My experience leaving the DR via Puerto Plata airport

[Lambada]

Someone has seen it - I emailed it to him earlier. If the OP had been concerned about putting the problem right for the benefit of others, he would have given date, airline, flight number, time, ID of offending security personnel, offered any photos he took etc etc. THEN the post would have attracted serious attention.

As it is, a vent is just a vent. And as the OP says he isn't coming back one can only assume he isn't interested in a factual report such that an investigation could be made. We have had altruistic posters in the past who have supplied details.

[MDWsur]

I am a big dummy, but I have never had a problem at either POP or SDQ airports. Ever.

I agree that without a name or flight number, the post is likely nonsense.

MDW

[jrhartley]

this is a thread that raises more questions than answers .
Would you bother to register for a forum to post a message saying you would never return to that country ? what is the point of the post if proper details are not given ? how can you complain about something that didnt happen ie having your money and camera stolen ?

[Bob K]

I had a similar wallet experience on my second trip here. I did just reach over and took it back from him. He was slightly startled but did nothing. Since then when they ask to empty my pockets and put everything on the conveyer belt i leave my wallet in my pocket.
In 5 years of using the POP airport this has been to only "strange" thing to happen.

Bob K

[FireGuy]

Unfortunately this story is not unheard of in the tourist realm. I post on several tourist based boards and this type of story comes up every now and then; frequently enough that I tend to believe it when such an experience is related to me.

A couple of things to remember:

1) The average AI tourist is not an experienced traveler by DR1 standards and the whole security/migracion/aduana experience is a bit daunting for them and there is a bit of the "deer in the headlights" syndrome when they encounter an authority figure.

2) I believe that we should focus on the problem and not question the motivation of the OP to post. DR1 forums are rife with stories of Dominican authority figures taking advantage of their positions to better their personal fortunes so is it such a leap to believe that some would resort to out and out theft - I personally don't think so.

Some airport management teams care about their reputations and some appear to either not care or be indifferent about their reputations. When a similar incident was reported, with details, to the management at the Punta Cana airport (Airport Manager, Walter Zemialkowski); they were quick to make promises, review video tapes, arrest and convict the perpetrators - and since then tourist reports are almost non-existent of such abuses. The manager has posted his personal e-mail address for tourists to use and seems to treat such reports against his employees as a personal affront to his management. In Santiago, if and when details are available, I know we can count on our friend Hillbilly to put the information in the right hands and ramrod justice. Unfortunately such remedies are not available elsewhere, AFAIK and if anyone has direct contacts which could facilitate resolutions to such incidents, I would encourage you to pass them on to hlywud or myself. The DR's tourist reputation is not great in all quarters and during tough economic times we should all want to enhance the potential tourist experiences, not question their complaints - at least IMHO.

Gregg

[Lambada]

Maybe I was erring on the side of the obtuse with this post

Originally Posted by Lambada

Someone has seen it - I emailed it to him earlier.

To reiterate: I emailed the thread to a relevant person at PP airport. Without details he can do nothing. Over to the OP to provide details.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by FireGuy

In Santiago, if and when details are available, I know we can count on our friend Hillbilly to put the information in the right hands and ramrod justice. Unfortunately such remedies are not available elsewhere, AFAIK and if anyone has direct contacts which could facilitate resolutions to such incidents, I would encourage you to pass them on to hlywud or myself.

Gregg, we have very good contacts at Aerodom and their people regularly read DR1. They take these things seriously, but they need names, dates etc in order to do something.

I urge any tourists that gets hassled in anyway, to ask or note down the persons name and badge number. With this info and posted on DR1, I have no doubt action would be taken against them.

[Beads]

I dont understand why you would even take your wallet out of your pocket for inspection? If you know your going through a metal detector make sure all metal is out of your wallet. If your carrying cash why not keep it separate in your pocket? Credit cards too. They don't set off the metal detectors why bothering even flaunting that crap in their faces?

[pyratt]

I've been searched only once leaving SDQ....it was my first trip so I may have appeared "confused" as I learned the ropes of disembarking. I had 12 bags of Cafe Santo Domingo in my backpack.....looks like bricks of coke on x-ray...that was quickly resolved by a search (they looked inside) and production of the receipt from La Dispensa.

A second search on the gangway was made of my carry-on roller. The security guy took my disposible razor telling me I could not take it aboard....they never said anything about my backpack (or rum!)

Last July, I came in thru SDQ with a large (5' long) canvas duffle (checked) that had two cases of MREs, 2 cases of self heating (military type) body cleansing wipes, 10blue tarps and assorted "regalitos" for my shoe shine mafia and NP friends....I was SURE I was gonna get stopped, searched and suckered into paying something.....boy was I wrong....I picked up the bag, balanced it on my carry on roller with a couple bungee cords to secure it and moved like I owned the place. I handed my customs declaration to the girl (declaring NOTHING) and walked right thru!

Like everything else in the DR, the standard is, there is no "standard".

[Islander777]

I also emailed a link to this thread to a relevant person at POP airport, however without more details getting results may be impossible. I remember a similar thread years back also involving someone leaving POP and in that case they lost something or other when they put their carry-on bag through the X-Ray machine. For my part, I have transited POP many many times without serious incident.