Flight upgrades & customs

[trashcanman]

Hi all - a couple of questions for you...

1) On looking at the available seats on our American Airlines flight there appear to be a number of seats not yet booked in business class and even first class. Would you recommend being nice to check-in staff and asking about a possible upgrade? I'd obviously check the availability the day before the flight to make sure but thought I'd maybe say "Its our first trip to US and holiday of a lifetime etc......any chance of a bump?"

What do you think?

2) When returning through customs at Heathrow I'm sure all 4 of us will be over the price limit for bringing goods back but would you still go through the green channel? Is everyone as dishonest as me!!

 

[Goofyish]

Originally posted by trashcanman
When returning through customs at Heathrow I'm sure all 4 of us will be over the price limit for bringing goods back but would you still go through the green channel? Is everyone as dishonest as me!!

I'm sure a high percentage of people returning from the Florida have spent more than the allowed £145 (remember this includes ALL purchases - clothes, trainers, souveniers, ride photos!), and still go through the green channel.
Also, you can no longer 'pool' your allowances if one of your has less than £145 worth of goods.

I'm sure the customs people know that most people bring back loads of stuff, but I guess they have bigger fish to catch.

 

[kevin harrison]

If you are trying to get an upgrade, don't wear your holiday clothes. They tend to go for professional looking types. Then just ask. If you have children with you, you have virtually no chance of an upgrade.

 

[foxyfee]

We got upgraded with our 2 daughters (14 and 17) on our last flight with AA, and they even then upgraded my brother when we asked if we could all sit togther - without realising where we had been seated!

We were late getting to the desk where they allocated the tickets (checked in early though). For some reason I had decided to travel in jeans instead of something slightly smarter. Got a great night's sleep, and even better so did youngest daughter who had been ill all the way down from Kissimmee to Miami.

 

[SidB]

I don't think that Customs are interested in us tourists unless we're bringing back thousands of pounds worth of gear. As long as it's only for personal use there shouldn't be a problem.

This is where somebody tells me I'm wrong.

 

[Rain]

I remember reading a thread on here perhaps early in the year where indeed someone did get caught with too much stuff!!!she was made to pay for every little thing she brought over here.

It scared me so much that when we came back in May I had about $100 worth too much. I went to the red channel and no-one was there. I then decided I would use the free phone and ring them. This is where honesty did pay off!!! They said not to worry just go through and thank you for declaring the goods!!!!There will be no charge.


Lynda

 

[kazzie]

Hi,

You have absolutely nothing to lose by asking for an upgrade,you don't ask you don't get (well not usually!)

With the going over the allowance, there was a thread on here a while ago with someone who got charged for her stuff at the airport and the opinion of some was you took in extra you shouldn't moan about getting caught.But I'm sure almost everyone (me included) far exceed their allowance.We take the price tags off everything and also don't keep the receipts,they're no good to you in the UK anyway.

 

[JANNYANS]

When you have bought something make sure you take the labels off-it's a dead giveaway that it's new otherwise.and if it's for yourself try to wear it at least one to give it that "loved "look.

 

[Muppet]

We figure that the amount we have saved and got away with all theses years then if we get caught its a fair cop. We always go through the green channel and if/when weare stopped we thought it would be easier to give them all the reciepts and tell them we'll just pay the tax. I'd rather pay than have it confiscated, I also rather pay the acutal value and not the guesstimated value. Last year I spent my allowance on a pair of shoes, so I dread to think what the whole lot come to.

 

[SidB]

Originally posted by Muppet
Last year I spent my allowance on a pair of shoes

£145 for a pair of shoes !!

 

[SimonV]

£145 for a pair of shoes in the US!. They must have been gold-plated!

BTW, it is not unknown for people to get pulled yp for being over the odds with their 'gift and souvenir' items in the Green channel. It's rare and it does happen. And you WILL pay the full amount of duty over the £145 limit, plus VAT. However it is not unknown (as Rain found out) for them to waive any charges if you go through the Red channel, if the amount is relatively insignificant - but this latter is always at the discretion of the customs officer.

 

[Muppet]

But they are very nice shoes Have only worn them twice so far.

If customs stop us you'll probably read abput in the in papers!!!!!

And don't go thinking its just me, my chap is just as bad. He bought back to pc cases amongst MANY other things!!!!

 

[UKDEB]

Originally posted by SimonV
And you WILL pay the full amount of duty over the £145 limit, plus VAT

You should be aware that this is also 'letting you off' to a certain extent and is also completely at the discretion of the individual customs officer. They can confiscate the goods. By all means act a little uninformed, but don't treat them like idiots and whatever you do, don't be rude.

 

[Goofyish]

Originally posted by UKDEB
You should be aware that this is also 'letting you off' to a certain extent and is also completely at the discretion of the individual customs officer. They can confiscate the goods. By all means act a little uninformed, but don't treat them like idiots and whatever you do, don't be rude.

And if they get the rubber gloves out - start panicking