Clearing customs as a non rev...

[skypine69]

Us customs agents are the biggest a$$holes on the planet. I get grief almost everytime i come back to the states as a nonrev. Everytime I leave i get treated great by customs agents overseas...almost makes me want to stay!

 

[JustaNumber]

I once was going through EWR customs after non-reving in the PAX line but with my company ID around my neck (had it under my sweater during the flight but took the sweater off when we landed) and the customs guy asked if I was a crew member. I said no and he then said I needed to take off my ID or he would fine me X amount of dollars. I started to ask why but I thought why bother. I can't imagine what rule he was referring to.

There is a fairly new customs rule (as of about a year or two ago, at least in ATL), where pilots/airport employees inbound on a flight subject to customs inspection must not display an ID tag, versus employees allowed to be in the area but not subject to inspection must display the ID. I guess it helps them keep straight whether they can harass you about contraband fruit or not.

 

[ifly4food]

There is a fairly new customs rule (as of about a year or two ago, at least in ATL), where pilots/airport employees inbound on a flight subject to customs inspection must not display an ID tag, versus employees allowed to be in the area but not subject to inspection must display the ID. I guess it helps them keep straight whether they can harass you about contraband fruit or not.

That came about because someone (not a crew member, airport employee) got waived through customs based on an ATL SIDA badge when they were subject to inspection because the customs agent thought they were "just passing through". So in typical government knee jerk reaction, punish everyone instead of the agent who screwed up. Because we know that government employees are above the law and above reproach.