Take NO duty free into MCO !

Hi

Arrived yesterday off the VS015 and ALL liquid duty free was confiscated by the TSA at the security check at the top of the stairs in the satellite.

Why .... don't know. Only know you can't win an arguement with the TSA. I did think about pouring it out onto the carpet and saying "If I can't have it - neither can you" but after a delay at LGW and what seemed like a really long flight, I couldn't be bothered.

Just as well it was only a bottle of Moet and not Krug !!

David. [:(!]

Sorry to hear that David. We flew in just 3 weeks ago and there was no security check at the top of the stairs, they were just waving us through straight on to the monorail. DH took a bottle of JD through with no problems, I wonder what changed?

There was nothing in May, but its back. Don't know if its something to do with the security level being raised (to Orange ??) or just some jobsworth, but I bet it created a lot of unhappy bunnies !

The boy who was loading the bags onto the conveyor, outside immigration did say something about liquids in hand luggage, but I was first through and on a mission to get my car, so didn't really pay much attention till I was stopped at the top of the stairs.

David

I arrived into MCO last Wednesday with no problems.
However, Miami had big security issues yesterday, so it was probably a knock on effect from that.

When I flew into MCO in November there was no secondary security screening on arrival before you get on the monorail (thank god - that used to be a right pain in the backside after a transatlantic flight). You just walked straight through the deserted security screening area & into a sort of "sterile channel" that the TSA had created to get you onto the monorail without coming into contact with other passengers.

Admittedly, all the duty free that I had bought in MAN fitted in my hand luggage, so the TSA could not see if I had any liquid duty free. I did ask the guys who put the bags onto the conveyors after customs if duty free items were OK in hand luggage & he said yes.

As others have said, I bet there were a lot of unhappy people off the incoming international flights at MCO yesterday.

[fozzyo]

Wait, let me get this right. People bought some Duty Free at Gatwick or on the plane. They few across the Atlantic with it in the cabin with them, not problems there. And then when they arrived at Orlando it was all confiscated? I really can't see the logic here.

Originally posted by fozzyo
Wait, let me get this right. People bought some Duty Free at Gatwick or on the plane. They few across the Atlantic with it in the cabin with them, not problems there. And then when they arrived at Orlando it was all confiscated? I really can't see the logic here.

Anything that was liquid, yes. Logic in that ? No, but thats the TSA for you.

As I said, for some reason it seemed like a long flight, and I wasn't up for an arguement, but I am sure many others were. I was through pretty quick, but seen very few others collecting bags or cars, you can only assume that there was a "bit" of a hold up at the satellite.

It will be interesting to find out the rest of the story.

David

[Nottingham Nick]

For me, the big question here is Did VS and / or BAA know this was going to happen? .

If the answer is yes, then they must be on very dodgy legal grounds by continuing to sell duty free liquids to pax.

If the answer is no, then there is a monumental break down in communications somewhere - either by the TSA to the UK authorities or by the TSA to the staff who took it upon themselves to liberate the liquids from innocent purchasers.

Also, were you given any opportunity to reclaim your property when you left the US? Assuming that most pax were Brits who would be leaving from the same airport to go home within a week or two.

Nick

Ridiculous, I've not seen anything about liquids in the news or on internet so obviously no warning and presumably Virgin were not aware of the new measures.

If you bought liquids on the aircraft and then had it confiscated would you be able to get your money back from Virgin[?]

I always like to buy a nice expensive bottle of perfume and my husband buys some nice smelly from Duty Free for the holiday. I'm not sure I will risk it now.[:(]

Don't suppose Duty Free at the U.K. airports are going to be too impressed, their revenue is going to be down once this gets out[n]

thelaceys

So has this been reported to VS? Even though it's not their fault, they should be trying to find out what the situation is and update their customers.

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

If the answer is no, then there is a monumental break down in communications somewhere - either by the TSA to the UK authorities or by the TSA to the staff who took it upon themselves to liberate the liquids from innocent purchasers.

I "think" this is more like the case, as there was a bit of chat between them as the conversation went along the lines of "There's a bottle in this one" - "Oh ... well... em I have to take it out then" - to me "Got some bad news for you"

Also, were you given any opportunity to reclaim your property when you left the US? Assuming that most pax were Brits who would be leaving from the same airport to go home within a week or two.

Nick

No attempt was made to offer an opportunity to reclaim anything. Remember I was first off, and so it was all a bit adhoc with plenty of confused looks.

Will email Virgin, just for there info, but won't hold my breath.

Anyone got an address that might get noticed and responded to quicker ?

thanks

David

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6243137.stm
Wonder if it has anything to do with this?

-Steve

I had to fly from Antigua to Toronto and back last weekend, a real pain of a journey involving six separate AA flights over three days.

I transited through San Juan and Boston going north and Miami and San Juan going south. Each leg had different rules for duty free, in ANU my purchase had to be delivered to the plane (if you've been there you know how small the place is, the woman walked with me to the aircraft carrying my bottle of Rum). TSA in San Juan wouldnt allow the rum in my carry on (which was my only luggage) so I checked the bag (fair enough).

