So we made it home last evening without any issues. I slept most of the flight from JNB to London. Long layover in London was eased by the various shops / restaurants in Heathrow Terminal 5. I managed to stay awake for most of the flight from London to Phoenix. So by 9pm last night I couldn't keep my eyes open. In bed at 9:30 and promptly woke this morning just prior to 5am. So not bad, probably have a period this afternoon where I want to go to bed, but hopefully will be back to normal by tomorrow.
Interesting experience coming in on an international flight to Phoenix Sky Harbor on a Sunday evening. First thing was these Passport Control kiosks that I've not seen before. A whopping whole 10 of them to handle the bulk of the passengers, American that is, coming off this flight. Essentially you answer the same questions you have on the "landing card" you get on the airplane, and it takes a picture of you and then generates a receipt with that pic. Because I answered yes to the part about being on a ranch, it also put an "X" across the receipt which then directed me to a different line for what would be the normal visit with a CBP officer. But I was in the "special" he's got an "X" on his receipt line, which was in fact shorter than those "normal" people.....win! Officer asked me what we were doing on the trip, told him it was a hunting trip, he asked a little more about it with a smile on his face and sent us on our way!
Rifle and ammo case came off the plane in short order, but had to wait for awhile for our other checked suitcase. But eventually it showed up and we were on our way to the next customs officer, this is where it gets interesting.
Remember all the crap we were going through in regards to taking firearms out of the country and then bringing them back? Well I get up to the customs officer with the intent of answering his questions in as short as possible an answer. He asks do we have anything to declare? No is my answer of course. He then asks what's in the big metal case? Two rifles for hunting I answer. He asks if they are mine? With great effort I resist my natural propensity for being a smart ass and I answer yes and would you like to see the 4457's? He asks if I have them and I say yes of course and he says no that's fine. And off we go! I didn't even have to open the case up. I don't know what the deal was. Was it because it was Sunday evening? Is this a Phoenix thing? Was it just the luck of the draw in regards to this particular CBP officer? I don't know, but from touchdown of the plane to on the road home was about an hour and 10 minutes. That is only 20-30 mins longer than when I fly domestically and carry on all of my luggage.
Another travel note, in regards to traveling with minors to RSA. Yep, the new req'ts are in force and it was on the news over there. The new regs were put in force starting 1st of June, which was after we arrived. So no questions when we entered the country. When we were leaving on Saturday however, the passport control officer at JNB asked if we knew about the new regs, but before I could answer, she asked when we arrived? When I told her when we arrived she seemed ready to back off of the new regs as they were supposed to be waived if we arrived prior to 1st June. But she asked again then if we were aware of the new regs and I told her yes and then provided her the req'd paperwork. She took just a cursory glance, thanked me and waived us through. But for any of you who may be traveling with your kids through RSA, you need to be prepared and have this paperwork ready.
on the way home to drown the sorrow.
