Day 17, Homeward Bound, February 18, 2009
It took us about 24 hours to get home, crossed the International Date Line and we got back the day that we lost.
Airport security is over the top and sometimes bordering on illogical. For example, when we were in the Cooks we had a bottle of wine left over and tried to take it through security on our way to NZ. They confiscated it. I said "it's sealed and has the $25 price tag on it" but it was a no go. I asked where the duty free was and could I take that on the plane. No worries, the store is there as he pointed twenty feet away on the other side of the doorway (it's a tiny airport) and yes duty free could go on the plane. And then when we got to Vancouver we had to go through customs, claim our luggage, deposit it on another conveyer to go back onto the same plane. We were in transit, which is secure, and always in view of walkie talkie personnel that guided us down each corridor to go through security again. What a waste of resources. Jill's knapsack was chosen to be screened for explosive residue. For passengers going back on the same plane, you would think that something could be arranged so that a second security screening was not necessary, since we were already screened in Sydney. And what is it with the Canadian customs officers dressed from head to toe in black with body armor looking like riot police sitting behind desks stamping passports. In Australia, customs officers at the airport are wearing plain shirts and pants and a smile and welcome visitors to Australia with friendly and light hearted attitudes and the words, "welcome to Australia". Why can't it be the same in Canada? There are lessons to be learned here.
It took us about 24 hours to get home, crossed the International Date Line and we got back the day that we lost.
Airport security is over the top and sometimes bordering on illogical. For example, when we were in the Cooks we had a bottle of wine left over and tried to take it through security on our way to NZ. They confiscated it. I said "it's sealed and has the $25 price tag on it" but it was a no go. I asked where the duty free was and could I take that on the plane. No worries, the store is there as he pointed twenty feet away on the other side of the doorway (it's a tiny airport) and yes duty free could go on the plane. And then when we got to Vancouver we had to go through customs, claim our luggage, deposit it on another conveyer to go back onto the same plane. We were in transit, which is secure, and always in view of walkie talkie personnel that guided us down each corridor to go through security again. What a waste of resources. Jill's knapsack was chosen to be screened for explosive residue. For passengers going back on the same plane, you would think that something could be arranged so that a second security screening was not necessary, since we were already screened in Sydney. And what is it with the Canadian customs officers dressed from head to toe in black with body armor looking like riot police sitting behind desks stamping passports. In Australia, customs officers at the airport are wearing plain shirts and pants and a smile and welcome visitors to Australia with friendly and light hearted attitudes and the words, "welcome to Australia". Why can't it be the same in Canada? There are lessons to be learned here.
Also, in Sydney we were told at the duty free checkout we needed to put our duty free in our luggage once we arrived in Vancouver because we would not be allowed to take more than 100mm of liquids through security. We had no room in our luggage and even if we did, we did not want to risk a broken bottle. Why is a bottle allowed as carry-on on an Air Canada international flight and not on an Air Canada domestic flight? It defies logic. This obviously results in a reduced revenue stream for airports and I'm sure they could use the money. Why can't this issue be worked out?
Vancouver had free carts for baggage, so Toronto was the only airport on our trip that didn't. I didn't have a toonie so I couldn't get a cart. How unwelcoming.
Traveler's advice…check your Visa bills when you get home against your statement. Our cab ride from the Sydney airport to our apartment was $40 but on checking our statement on line it showed up as $57.41 (all numbers before conversion to Canadian dollars)….some hanky panky here that I will report to Visa and the New South Wales Ministry of Transportation.
Vancouver had free carts for baggage, so Toronto was the only airport on our trip that didn't. I didn't have a toonie so I couldn't get a cart. How unwelcoming.
Traveler's advice…check your Visa bills when you get home against your statement. Our cab ride from the Sydney airport to our apartment was $40 but on checking our statement on line it showed up as $57.41 (all numbers before conversion to Canadian dollars)….some hanky panky here that I will report to Visa and the New South Wales Ministry of Transportation.