man but the attitude of the security staff was arrogant and surly from the beginning. We were rushing to catch the connection and were slightly surprised to have to go through security again. We had a couple of cans of drink in our bag which I had no problem with them taking ( I had forgotten they were there) but these were snatched out of my hands and thrown away in a completely unnecessary manner.
All the perfume bottles were less than 100ml and they were also snatched away - it was at this point that we started to get a bit upset -we didn't shout or swear - just tried to point out the ridiculous nature of the situation. The reaction was to ignore us and then call the police over when we wouldn't "go away".
The irony is that on the way out my wife had left a half empty bottle of perfume in her bag which we were willing for the security guard to confiscate but he just said that it was ok and put it in a clear plastic bag for us!!! It is this different interpretation of the rules that confuse everybody and they seem to change every week:confused:
I know people do have bad days but courtesy would make things move a lot smoother

Millerman.....the point is that there is no joined-up thinking on this problem . I find it hard to believe that it is beyond the wit of the people concerned to come up with a workable solution in international travel . Why can't the airport managers , airline managers , security managers and the rest (leaving out politicians) make simple rules , including sealed duty free packs and other common items , easily transportable over borders . They've had five years now to do this but the galling point is that WE are paying their salaries , paying for the duty free goods and in effect paying for them to be taken away from us !!!!! lunatics , asylum , taken over , have , the - comes to mind here and we both know about that sort of management , don't we ?

We certainly do zed3:ugh: We have to keep smiling though :)
You would have thought something would be worked out though!

Travelling back through Manchester T3 yesterday, my wife suffered at the hands of two of these mindless security morons.

Whilst I passed through still wearing my belt and shoes without a problem, my wife was asked, no ordered, to remove her shoes for x-ray and walk barefoot on a cold tiled floor. She requested some disposable paper slippers, but that produced no answer from the moron. She also asked if the floor was clean...again no answer.
Not to leave it there, the moron then requested that she take her cardigan off for x-ray. She objected, as the area is quite cold, which only produced the muttered comment "We have to work here. We are tired of complaints from you lot"

Not to finish there, she was subjected to an extremely thorough body frisk by a female operative, which my wife found very uncomfortable and the moron appeared to enjoy.

She had no such problems passing through Heathrow T1 and T2 the week before and now says she would rather transit any other airport than Manchester, as a result.

Interesting aside.

There is now a sign in the new bar, half way down pier C at Malaga that advises you that you can by all food and drink available from that outlet, to consume on your flight.

Should lead to some interesting arguments!

I can understand it's infuriating. The problem is that some airports, e.g. Schiphol, have responded to the issue of such a large variety of goods being available for purchase airside by moving security to immediately pre-gate. The new rules have no sensible solution for this, so at Schiphol and, I imagine, other similar airports, you can take the duty free through, even though everything else is in 100ml bottles in clear plastic. It is then very easy to fall foul of the supposedly same rules if you then connect in another airport.

It's a classic demonstration of lack of joined up thinking, I'm afraid :ugh:

Cheers,

Rich.

Ib4138
 

Dear oh dear, makes one wonder who is the real mindless moron.

TSR2
Unless you are the mindless moron I refer to, you have no idea as to what happened. Zip it, if you have nothing constructive to add.

Further enquiries have revealed that the particular white haired, balding, moustached, earing wearing, 60ish aged, person referred to, is well known for being an asshole with the public, crews and ground staff at MAN T3.

Why is he still in employment?

Answer
 

And the answer is:

- EU rules mean that you cannot transit an EU airport with any liquids in your hand baggage that have been purchased anywhere other than an EU country, Switzerland, Norway or Iceland. These same goods have to have been bought after passport control, on the same day, and remain sealed. So therefore, liquids bought duty free in Dubai cannot be transited through any airport in any of the above countries. There are stricter restrictions on connections to USA flights.

Personal perfumes, etc, can be carried. So, a permissible alternative would have been to open the perfume, throw away the box, put it in the sealable bag, assuming all volume restrictions are met. No use for a present.

Quite well explained here>

http://www.swiss.com/web/trip-planne...regulation.htm