alcohol confiscated at heathrow

Peach Melda

Recently upon returning from Thailand via Heathrow, had to through a security check upon arrival at heathrow & they confiscated my liquor, now I put up as best an argument as one can after a 12hr flight but they said I could go back out to the main terminal & check it into main luggage, this was my only option. Sadly coz this security check took more than an hour, I'd only 45min for my connection home so had to leave it.
Total scam.
Just wondering if anyone else had similar hardship?

BuffyBot

It's unfortunate, but not a scam. The liquid rules have been in place for quite a while now, so I'm not sure how you wou;dn't be aware of them. A bit of research beforehand would have saved you the hardship. Consider it an expensive lesson learned.

Irishrossoblu

If you bought your 'liquor' in the Thai Duty Free and had it in a sealed bag, then it was probably taken. EU countries only allow you to connect with duty free alcohol bought in very few far east airports. My mate was stopped with Duty Free 'liquor' from South Korea when going through Frankfurt.

Fratton Fred

I see this happening at LHR and LGW pretty regularly.

Rules is rules I'm afraid, as Buffy said, just chalk it up as a lesson learned. Another good lesson is don't argue with airport security. You will just be wasting your time.

Peach Melda

Thanks all, just thought when the duty free was in a sealed airport bag with the receipt, just thought it was a bit harsh. Them's do be the rules. Thanks

BuffyBot

Only from a very limited selection of places does that apply

Padraig Mor

I never quite got the whole 'confiscating liquid from connecting pasengers' thing. Has never happened to me but remember connecting in LHR from SFO one time and loads of people's duty free was being binned. I mean, whatever about the dubious merits of the whole 'liquid explosive' threat, surely people arriving from a 'sterile' environment (i.e. having been through security at their originating airport) cannot possibly have anyhting dodgy?!

steve-o

In theory LHR security should trust US security, but after getting off the plane in LHR you mix with other people who have come from some dodgy places and they could easily pass something to you.

Does the restriction on liquids actually makes us safer from the bad folks? Lots of people would doubt it.

ArmaniJeanss

A few months ago, I bought alcohol in Krakow airport after security.
There followed a 3 hour fog delay before we all got bussed to Katowice airport to get our flight from there instead.
Going through Katowice security the alcohol got taken away.

Rules is rules and all that, but it just seemed 'wrong'.

dearg lady

Peach Melda wrote: »

Recently upon returning from Thailand via Heathrow, had to through a security check upon arrival at heathrow & they confiscated my liquor, now I put up as best an argument as one can after a 12hr flight but they said I could go back out to the main terminal & check it into main luggage, this was my only option. Sadly coz this security check took more than an hour, I'd only 45min for my connection home so had to leave it.
Total scam.
Just wondering if anyone else had similar hardship?

At least th option was there to re-check it. I've tried to buy duty free alcohol and been refused it cos I'm changing in EU. I know they're trying to avoid it being taken off me, but with some stopover have a lot of time.

Fratton Fred

steve-o wrote: »

In theory LHR security should trust US security, but after getting off the plane in LHR you mix with other people who have come from some dodgy places and they could easily pass something to you.

Does the restriction on liquids actually makes us safer from the bad folks? Lots of people would doubt it.

I would guess changing terminals s the issue.

dearg lady

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I would guess changing terminals s the issue.

Perhaps, but you're still past security. I've had the same issue flying through Amsterdam, and that's all within one terminal

robinph

The liquid restrictions don't make anyone safer from anything, had caused a few to end up in hospital though as they down bottles rather than give the security free drink.

I heard security tell someone next to me getting searched before, that the reason for putting their toothpaste into the resealable bag was incase the pressure changed in the plane and the tube burst so the bag was meant to stop toothpaste going all over the inside of the plane!!!! He was serious.

scout353

Happened to me a few years ago coming back from Turkey via Stansted. Forgot completely about it and had bought Brandy.

Was stopped at security and in fairness to a couple of people held my place until i went out to one of the foreign exchange booths and handed the brandy to the teller. She was delighted but if I was to hand it over at security I know it would have ended up in someones back pocket!!!

Lesson learned and was particularly mad as I was also checking in golf clubs and had to bring that to an oversized belt and could have put it in the bag had I remembered!!!

skibum

scout353 wrote: »

Happened to me a few years ago coming back from Turkey via Stansted. Forgot completely about it and had bought Brandy.

Was stopped at security and in fairness to a couple of people held my place until i went out to one of the foreign exchange booths and handed the brandy to the teller. She was delighted but if I was to hand it over at security I know it would have ended up in someones back pocket!!!

Fair dues to you!! I would have been pi$$ed if I were in your situation but would have never thought to have done that!

Would love to know what "REALLY" happens to all that confiscated booze, like you I have a good idea as to where it ends up......

Fratton Fred

dearg lady wrote: »

Perhaps, but you're still past security. I've had the same issue flying through Amsterdam, and that's all within one terminal

Not if you walk or take the train or you don't have a through ticket. It happened to my mother in law at Gatwick, exactly the same as above, she bought a bottle of rum in the Dominican rep. And lost it going from the north terminal at gatwick to catch a ryanair flight to Dublin.