AA 1671 - Cancun to JFK - Customs Issue
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AA 1671 - Cancun to JFK - Customs / Immigration Issue
Trying to get actual facts about what happened.
Here is a link to one of the many articles. Yet, they all seem to be vague, and contradict themselves, or simply quoting other sources.
Report: 150 Passengers On Flight From Mexico to NYC Skipped Customs - Breitbart
I understand it was reported that 150 passengers were on board and AA put the number in the 70's.
I read that the plane was given a domestic gate and that's where the breakdown of protocol started.
I've read they followed a gate agent to by-pass Customs.
I've read a quote from a passenger that they went to Customs but they were understaffed and allowed to leave.
I've read AA contacted the passengers and demanded and threatened them to come back to the airport without assisting these passengers for a mistake that they were involved with.....
So my point is, does anyone have any knowledge of these events to substantiate what really happened?
It seems like a major breach of protocol that no one wants to explain.
Anyone from JFK? AA? ATC? Passenger?
Here is a link to one of the many articles. Yet, they all seem to be vague, and contradict themselves, or simply quoting other sources.
Report: 150 Passengers On Flight From Mexico to NYC Skipped Customs - Breitbart
I understand it was reported that 150 passengers were on board and AA put the number in the 70's.
I read that the plane was given a domestic gate and that's where the breakdown of protocol started.
I've read they followed a gate agent to by-pass Customs.
I've read a quote from a passenger that they went to Customs but they were understaffed and allowed to leave.
I've read AA contacted the passengers and demanded and threatened them to come back to the airport without assisting these passengers for a mistake that they were involved with.....
So my point is, does anyone have any knowledge of these events to substantiate what really happened?
It seems like a major breach of protocol that no one wants to explain.
Anyone from JFK? AA? ATC? Passenger?
Last edited by letsjet; 25th Nov 2015 at 00:56.
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AFAIK, Customs is a formality.
It cannot be inferred that passengers or their possessions were illegal.
Unless the irregularity becomes 'regular' (when miscreants can plan to evade Customs), I suggest that the matter is allowed to rest, apart from taking steps that it doesn't recur.
Life is too short . . .
It cannot be inferred that passengers or their possessions were illegal.
Unless the irregularity becomes 'regular' (when miscreants can plan to evade Customs), I suggest that the matter is allowed to rest, apart from taking steps that it doesn't recur.
Life is too short . . .
Customs ... not so much
I suspect that the Customs side of this story is not nearly as significant as the Immigration aspects.
In this case it just seems like a massive FU ... AKA "system failure"
In Jakarta several years ago similar was linked to a major scam.
Passengers on mixed international / domestic flights from DPS => CGK were allowed to clear immigration or not, at there discretion or because of confusion and ignorance of these matters.
International passengers who walked out without clearing IMMIGRATION were subsequently and eventually subjected to threats of imprisonment and heavy (like $15,000) fines, whenever they then tried to leave the country.
In the end the fines were negotiable (say 50%) but, funnily enough, may not have made it into consolidated revenue.
In this case it just seems like a massive FU ... AKA "system failure"
In Jakarta several years ago similar was linked to a major scam.
Passengers on mixed international / domestic flights from DPS => CGK were allowed to clear immigration or not, at there discretion or because of confusion and ignorance of these matters.
International passengers who walked out without clearing IMMIGRATION were subsequently and eventually subjected to threats of imprisonment and heavy (like $15,000) fines, whenever they then tried to leave the country.
In the end the fines were negotiable (say 50%) but, funnily enough, may not have made it into consolidated revenue.
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Agreed...didn't mean to leave out Immigration... These people went through no checks and just walked out of the airport.
I would think, in light of recent events, this would get more traction.
I would think, in light of recent events, this would get more traction.
Nope. Not since it became part of DHS. If someone dropped the ball at JFK then some heads need to roll.
yes it can. That is the presumption under which the entire system is set up: you are suspect, show me what you've got or you can't enter the country.
You've been in the air travel business for how long?
Whether or not that (possessions and persons being illegal) is true doubtless boils down to cases, in terms of each passenger so neglected.
It cannot be inferred that passengers or their possessions were illegal.
You've been in the air travel business for how long?
Whether or not that (possessions and persons being illegal) is true doubtless boils down to cases, in terms of each passenger so neglected.
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If someone dropped the ball at JFK then some heads need to roll.
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In many airports there are dual purpose gates where by closing a door passengers are corralled toward Customs and Immigration and by not closing that single door they are released direct into the domestic terminal. Such a mistake is easy to understand. However, in this case the pax must have been at a totally domestic gate, or they would not have been able to retrieve their checked bags.
I read of pax receiving peremptory demands to return to JFK from Connecticut at their own cost to go through immigration. As it was their mistake AA should really be refunding costs.
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Yeah - it sometimes happens - twice in 10 years I landed at CDG from LHR, followed the signs and found myself on the street without passing Customs or Immigaration
unfotunately one time I had checked luggage which didn't follow me
No idea how and no doubt it happens occasionaly at just about any airport
unfotunately one time I had checked luggage which didn't follow me
No idea how and no doubt it happens occasionaly at just about any airport
Domestic Pax Directed to Customs
It happened to me on one flight. The glass door to domestic baggage claim was locked while the way to customs was open
People got on the phone to the airline and several minutes later a gate agent showed up to unlock the door
People got on the phone to the airline and several minutes later a gate agent showed up to unlock the door
International passengers who walked out without clearing IMMIGRATION were subsequently and eventually subjected to threats of imprisonment and heavy (like $15,000) fines, whenever they then tried to leave the country.
In the end the fines were negotiable (say 50%) but, funnily enough, may not have made it into consolidated revenue.
In the end the fines were negotiable (say 50%) but, funnily enough, may not have made it into consolidated revenue.
