Travel for work to EU

[James1979]

It’s all changed. I remember when I first flew for work it was just pre 9-11. Everything was easy. More like the island flights up here.

Then it all changed. It’s got worse and less worse depending on the state of the world.

When I first flew no one cared. Then they went mega OTT. Then it balanced out a bit.

Only been called to reconciliation twice. Once was in St Malo when I was flying home with a load of tools etc. it was checked baggage so still don’t see what the fuss was about.

The other time was when I opened a Peli case literally at gunpoint in Norway. I’d hand carried 3 CPT cones over to pass to a survey ship, then fly home. Used to do that with things a couple times a year as I lived near that company so it was good for us both. I’ve no idea why Norway was on high alert that day but apparently they looked like projectiles on the X-ray. Wouldn’t let me open them until we’d gone into a separate room. I had one guy with his sidearm drawn and the others were ready to join in and I had to open it really slowly etc etc.

Had a laugh about it afterwards and they were decent enough.

CPT cones -

 

[8ob]

More googling. Turns out there is a carnet for such things. https://www.gov.uk/taking-goods-out-uk-temporarily/get-an-ata-carnet

Anyone done it?

Looks like the same malarkey as sending out engine bits for mods that are then returned.There can be a time limit and they used to be right on top of that, as usual I think it was spoiled by the p155takers.

Bob

 

[T5 TDI]

On a holiday trip to Spain once, my missus and I got separated at security. When I eventually found her they had all her hand luggage (knickers and all) out on the desk looking for some mystery 'suspect' object the x-ray had flagged up. In the end he triumphantly pulled out a small allen key I had given her to put in with some other bits for cycle maintenance on our old bikes we keep out there . 'You can't take that!' says he. She asked him how it could possibly be a security risk (Take me to Cuba or I'll stab ya with this small 7mm allen key! we were thinking). 'You might take the plane apart with that' he said'.

 

[daleyd]

On a holiday trip to Spain once, my missus and I got separated at security. When I eventually found her they had all her hand luggage (knickers and all) out on the desk looking for some mystery 'suspect' object the x-ray had flagged up. In the end he triumphantly pulled out a small allen key I had given her to put in with some other bits for cycle maintenance on our old bikes we keep out there . 'You can't take that!' says he. She asked him how it could possibly be a security risk (Take me to Cuba or I'll stab ya with this small 7mm allen key! we were thinking). 'You might take the plane apart with that' he said'.

I had the same flying back from South Africa - in a last minute rush leaving the factory I had to check an inspection cover, didn’t think anything of it until I went through X-ray with my laptop bag and they pulled me over.

They pulled a 17mm spanner out of my bag, I just threw it in there when I left and forgot to put it back in my toolbox - not sure what they imagined I would do with it

 

[James1979]

I had the same flying back from South Africa - in a last minute rush leaving the factory I had to check an inspection cover, didn’t think anything of it until I went through X-ray with my laptop bag and they pulled me over.

They pulled a 17mm spanner out of my bag, I just threw it in there when I left and forgot to put it back in my toolbox - not sure what they imagined I would do with it

At least they’re usually reasonably good humoured jobsworths. I used to actively avoid any job that required transit via the USA just so I didn’t have to deal with the TSA.

Our theory was they undid all the work the American tourist board did.

 

[8ob]

On a holiday trip to Spain once, my missus and I got separated at security. When I eventually found her they had all her hand luggage (knickers and all) out on the desk looking for some mystery 'suspect' object the x-ray had flagged up. In the end he triumphantly pulled out a small allen key I had given her to put in with some other bits for cycle maintenance on our old bikes we keep out there . 'You can't take that!' says he. She asked him how it could possibly be a security risk (Take me to Cuba or I'll stab ya with this small 7mm allen key! we were thinking). 'You might take the plane apart with that' he said'.

I had the same flying back from South Africa - in a last minute rush leaving the factory I had to check an inspection cover, didn’t think anything of it until I went through X-ray with my laptop bag and they pulled me over.

They pulled a 17mm spanner out of my bag, I just threw it in there when I left and forgot to put it back in my toolbox - not sure what they imagined I would do with it

The pair of you could have been infamous wing walkers for all they knew, with that allen key and 17mm spanner there would have been nothing left to land.

Bob

 

[James1979]

In the workshop and this thread has reminded me. I took this off a case that had been all round the world with me when it finally died.

You have to pay for it. Then pay a man in the airport to rivet it on. By drilling into the box without opening it to see where the contents are. Ask me how I know…….

 

[daleyd]

At least they’re usually reasonably good humoured jobsworths. I used to actively avoid any job that required transit via the USA just so I didn’t have to deal with the TSA.

Our theory was they undid all the work the American tourist board did.

We got married in New York - when were going through security we had all the questions about why are you coming, where are you staying etc ….

Obviously it being quite a big life event we happily told her we were getting married over here, the sour faced trout never even cracked a smile or said congratulations…just looked at us like we were dirt on her shoe and waved us on.

 

[bricol]

At least they’re usually reasonably good humoured jobsworths. I used to actively avoid any job that required transit via the USA just so I didn’t have to deal with the TSA.

