What should i expect from Vienna Airport Customs ?

[Zu]

Heyhey-

I posted an earlier question about wether it would be cheaper/safer to ship my excess luggage or pay the exceess luggage cost and take it along with me on the plane but unfortunatley i did not get more than one or two responses so i guess most of you guys on this forum moved through your employers..

Hopefully this will be an experience more than a few have had. After posting above question at other forums i've come to the conclusion that wife and i would be better of travelling together with your 10 large suitcases and just pay the exceess luggage..ok so the next question is what sort of reception should we expect with the Viennese customs at the airport ?
These suitcases will be holding our personal effects and the majority of the gear is our own clothing so no new gadgets or unworn new-with-tag clothing.

Will the excessive luggage count cause any red flags ? What i'm getting at is will they charge us vat/custom fees on our own personal effects ?
I was thinking worst case scenario we could persuade customs that these items were ours by modelling some of the clothing to prove that we are the rightful owners..
Just dont know what to expect if we are "profiled" for whatever reason and end up being charged for our personal effects.
Any heads up cheerfully accepted.
Zu

[Fritz1978]

Never been in the situation myself, but this is a question I would try asking the airline you are flying with, especially if its really 10 suitcases for two passengers ... definetly don´t wait for the flight-day and just show up there, ask them if its e.g. possible to check them in a day in advance, many airlines offer that at Schwechat now ...

CU, Fritz

[Zu]

hey Fritz-

Actually sorting out the airline hassle i have figured out what i will need to do. Its the " what happens once we land at Vienna International and customs " part that has me concerned.

Zu

[Fritz1978]

maybe this helps in that case:
http://english.bmf.gv.at/Customs/Taxand ... _start.htm

Basicly the garde of compliciation of this procedure depends if you already have a registred place of residency in Austria when moving the goods, it helps if you have one ...

If your main place of residency will be in Vienna, this is the responsible public authority:
http://dienststellen.bmf.gv.at/ShowDst. ... d=ZA100000

All the best, Fritz

[Pope]

Hey there.

I did almost the same thing when I moved from CA to Sydney and they certainly noticed me wheeling out more than what looked like my fair share of luggage. But as soon as I explained I was moving my life it... and they put every box through the x-ray I was on my way... no fees, no pain.

In Vienna, I have NEVER been stopped by customs officers. HAS ANYONE here? It is the most relaxed international airport I have been at in a western country.

Not to say you won't get stopped, but I would be suprised if there was even someone manning the post...

Good luck!

[morgenhund]

In Vienna, I have NEVER been stopped by customs officers. HAS ANYONE here? It is the most relaxed international airport I have been at in a western country.

Not to say you won't get stopped, but I would be suprised if there was even someone manning the post...

Good luck!

A lot depends on where you are coming from, bearing in mind that Schengen arrivals tags (i.e. for journeys fully within Schengen) have nice green borders on them, you often get ignored... From SE Asia they can be a bit more vigilant - especially if they think they have a chance of finding fake clothing and jewellery. I had a lot of fun after a little trip to Hong Kong - they were pretty merciless when it came to not making me unpack!

[Zu]

I think i mentioned we would be flying in from California to Vienna..and did i also mention that my wife is Austrian? Hopefully if we do get pulled aside for any type of questioning it would be less of a hassle to prove that we indeed were re-locating plus the fact that my wife is infact returning back to her native country...albiet with a foriegn husband in tow.

cheers
Zu

[postfuchs]

I think i mentioned we would be flying in from California to Vienna..and did i also mention that my wife is Austrian? Hopefully if we do get pulled aside for any type of questioning it would be less of a hassle to prove that we indeed were re-locating plus the fact that my wife is infact returning back to her native country...albiet with a foriegn husband in tow.

cheers
Zu

There are no direct flights from California to Vienna though, are there? If not, the answer to your question depends on where you transfer. If you transfer from another US airport to Vienna then you will have to deal with customs here, but if you (for example) fly from California to Germany and then on to Vienna, you will be entering the common European customs area (Schengen area) in Germany and will not be checked again in Vienna.

[Zu]

No ,no direct flights from California that i know of. We have not purchased our tickets yet as we are still shopping for best prices but i'm almost certain the transit point is going to be Frankfurt or somewhere else in Germany.

I'm guessing that if we do get pulled over for inspection they (customs) will realize we dont have any counterfiet items etc. and hopefully will realize everything is infact personal effects...however numerous the quantity.

Thanks