Thu Sep 11, 2003 11:31 am
I travel a lot with work, and have had similar experiences in JFK, and Chicago. But I have also been messed around by customs people in Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, and worst of all Zurich (opened all my luggage up and held me up until all the cabs had gone from the rank outside!). From 7 years and 350,000 miles experience I would say going through customs and immigration is a matter of luck.
Don't judge a country by one group of difficult customs officers (can't be much fun when everyone they see is going on holiday, and they are not!). In all of the places I have mentioned I have met great people (well maybe not Zurich? - but I wasn't there long)
For the record, best I ever found was Tangiers - I arrived at 2am and the customs men were asleep on the tables - the quickest and the quietest customs hall ever (was 25 years ago - I guess things may have changed)