Our theory was they undid all the work the American tourist board did.

Strangely, in 20 yrs of work travel to and from the USA, I've never really had much trouble. I've had to deal with the public in such a simple place as a motorway service area, so I can only imagine what dealing with many many times more idiots each and every day must be like.

Be polite, smile, answer the questions, move on . . . the poor sod behind the desk might have another 8 hrs of smelly passengers to deal with . . . I'd be grumpy too.

My all time record from standing up to get off the plane, to standing on the sidewalk waiting for the rental car courtesy bus in Houston was 30 mins . . . and that was after declaring a couple of parts I would be leaving behind - I taken off to one side, luggage collected, guided to another security desk, where the two guys did stand talking for another five minutes before one came to see me . . . but smile, be polite. . . I'm not sure he knew what a "Ringfeder" was, but he seemed happy enough, and off I went, having beaten everyone else on the plane through immigration

 

[500e]

On an internal flight in Cuba there was a notice that said no hand grenades or guns on plane, but the local A&P was still working on it when it took off

 

[Norsk]

You will be fine bringing tools into Sweden. The border is open wether you fly or drive in, there is literally no border control.

 

[James1979]

You will be fine bringing tools into Sweden. The border is open wether you fly or drive in, there is literally no border control.

Spot on. Thank you. That’s just the job.

I’ll have paperwork etc with me just in case but it’s good to know they aren’t neurotic about it.

 

[LiftedDisco]

We got married in New York - when were going through security we had all the questions about why are you coming, where are you staying etc ….

Obviously it being quite a big life event we happily told her we were getting married over here, the sour faced trout never even cracked a smile or said congratulations…just looked at us like we were dirt on her shoe and waved us on.

I had pretty much the opposite experience when visiting a friend in NYC - literally just a friend who’s father had moved out there with work, but she’d asked me to take her some stockings and lipstick which she’d always used in the UK.

“Got any gifts for anyone?” came the question… when I explained the ‘gifts’, I got a smirk, my passport and an ‘enjoy your stay in the States…!”

As far as the original post is concerned, I used to travel pre-Shengen (so a long way before the most recent change…) and we always used to travel with ATA Carnets (think of customs declarations at every border through Europe for a full 40’ artic loaded with race cars and supporting kit…) but I think you can also get away with a dual declaration of goods taken out / returned with the appropriate VAT declarations -the .gov website has all sorts of relevant information.

 

[Pete.]

You will be fine bringing tools into Sweden. The border is open wether you fly or drive in, there is literally no border control.

Getting out of Norway would be another thing entirely. I took my Biax to Jessheim for 3 days and nearly got it confiscated by Norway customs on the way back. The only reason they let me keep it was because it was still fitted with a UK 3 pin plug. Lucky for me really because earlier that day I'd been hunting for a Norway style plug to swap over and couldn't find one.

UK customs couldn't have cared less. They asked what it was and said "OK, good luck off you go mate".

 

[Norsk]

Getting out of Norway would be another thing entirely. I took my Biax to Jessheim for 3 days and nearly got it confiscated by Norway customs on the way back. The only reason they let me keep it was because it was still fitted with a UK 3 pin plug. Lucky for me really because earlier that day I'd been hunting for a Norway style plug to swap over and couldn't find one.

UK customs couldn't have cared less. They asked what it was and said "OK, good luck off you go mate".

I am confused.

Why did you go through Norwegian customs on the way back from Jessheim?

How long ago was this?

 

[bricol]

Thank you

It seems the only difference when lugging a toolbox around is that you now have to join the queue for non-EU nationals . . . nothing else has changed. Check in, take box for extra inspection where a bored person chucks it through an X-ray machine, doesn't understand what's in it, and hands it back for you to lug elsewhere to pay for the overweight . . .

 

[Pete.]

I am confused.

Why did you go through Norwegian customs on the way back from Jessheim?

How long ago was this?

2014. They pulled me out of the queue in the airport because I had the Biax in my hand luggage.

 

[roblane65]

not really about customs ,well one is . I worked in Norway for some time bar fitting the lads in bergen were struggling to finish a job and we were about done so two of us had to fly over from oslo , I took a few skeleton tools in me bag but taty peel ( neil ) decided he wanted to take his old joiners box as he'd be going home from there well at bergen waiting at the conveyor it was like the generation game , the lid came through first then this then that , then the back and it carried on .well I never stopped laughing in the end someone at the airport gave him a roll tape and after some packing off we went . the other one was when I leaving oslo and being quite late for the flight I went through the scanner and customs guys decided they wanted me work boots off , they wished they hadn't I'd gone straight to the airport in full working gear after three days of ghosters boy did they stink , picture the guy with his arm out stretched holding his nose

 

[Openelectron]

Not sure if it's helpful but I have used the "Duplicate list" procedure. Basically get an itemised list stamped by customs before you leave the UK.

 

[daleyd]

Funnily enough a guy I used to work with posted the ubiquitous “after work beer pic” from Sweden about half an hour ago on farcebook - I asked him about travelling over with toolbox and he said still the same as before, no particular issues other than the usual putting toolbox through X-ray machine.