Crew humiliation Mexican style
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Crew humiliation Mexican style
on arrival Mexico (Cancun), all foreign flight crew (and only crew)diverted to a cordoned off 'pen" to await a customs search. The actual search seemed a perfunctory "going through the motions" took 10-15 minutes, conducted in full view of passengers passing by, duty free bottles clinking, none of whom were searched. Interesting that resources can be found for this while Mexico is in the grip of a full-blown drugs war although I haven't experienced quite such targeted unpleasantness anywhere else in the world. Anyone know what it's all about?
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You must be new to CUN as they have been doing this for years in one way or another. Allegedly a response to UK border force routinely turning over Mexican crew, although I can't imagine what they would be looking for.
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Mexico City not much different.
On arrival, while pax go through the usual random style customs check, crew has their own channel where both checked and carry-on bags get x-rayed first en then also hand searched, all bags, every time, no exceptions.
On departure after having gone throughI think 2 security checks there is another check in the gate where every bag is thoroughly hand searched while somebody is videotaping that with his camera almost in your face. Very annoying..
On arrival, while pax go through the usual random style customs check, crew has their own channel where both checked and carry-on bags get x-rayed first en then also hand searched, all bags, every time, no exceptions.
On departure after having gone throughI think 2 security checks there is another check in the gate where every bag is thoroughly hand searched while somebody is videotaping that with his camera almost in your face. Very annoying..
As others have said both MEX and CUN customs have been tighter than a ducks ..with crew for years now.....basically we are advised to not carry in anything that could be construed by the officials as being up for resale whilst in the country - so only carry one laptop/iPad, be wary of taking valuable sporting equipment in, etc.....
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"Their rules.." That's hardly an explanation. Indeed it begs the question why a country suffering over 29,000 drug-related murders a year can find law-enforcement resources for a focused screw-around of one professional group.
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
con·flate
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verbverb: conflate; 3rd person present: conflates; past tense: conflated; past participle: conflated; gerund or present participle: conflating
- combine two or more ideas, etc. into one.
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As a US based crew member regularly going through the 'over the top' security screening, that crews are constantly subject to at Heathrow, I find it quite ironic hearing a UK crew member complaining about anybody else's procedures.
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They were doing that when I started going there circa 1995. Only thing that has changed since then is the standard of HOTAC which seems to change regularly.
You can probably guess which way the standard has gone.
You can probably guess which way the standard has gone.
"Their rules.." That's hardly an explanation. Indeed it begs the question why a country suffering over 29,000 drug-related murders a year can find law-enforcement resources for a focused screw-around of one professional group.
I too have been through this procedure in Cancun. It is frustrating but neither I nor my crew found it humiliating, but then we didn't consider ourselves as anything special.
Controversial, moi?
As a US based crew member regularly going through the 'over the top' security screening, that crews are constantly subject to at Heathrow, I find it quite ironic hearing a UK crew member complaining about anybody else's procedures.
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Last time through Cancun they advised me that I could not bring in my snorkel mask and fins.
The explanation given was that as I was entering as working aircrew,I could only bring in items pertinent to my reason for being there.
It occurred to me that a doctors note was called for,telling me that I should swim every day for my frozen shoulder!!!!
Further digging unveiled that I could indeed bring my fins and mask along however,a charge of 6% tax would be levied.
Therefore,any idea on the current value of a Decatlon children's mask and fins set?!!!!!!!
What a load of............
Also noted...they are only following orders,and a smile and cheerful attitude usually works wonders for a swift transit!
The explanation given was that as I was entering as working aircrew,I could only bring in items pertinent to my reason for being there.
It occurred to me that a doctors note was called for,telling me that I should swim every day for my frozen shoulder!!!!
Further digging unveiled that I could indeed bring my fins and mask along however,a charge of 6% tax would be levied.
Therefore,any idea on the current value of a Decatlon children's mask and fins set?!!!!!!!
What a load of............
Also noted...they are only following orders,and a smile and cheerful attitude usually works wonders for a swift transit!
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It is a very corrupt government at the federal level. Always has been, always will be.
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It would certainly be expected after such an event. As far as I know, outgoing crews go through normal screening on departure from the US. The crew screening for outbound crews is totally different at Heathrow. Many of my fellow crew members choose to go through passenger screening at Heathrow simply because it's less intrusive.
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"Since you're not Mexican.." if you're insisting issues affecting us can only be discussed by nationals of the country where it's happening, that's demonstrably NOT a pprune convention, witness about a zillion posts regarding various policies of President Trump. No, beardy I don't "consider myself special" but I'd still like to know the reason for a unique and time-consuming procedure being applied to crew but nobody else in a country where enforcement resources are stretched way past breaking-point.
The reason is that the customs officials are complying with the law of the country. You have no influence to change that law, one which complies with international conventions. You may not like it, I don't, but if you want to operate to and from there you will lower your blood pressure by just accepting that that's the way they do it .
IATA Mexico
IATA Mexico
Last edited by beardy; 16th Jun 2018 at 18:48.
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Council Van
True.
But that does not give the UK the right to be anal about it! And hold the rest of the world hostage to the " Liquid Ban" everyone was ready to drop ca 5 years ago.
Does it?
.
Oh , and good luck with speaking the truth in this matter. It is not popular.
But that does not give the UK the right to be anal about it! And hold the rest of the world hostage to the " Liquid Ban" everyone was ready to drop ca 5 years ago.
Does it?
.
Oh , and good luck with speaking the truth in this matter. It is not popular.
Ding ding ding! Very true.