I have been amazed in recent years just how many of the no-frills airlines have begun flights to Spain, some at very high frequency. I know Spain is one of the most popular destinations for holidays and that a lot of people have villas, apartments and timeshares and use these flights instead of charter flights, as they can go for other duration than the traditional 7 or 14 nights. But still I wondered just how Easyjet, WW and ZB were filling their often multiple daily departures. After all I could hardly see that many business men using no-frills and would they really be that many businessmen going to Alc or Murcia?
After visiting Malaga last week I found something out. It seems from talking to people that lots of people are coming out on these cheap fares for a day or two with the intent of filling a suitcase with cheap tobacco and selling it to their friends for a profit! They were saying that it funds their little trip!
I couldnt believe it, not only are these people holidaying at the taxpayers expense, as many of these lads and lasses dont work, but evading duty in the process. I hope customs is awake to this as it seems big business.
I was suprised to discover from one of these bootleggers that you are allowed to fetch 3,200 cigarettes back provided they are intended for personal use. They were laughing and boasting that they make a tidy sum flogging them on.
The low-fares airlines have percipitated this trend as before it would not have been so cheap and easy to get to Spain as they would have had to pay for an expensive scheduled flight or stayed at least a week with a charter carrier!
By: Duesseldwarf - 13th October 2004 at 21:30
Although I agree that there is going to be a certain element of bootlegging going on, I very much doubt that the airlines are filling the seats with bootleggers alone. I would still say that it would be a fairly small percentage. Just my opinion.
By: Duesseldwarf - 13th October 2004 at 21:30
Although I agree that there is going to be a certain element of bootlegging going on, I very much doubt that the airlines are filling the seats with bootleggers alone. I would still say that it would be a fairly small percentage. Just my opinion.
By: Grey Area - 13th October 2004 at 18:00
Maybe Customs have weightier matters to concern themselves with in the current climate?
By: Grey Area - 13th October 2004 at 18:00
Maybe Customs have weightier matters to concern themselves with in the current climate?
By: wannabe pilot - 13th October 2004 at 17:44
From what I understand, I thought 3200 cigarettes is actually only a customs guideline which isn’t enforceable unless the cigarettes are not for personal consumption? After all, we are all in the EU and supposed to be allowed to buy from whatever EU country we want to aren’t we?
Good luck to them I say! I’m sure the Spanish don’t mind as its making money for them somewhere. The no-frills airlines are happy as they’re filling their seats….
Everyone’s happy! 🙂
This is exactly what I think. The only people who may not be happy are the cigarette manufacturers who aren’t making as much money on their highly over-priced cigarettes by selling them in the UK (and the tax man for that matter). I think they’ve already earnt enough money as it is in their monopoly, now it’s time for us to play it back.
By: wannabe pilot - 13th October 2004 at 17:44
From what I understand, I thought 3200 cigarettes is actually only a customs guideline which isn’t enforceable unless the cigarettes are not for personal consumption? After all, we are all in the EU and supposed to be allowed to buy from whatever EU country we want to aren’t we?
Good luck to them I say! I’m sure the Spanish don’t mind as its making money for them somewhere. The no-frills airlines are happy as they’re filling their seats….
Everyone’s happy! 🙂
This is exactly what I think. The only people who may not be happy are the cigarette manufacturers who aren’t making as much money on their highly over-priced cigarettes by selling them in the UK (and the tax man for that matter). I think they’ve already earnt enough money as it is in their monopoly, now it’s time for us to play it back.
By: Skymonster - 13th October 2004 at 17:30
Another thing is to target particular flights: e.g. arrivals from the US to ensure passengers pay import VAT on their new Apple iPods 😀 😉
Not many customs guys looking for iPods (or expensive Canon lenses! 😉 ) when I landed back from the USA at Manchester yesterday! 😎
Andy
By: Skymonster - 13th October 2004 at 17:30
Another thing is to target particular flights: e.g. arrivals from the US to ensure passengers pay import VAT on their new Apple iPods 😀 😉
Not many customs guys looking for iPods (or expensive Canon lenses! 😉 ) when I landed back from the USA at Manchester yesterday! 😎
Andy
By: G-OJET - 13th October 2004 at 17:10
From what I understand, I thought 3200 cigarettes is actually only a customs guideline which isn’t enforceable unless the cigarettes are not for personal consumption? After all, we are all in the EU and supposed to be allowed to buy from whatever EU country we want to aren’t we?
Good luck to them I say! I’m sure the Spanish don’t mind as its making money for them somewhere. The no-frills airlines are happy as they’re filling their seats….
Everyone’s happy! 🙂
By: G-OJET - 13th October 2004 at 17:10
From what I understand, I thought 3200 cigarettes is actually only a customs guideline which isn’t enforceable unless the cigarettes are not for personal consumption? After all, we are all in the EU and supposed to be allowed to buy from whatever EU country we want to aren’t we?
Good luck to them I say! I’m sure the Spanish don’t mind as its making money for them somewhere. The no-frills airlines are happy as they’re filling their seats….
Everyone’s happy! 🙂
By: Hand87_5 - 13th October 2004 at 16:58
Yeah supose, actually thought more people bought their cigs from the Canaries which of course isnt in the EU.
Canaries isn’t the EU ??????
:confused:
By: Hand87_5 - 13th October 2004 at 16:58
Yeah supose, actually thought more people bought their cigs from the Canaries which of course isnt in the EU.
Canaries isn’t the EU ??????
:confused:
By: Pablo - 13th October 2004 at 16:40
Not for cigarettes anymore. It is not worth the hassle. I know people who laways return suitcases full off cigarettes from the Canary Islands.
I still see a lot of court cases for non payment of excise duties on fags and booze, though it’s mostly cross Channel.
By: Pablo - 13th October 2004 at 16:40
Not for cigarettes anymore. It is not worth the hassle. I know people who laways return suitcases full off cigarettes from the Canary Islands.
I still see a lot of court cases for non payment of excise duties on fags and booze, though it’s mostly cross Channel.
By: seahawk - 13th October 2004 at 16:37
Not for cigarettes anymore. It is not worth the hassle. I know people who laways return suitcases full off cigarettes from the Canary Islands.
By: seahawk - 13th October 2004 at 16:37
Not for cigarettes anymore. It is not worth the hassle. I know people who laways return suitcases full off cigarettes from the Canary Islands.
By: Pablo - 13th October 2004 at 16:37
I thought customs checked people travelling frequently
so they knew how many times they were travelling
It’s possible to obtain this information from passport data which is now scanned. Another thing is to target particular flights: e.g. arrivals from the US to ensure passengers pay import VAT on their new Apple iPods 😀 😉
By: Pablo - 13th October 2004 at 16:37
I thought customs checked people travelling frequently
so they knew how many times they were travelling
It’s possible to obtain this information from passport data which is now scanned. Another thing is to target particular flights: e.g. arrivals from the US to ensure passengers pay import VAT on their new Apple iPods 😀 😉
By: davforr - 13th October 2004 at 16:02
I thought customs checked people travelling frequently
so they knew how many times they were travelling
By: davforr - 13th October 2004 at 16:02
I thought customs checked people travelling frequently
so they knew how many times they were travelling
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October 13, 2004 at 1:36 pm