Hello one in all,
as i had mentioned in an earlier post “best place for viewing at LGW”, i found somewhere a bit better than the skydeck and got some great views, one in particular was a russian aircraft which departed at around 4pm ‘ish ?????? Anyhoo i saw plenty on the day before i flew but the next day as i couldn’t sleep as i was too eager to get flying i was up and watching them again just before 6am. Just in time to catch all of the larger jets after their atlantic crossing, plenty of BA, AA, CO, DL 777’s and of course the Virgin 747’s. We had already checked in the day before and so had no rush to be through to the departures lounge just yet. Once we were at the gate (we were there about an hour before everyone else because i had planes to see people). Other passengers began to arrive were as usual carrying their ten children with them (8 hrs 27mins sound a bit too long know). We were asked to go upto the desk were at last after 2 years of waiting for this from virgin we got our upgrades. Unfortunatly me and my mum were split up she was downstairs and i was up. It felt so good to step on a plane again and even better to act snobby as i went up the stairs. Lucky me as usual i get a kid sitting next to me. The service was very good and extremly quick, we had our main meal very soon after take-off and even afternoon tea was about an hour earlier than usual, I had bought a top-gear magazine to pass the time as i find the little p.t.v screens give me headaches.
I was quite worried for my mum downstairs as she is not a keen flyer at all so as we asccended and had a few bumps here and there i was listening for screams from downstairs!! Later i thought i would visit the economy cabin so i slowly came down the stairs (i have to crouch as i’m too tall). Typically my mum as said was downstairs seat 11j i belive, and as i enter her cabin a bit more forward she’s in an upper class seat, i was crazy, inside i was shouting “bloody move women, thats ment for me”.
After i had calmed down and crawled back upstairs it was’nt long until landing.
US immigration took forever and we were stopped, and “talked to ” (obviously we look suspcious), our bags came of just before the last ones as usual and then the most dissapointing thing happend, they took my camera out of my bag, removed the memory card and destroyed it, the one with all of the plane spotting photos i had done the day before and that morning and some cabin photos that i had planned to put on here.
“welcome to the United States”
Well at least the sun is shining and the pool is clean.
Florida Dude
By: Ren Frew - 15th August 2003 at 00:45
Originally posted by Florida Dude
When they saw my camera as it was in my handluggage (well it would have to be if i wanted cabin pics) they assumed it as a “security risk” , our lady at immigration was a tough cookie and debated/told us off for the usual (your here too much, you need a visa etc etc). I will try to gather some more on my way home if they don’t Hang me for trying first!!
You don’t need a visa to take photographs. You would only need one if you were a working photographer. I’d be writing a letter if I were you. Post 9/11 tensions are one thing but wilful destruction of one’s private property is another. A camera storage card is not a threat to security in anyone’s book unless you file down the edges and use it as a makeshift weapon !:mad:
By: steve rowell - 15th August 2003 at 00:03
Excellent report
By: Florida Dude - 14th August 2003 at 22:59
When they saw my camera as it was in my handluggage (well it would have to be if i wanted cabin pics) they assumed it as a “security risk” , our lady at immigration was a tough cookie and debated/told us off for the usual (your here too much, you need a visa etc etc). I will try to gather some more on my way home if they don’t Hang me for trying first!!
By: purser - 14th August 2003 at 12:17
Michael
I know what you mean, by making the situation worse I meant not questioning the immigration guys as they can be quite intimidating if you upset them!
Purser
By: robc - 14th August 2003 at 11:05
Once US security or customs ripped my toiletries bag open with a knife clearly, when i came home and unpacked i was quite surprised…and pissed off too!
By: T5 - 14th August 2003 at 11:01
Surely the situation can’t be made any worse. The worst has already happened and the picture card has been confiscated and destroyed.
You can question why this was the case, I’m sure. It’s not illegal to take these cards into the USA, so why was it done?
By: purser - 14th August 2003 at 09:31
That’s a real shame mate, I don’t know if they are permitted to do that, I guess they are permitted to do whatever they see fit on the day!!!! I wouldn’t suggest questioning it though as you will probably cause yourself more hassle.
Purser
By: T5 - 13th August 2003 at 18:35
Good report, I too am slightly concerned about your memory card and why it was destroyed?
By: Ren Frew - 13th August 2003 at 15:36
I’d like to know more about this as well. Are memory cards considered to be dangerous now ?
By: Pembo330 - 13th August 2003 at 15:26
What? They removed your memory card?
I was gonna say, can they do that? But clearly then can. But on what grounds?
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August 13, 2003 at 3:18 pm