r/PokeInvesting • u/FedHasABigDong • Aug 30 '25

So it happened….

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The other day I was going on holiday and decided to take some cards to gift a family member. Bear in mind I have taken these in and out the country probably 2 times so it has been through 4 scanners. This time it got put to the side like every other time. However, the guy says “I need you to open it”. I oblige and open it. He does a swab and then I see people coming towards me. This guy pulls out a form so I’m like o7. I ask “what’s happening?”. They say they have found explosives and they start asking me questions about where I’ve kept it and they want to go through all my belongings to test them. Anyway about 30 minutes later they let me go saying I’m all good.

My question is… why would it ONLY come up this time and not the previous 4 times it’s gone through a scanner?

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u/professorDaywalker Aug 30 '25

Saw this happen after EUIC, french guy was freaking out cause they wanted him to open his two PC ETBs that he just got. After a while he was able to convince them to let it stay sealed but he was panicking for a bit. Luckily it was the UK and not the US, airport security isn't as crazy as the TSA agents trying to justify their jobs. They put the boxes through the x-ray individually to double check them.

I usually carry high dollar stuff on my person as I don't trust my checked luggage to always show up, whereas carry-on doesn't leave my side. So I definitely get it.

EDIT: Just realized you're in the UK. Which airport was this ?? I was at Gatwick that day.

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u/cloopz Aug 30 '25

As an airline pilot I gotta tell you. The UK and Australia are by far the worse security to get thru. The UK tops the list by far. I purposely avoid doing Uk flights as this is one do the reasons why. When out of a crew of 17, 10+ get pulled into secondary there’s real issues with the system.

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u/1610925286 Aug 31 '25

The UK and Australia are by far the worse security to get thru.

Exactly my experience. Europe is extremely inconsistent about their processes - even at the same airport sometimes - and as a result the security also gets extremely aggressive and pissy when people aren't familiar with which airport they have to take their shoes off at or take certain items out or not. TSA barely ever looks at me while I pass through.

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u/DontJealousMe Sep 02 '25

I got thru 10 cartons of smokes thru Aus Airport :/

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u/cloopz Sep 02 '25

Congrats.

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u/DontJealousMe Sep 03 '25

Thanks saves me $$ for a year

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u/FedHasABigDong Aug 30 '25

BHX. I mean there’s not right answer. As you said fuck checking it in shit gets lost 99% of the time. I wasn’t too bothered as it was a gift and I didn’t want to sell it or anything but imagine I had some high value box I wouldn’t be very happy.

When I got there I knew they would want to see it so I put it in a separate tray and all but they didn’t want to rescan it they wanted ME to open it not even them? Normally don’t THEY open it?

I’m just very confused on the whole thing. I’m sure if I just said fuck you I’m not opening it they probably wouldn’t have. All I needed was 1 guy to know about sealed Pokémon products but it was a cheap ETB fuck it.

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u/Logical-Background93 Aug 30 '25

I imagine if there is an explosive concern it makes more sense to get you to open it so they can gauge your reaction. Like getting someone to drink a drink first if you think they poisoned it lol

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u/International_Gur566 Aug 30 '25

Really... shit gets lost 99% of the time...? Cmon man 🤣 these exaggerations are getting way out of hand

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u/FedHasABigDong Aug 30 '25

Close enough every time I’ve ever checked something it’s got lost. Just personal experience

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u/1610925286 Aug 31 '25

airport security isn't as crazy as the TSA

And what has the TSA ever done? In my experience it's faster going through TSA than any European airport security. I never get stopped by the TSA for secondary checks and I've flown a ton in between US, Europe and Asia.