Buy Duty-free spirits at Ercan and pour them away in Istanbul

Karanfil


Joined: 28/03/2009
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 15:50

I've just received an email from friends who flew with Turkish Airlines from Ercan to Stanstead via Istanbul on Tuesday morning.



They bought their duty-free allowance at Ercan and had to pour it away before entering the transit lounge in Istanbul. Apparently several passengers had purchased their duty free at Ercan and when they went through the secuirity check before entering the transit lounge in Istanbul all the bags containing duty free purchased at Ercan were taken off the passengers. They were then made to pour it in to a lined bin. To add insult to injury they then boarded the same plane they had travelled on from Ercan.



Are the customs officers at Istanbul making a giant bin of punch? Is this a new ruling to make passengers use the duty free shops at Istanbul rather than Ercan? Has anyone else experienced this mindless fiasco?

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 15:58

This is one for Mal. Turkey is clamping down on alcohol outlets but this seems pretty outragous to me as you're in transit. So much for a secular society when an Islamic party is in power! Bring back the Generals!



Richard

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 16:09

Its nothing to do with clamping down on alcohol its all to with taking liquids on a plane that is going to a european destination. They have the same rules with regards to liquids as any other european airport.

If you are changing planes in Turkey then expect the same situation as you would expect from any UK airport when travelling abroad.

Those that travel from Ercan to the UK via the likes of CTA and do not have to change planes think yourself lucky that the TRNC has not adopted these rules.

AJ

airy____fairy


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 813

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 16:11

my mum had to do the same and was told that the bag should have been security sealed when purchased at Ercan - this was apparantly a security issue (carrying liquids above a certain size is not allowed)

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 16:12

And I hope they dont AJ

Some say I can hold my liquor )

Tiggy


Joined: 25/07/2007
Posts: 1994

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 16:17

100ml is that not the regulation for liquids?



Pass on the info as it will save a lot of people wating there time and money.



Hic!

Codger


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 153

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 16:19

Standard practice for years travelling from the UK via Turkish.



If the trip involves changing aircraft at Istanbul all Duty Free items purchased at the UK departure airport must be security bagged. This involves the items being sealed in a clear see through bag and the receipt attached to the outside of the bag, this is done by the Duty Free salesperson.



It is up to you to tell/remind them of this procedure.



Codger

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 16:20

Buy it in the supermarket before you pack your hold luggage then you won't have it in your carry on! Sometimes even cheaper in the supermarket than at the duty free in Ercan anyway and what I always used to do.

ianwfs


Joined: 08/01/2008
Posts: 563

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 16:43

Something doesn't quite gel with this story.

The restrictions on liquids apply to goods transiting between landside and airside. There is no restriction on anything purchased airside.

Could it be something to do with the change at Istanbul. Could it be that Ercan/Istanbul was considered a domestic flight, and the entrance to the lounge at Istanbul was, in fact, the point where the transition between landside and airside took place?

It would be easy enough to check if the flight numbers were posted.

Mountain Edge



Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 17:08

I flew Manchester to Ercan last month and got 2 litre bottles of Bells Whisky for £16.(travelling to non eu country) Sealed at Manchester and walked through Istanbul for onward flight, no problems. Packed them in the suitcase for the return journey. Can't get Bells whisky that cheap anywhere.



ps Its finished now so I will have to do the journey again.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 17:12

ianwfs - Sorry but I think this is when you go to the security check before boarding. So the story is true.



100 ml in a clear bag pastes or liquid together.



When you change plane you are then treated as a landside traveller to ensure your safety.



Waddo - yes best practice

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 17:14

Tom



Wrong, not when you're in transit.



Richard

chick


Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 323

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 17:18

This happened to a couple in front of us a few weeks ago. They said 2 bottles of vodka were not security sealed at Ercan, they didnt have to pour it away they just took them off them. When we came through I asked them if they had opened them they said no and even showed the reciept.

Yet we walked through with 600 hundred cigs and they never batted an eyelid.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 17:54

Sorry Richard I am correct.



In Istanbul IST you are checked leaving the central areas through security with Xray's and at that point the sealed bag scenario comes into play in other countries it has been the rule for some years now - buy goodies in Duty Free and if they might be a hazard they need to be security bagged.

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 17:54

All in hold baggage or sealed EEC accepted bags.

Same thing happened to me in Ukraine. Only realised after hold baggage had been taken at Kiev that the 4 bottles of very good quality Vodka in my hand luggage was not going to get past Amsterdam security and on to Manchester.

Tried to buy/bribe a bag in Amsterdam but the Dutch are so bloody honest!

Saw a lady in Istanbul in October trying the same thing, bet she found a Turk susceptible to a few lira!

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:07

No longer a nanny state but a nanny world!



Richard

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:22

Richard -



If you were not so wrapped in cotton wool!



I would agree with you you have no idea what hoops tour operators have to jump through because you our beloved customers are supposed not to think for yourselves. I blame the US culture of sue, sue, sue.

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:24

If you check the Ataturk Airport website its there in black and white (well blue and white actually)



The new regulations started on October 1st and are applied at the final security check before you enter the departure gate.

colly


Joined: 31/07/2008
Posts: 297

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:25

Problem is that there is a flaw in the system. It would be very easy for those who wish to to buy the goods, pour them down the toilet replace them and then replace in sealed bags just as if they were purchased from duty free.



This is a major concern at Geneva where you do not get checked until the gate!! So you can walk in with what ever liquids you like and then do the change.



Col

awellwisher


Joined: 12/04/2009
Posts: 28

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:38

I had a similar experience in Paris when I changed planes. Our bottles were sealed in a bag at Heathrow and we were lucky to be able to keep them following quite an interrogation.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:41

Well, I'm off to Oz next year and I'll empty a full a bottle of white (alcohol) spirit and refill with a white acid without breaking the seal, getting it confiscated and see whether it really is poured down the drain or just another customs con/scam! They will find out at their cost!



Richard

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:44

What a nice person you are Richard.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:54

AJ



Two called meetings you missed with myself, how polite do you call that!



Richard

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 22:00

Mssg 21

Hope he does not get caught trying to travel with a hazardous substance!

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 22:05

Msg 24



I'll be a hazardous bulk in my own right!



Richard

Mindy



Joined: 27/10/2008
Posts: 1210

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 22:49

Did the passengers have to leave the plane for safety ie re-fuelling aircraft,

Did they know they were travelling on the same plane as they arrived on from Ercan.

If so could they have not left their duty free on board.



Would they have been allowed to keep the liquor if it had been security sealed at Ercan

Alisun


Joined: 13/03/2008
Posts: 42

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 23:47

We too were in transit in Istanbul this Monday on return to Manchester - right beside Gate 202 there's a small cafe/bar where they sell sealed bottles of water - as normal we purchased bottles for the flight put them into our hand baggage still sealed only to have them taken off us at security - placed into a bin and no doubt recycled back to the bar once the flight had taken off - what a money making scam!

Totally understand the security requirements that prohibit you bringing in liquids from outside the airport but this does appear a little over the top.

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
06/11/2009 13:29

At Liverpool airport some time ago, the newsagents in sight of the security desk was giving a bottle of water with that day's Telegraph. How nice of them. They were probably giving each one away 10 times a day!