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Posted

Going through airport security on the way to Cuba

http://www.wbez.org/blog/achy-obejas/2011-...-way-cuba-88990#

The above is a blog of a Cuban heading home and going through Jose Marti Airport. I thought t an interesting read and read it with a smile given I have had similar experiences over the years. To be fair, most of the time it has been a breeze albeit an incompetent one.

A couple of my personal experiences of Cuban Customs

1. Detained for having 32 FOH caps in my luggage. It was apparent to all that I was commencing a

cap business in Cuba diretly competing with Cuban industry. Midnight/30 + hr flight and I was in no mood. Negotiated an "on the spot" fine of 10 CUC. 5 each to the chief customs protagonists.

2. Graeme Marriot went throuh the scanners at JM. Now Graeme is a great mate and cig smoker who was wearing a nicotine patch. The scanner kept going off and they kept sending him round to go through again. Finally it dawned the nicotine patch was setting the scanner off.

He too the patch off and walked through...no beeping. Customs claimed they had not seen one prior and wanted to investigate further. In Graemes own style, he told them to shove the patch where the sun didn't shine. Angry Cuban meets Angry Aussie. Missile Crisis stare down. I am not sure if it was Macho or ken who helped no end stating it was possibly a plastic explosive.

3. I have better luck at the Casino than in getting all our luggage at Jose Marti. it is a sickening feeling when the conveyour belt is finally clear....and your luggage a no show. I went and had a look through the rubber flaps from where behind the luggage handlers drop the luggage onto the conveyour belt. Manuel the Moron was sitting on 3 bags (one mine) having a cigarette. I crawled through the rubber flaps, grabbed my bag, and exited on the conveyor belt to the claps of the few remaining tourists. I told them where their bags were.

4. Leaving Havana with an electronic ticket. They apparently at the time had never seen one and decided I needed a real one. "Go to the other side of the airport behind that 50 person que and come back". I came back 30 minutes later. "Flight closed".

It was a miracle but I found an airport Angel who actually cared and rushed me through immigration and to my plane. Got her number and took her out to dinner next trip as a thank you.

5. Flight delays out of the US to Cancum. I have less than 30 minutes to catch my plane to Havana on Cubanair. I am running, pushing and slip $100 USD into my passport just as i reach the Cubanair counter. He looks at me. I beg him. He takes my passport, takes the $100 and issues me a ticket. Takes my luggage, tags it and processes it.

"have a good flight Senor Ayala.....plane is running 1 hr late"
:rotfl:

</H1>

Guest leanderdsilva
Posted

Hahahaha...hilarious!

Posted
Going through airport security on the way to Cuba

http://www.wbez.org/blog/achy-obejas/2011-...-way-cuba-88990#

The above is a blog of a Cuban heading home and going through Jose Marti Airport. I thought t an interesting read and read it with a smile given I have had similar experiences over the years. To be fair, most of the time it has been a breeze albeit an incompetent one.

A couple of my personal experiences of Cuban Customs

1. Detained for having 32 FOH caps in my luggage. It was apparent to all that I was commencing a

cap business in Cuba diretly competing with Cuban industry. Midnight/30 + hr flight and I was in no mood. Negotiated an "on the spot" fine of 10 CUC. 5 each to the chief customs protagonists.

2. Graeme Marriot went throuh the scanners at JM. Now Graeme is a great mate and cig smoker who was wearing a nicotine patch. The scanner kept going off and they kept sending him round to go through again. Finally it dawned the nicotine patch was setting the scanner off.

He too the patch off and walked through...no beeping. Customs claimed they had not seen one prior and wanted to investigate further. In Graemes own style, he told them to shove the patch where the sun didn't shine. Angry Cuban meets Angry Aussie. Missile Crisis stare down. I am not sure if it was Macho or ken who helped no end stating it was possibly a plastic explosive.

3. I have better luck at the Casino than in getting all our luggage at Jose Marti. it is a sickening feeling when the conveyour belt is finally clear....and your luggage a no show. I went and had a look through the rubber flaps from where behind the luggage handlers drop the luggage onto the conveyour belt. Manuel the Moron was sitting on 3 bags (one mine) having a cigarette. I crawled through the rubber flaps, grabbed my bag, and exited on the conveyor belt to the claps of the few remaining tourists. I told them where their bags were.

4. Leaving Havana with an electronic ticket. They apparently at the time had never seen one and decided I needed a real one. "Go to the other side of the airport behind that 50 person que and come back". I came back 30 minutes later. "Flight closed".

It was a miracle but I found an airport Angel who actually cared and rushed me through immigration and to my plane. Got her number and took her out to dinner next trip as a thank you.

5. Flight delays out of the US to Cancum. I have less than 30 minutes to catch my plane to Havana on Cubanair. I am running, pushing and slip $100 USD into my passport just as i reach the Cubanair counter. He looks at me. I beg him. He takes my passport, takes the $100 and issues me a ticket. Takes my luggage, tags it and processes it.

"have a good flight Senor Ayala.....plane is running 1 hr late"
:P

</H1>

To funny...business expense!

Posted

Wow, and I thought I had it bad going through airports.

Posted

It can be a hoot clearing customs at Jose Marti!

My last trip to Havana back in Feb, I had 2 bags. One large carry on with my clothes and one checked bag bearing gifts, mostly vitamins (approx 200 bottles). Upon grabbing my bag off the conveyor I knew there was going to be a bit of an ordeal because I had a "tagged" bag. As I walked through customs I got pulled aside and a gentleman asked me to open the suitcase. As I opened it his eyes lit up like a x-mas tree and he turned to me and asked me what was going on! I told him I brought vitamins as gifts and he replied by telling me that is not allowed. Well, I had to think quick so I told him he could some vitamins if he wanted. He looked at me and then said one minute. He went around the corner and after a short wait he returned. I am guessing he was checking to see if his boss was around. He grabbed 6 bottles of vitamins and sent me on my way! :)

Posted

If that was at the Cubana booth in Cancun, it had to be that crooked son of a ***** SAUL! That mother f*****, two times made my life hell by bumping me off flights, making me pay twice!.

Posted

Good stories, well told !

just please nobody crawl through the flaps of the conveyor belt in NY or London. They have big signs up and they will probably shoot you on sight. ;-)

Posted

Fly anything but Cubana...allways late and horrible customer service. I used to fly Mexican Click, but now use aeromexico.

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