However I was allowed to carry on a bottle of cologne I purchased at Duty Free...where the hell is the logic there, a determined extremist could get their liquids into the terminal and bypass TSA, I thought the logic was to prevent liquids getting onto the plane.

Boston I had to check the Bag, no problem there.

Then returning I carried on the bag as I had stripped it of all liquids (including the cologne that I had purchased without thinking about the return trip) only to find on arrival that there were some toiletries (shampoo and moisturiser) in my bag that I had forgotten were there (so much for the screening by the TSA).

However I will say this, the TSA were very polite and friendly at every airport, even at San Juan when they found the Rum and one of them escorted me back to check in (mind you I did get a secondary search when I returned).

So top marks to the TSA and minus ten out of ten for AA who wont let a J ticketed passenger use their lounges unless you pay a fee (or are travelling to Europe or Asia)...my last minute ticket was more than it would cost me to fly VS to London in UC, tightwads. Saying that I only really needed a shower and a shave on the way back so it wasn't the end of the world.

We flew home from MCO on Saturday and the second security check wasn't being operated then and the threat level was 'orange'. Whatever happened, things changed from Sat to Mon. We had no problem taking duty free back on board to fly home either.

We had no trouble last week arriving at MCO last week with duty free liquids- security was tight leaving MCO last night though with lengthy queues and the TSA at their finest( and rudest).

oh dear! To take or not to take??? I only need a moisturiser and perfume do i chance it?
I've just phoned Upper Class and a great guy put me on hold whilst he went to check with his supervisor and apparently they have no infomation on this what so ever and as far as Virgin are concerned it is fine to take duty free. Whats a girl to do? [:I]

From the TSA website

"If you purchase liquid duty-free items at an EU airport, those items will be permitted throughout the EU and other European security checkpoints if they are in the tamper evident bag.

On nonstop flights bound for the US, duty free liquids purchased in the EU are permitted only if they meet US requirements (delivered to the aircraft for passenger pick-up, bought on plane, or purchased after the security checkpoint).

If you are flying to the US and have a connecting flight, even duty-free liquids that meet US requirements will NOT be permitted through US security checkpoints. If you have a connecting flight, liquid duty free purchases must be placed in your checked baggage. Since you will be required to reclaim your checked bags prior to passing through customs inspection, you can place duty-free liquids into your bags and recheck it for your connection."

It might be worth taking a print out of their regulations with you


Mrs D

The usual issue that I'd expect is causing this is that arriving pax from a non-US jurisdiction (hence different rules) somehow get to mix with already screened departing pax.

It seems from the descriptions that this might happen sometimes, hence the additional screening on arrival - you're actually re-entering the restricted area.

Is the issue at MCO that you don't get your checked bag back between getting off the plane and getting on the train bit, but you do get mixed with the departing passengers, and therefore you would have "banned liquids" inside the restricted area?

Or do you have to claim, clear customs, and then recheck your bag, before getting on the train?

If it's the latter, slap your duty frees in the checked bag before getting the train.

If you're don't recieve your checked bag back until you've passed the checkpoint, then it seems like you're a bit stumped - the people staffing the checkpoint are stuck between a rock and a hard place. While you would normally be entitled to your duty free, they know/assume you will mix with already screened, departing pax beyond the checkpoint, and therefore can't let you keep it.

Basically, the airport design, probably from the 70s, isn't compatible with the current security regime, and was most likely never that compatible with international arriving pax in the first place.

When the security check hasn't been there, maybe you've been successfully segregated from departing pax.

Mike

Sounds to me as though they either thought this flight had mainly through pax or there was a jobs worth. Most of the time I find it isn't worth arguing with anyone related to the airport as 99% of the time even if you are in the right you will come of worse off, or even get thrown out or similar!

Paul

Originally posted by mike-smashing
Is the issue at MCO that you don't get your checked bag back between getting off the plane and getting on the train bit, but you do get mixed with the departing passengers, and therefore you would have "banned liquids" inside the restricted area?


Mike

Since late last year at Orlando they've provided a secure walkway to the train staffed by T.S.A. Officers to stop arriving passengers, and departing passengers mixing.

As a result of this, and as others have said the Secondary Screening at Orlando at the top of the stairs before the train had disappeared ... until now it would seem.

Sounds like it. Will be interesting to hear if anyone else has problems at MCO

AT least since August the secure walkway was in place.

Interesting to see that TPA, which has an almost identical layout to MCO doesn't mind its pax off the BA service from LGW mixing it with departing passengers once they have arrived!!!

The secondary screening was stopped in March of last year with the walkway put in place, so it's been quite a while now, I do hope that this was just a one off.

A small tip about Orlando which you may know is to get your hire car before you get your bags off the reclaim belt in the main terminal, especally if your cars booked with Dollar. or leave a adult member of the family to collect the luggage and the drivers go get the motor. Saves ages queing