Hi Everyone:
Just wanted to thank our pals and contributors, Idriss and Barbara, for their helpful comments on travelling through Heathrow Airport.
I wanted to share my experience with everyone, in case during the summer, you might travel through that Airport.
For me, it was a nightmare, Nightmare at Heathrow, to quote the old flick. One can only carry one bag, that means for ladies, only a handbag, nothing else, no VAT refund, carry one, etc. For men, that would be just a tote bag holding your laptop, etc. Barbara and Idriss had told me this, but, as usual, I do my shopping in Wien and had lots of Tax Free, VAT iitems. At Heathrow, they would not let me go through the passport control with the Tax Free bag, so I had to run to United's counter and have it checked in. That gave me 10 minutes to get to the United Gate at Terminal 3. I ran all the way, needless, to say that was my exercise for the year. Missed all the great duty free at Terminal 3. I even cried to the Passport Lady, but she said no deal. She said that they (the BAA people) never tell passengers about the one bag rule, so I wasnt the only one. Fortunately, United was pretty good this time and the bag made it on to my plane, so it was waiting for me at Dulles. It better be since all of my great Wien stuff was in there!
Also, I had the nice man at Austrian Customs stamp my VAT forms (it should have been done in the UK (last Schengen place)) but he remembred me since one of my VAT places is the Loos house and he remembered that. He was great, not your usual bureauctric person. He wanted to get rid of me so that he could back to watching the soccer game on his little TV set. So sometimes it pays to be persistent, but not with the BAA people.
If any of you are thinking of travelling this summer to the US or in Europe, avoid Heathrow at all costs, unless it is your end point.
Again, my thanks to Barbara and Idriss and I hope this helps some of you.
Hope to read you all soon.
svon
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2 comments:
Hi Susan!
I'm glad you made it safely back home and that your luggage arrived with you.
It became such a hazzle to travle by plane and you get so much less service for increasing prices that I'm almost considering traveling by boat or train instead (not that taht is more comfortable). I'm still waiting for "beaming" to be invented :-).
On our last trip they destroyed an almost brandnew piece of luggage (completely destroyed it - the bottom part including wheels got ripped off) and now they want us to drag it all across Vienna to a shop who has to certify that it is damaged and needs to be replaced. This is so ridiculous. Anyway I'm glad you made it and you know Susan is completely right. If you can avoid Heathrow at all costs...
All the best
Barbara
Hello Barbara and Idriss;
I cant thank you enought for the "heads up" you gave me about Heathrow and I am so glad that I got my VAT stamped in Austria-saved me a long of aggration and money.
You are right about travel Barbara, best way to go is to "beam me up Scottie" or on your own Gulfstream!
Sorry for all the mess you have to go through with your luggage, it is equally as bureaucrtic herein the US. In Sept. I will go non-Stop on Austrian to Wien and not check any luggage. Just another excuse to shop in Austria!
Have a great day/evening.
svon
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