Diplomatic immunity

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Trudee

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Was talking to a friend of mine the other night, she had just returned from Paris, when she got on flight two gentlemen got on with very large hold-alls, one so big it was on wheels, cabin crew said not acceptable but these two gentlemen claimed diplomatic immunity and had obviously got through all security with this disclaimer. Pilot came out and handled situation but it took an hour or so for the two men to eventually leave Aer Lingus flight with their bags. This seems bizarre in the extreme, could it be true that diplomatic immunity exists on flights? My friend's point was that at least the bags were big therefore attention was drawn to them but what if they were carry on bags and had got through 'cause of diplomatic immunity.
 
Trudee said:
Was talking to a friend of mine the other night, she had just returned from Paris, when she got on flight two gentlemen got on with very large hold-alls, one so big it was on wheels, cabin crew said not acceptable but these two gentlemen claimed diplomatic immunity and had obviously got through all security with this disclaimer. Pilot came out and handled situation but it took an hour or so for the two men to eventually leave Aer Lingus flight with their bags. This seems bizarre in the extreme, could it be true that diplomatic immunity exists on flights? My friend's point was that at least the bags were big therefore attention was drawn to them but what if they were carry on bags and had got through 'cause of diplomatic immunity.
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I would be surprised if you could claim diplomatic immunity for that. I am sure they could claim it to stop their bags being searched but assume the pilot is well within his rights to refuse to accept them on boards as if the bags were big enough they could cause problems for aircrafts weight and fuel calculations. I would throw them off the plane myself if they had delayed me for a hour!!
 
Pilot got a round of applause when the two gentlemen left, still makes me uncomfortable to know that you can get through with bags unchecked. Shows you the insensitivitity or arrogance of people who claim immunity to others on flight.
 
last year i took a flight from stansted to dublin and at boarding gate were 4 gentlemen with large bags containing bottles of wine etc... boarding gate girl said they could not bring them on the flight as they had not been purchased in duty free - they had somehow gotten all the way through the airport security checks with these bottles of wine and other gifts and managed to take them as far as boarding.

Captain was called, he gave them 2 choices (1) you can leave the bags in the airport and arrange someone to collect them from out front or (2) you can not get on the flight.

There was much shouting and waving of arms and production of receipts showing how expensive the items were etc... captain stood firm, no arguments at all, just an impassive face while awaiting decision and all 4 agreed to leave the stuff behind.

A LOT of muttering from other passengers about how they wouldnt get on the flight if these guys were allowed on with the stuff.

It was at the height of the new airposrt security measures for liquids etc...
 
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