I travel with PMs quite regularly - domestic and international. Never had a problem. Including coming back from the US with 3 mint tubes (i.e. 60 oz) of ASEs. I hold mostly coins rather than bars though. On the X-ray they'll just look like any regular coins so I suppose they don't look suspicious (since everyone travels with money!). Bars might attract suspicion as the X-ray people won't be as used to seeing them. Also as mentioned above, there are limits to the amount of cash or equivalent you can take out of the country before you have to declare it. That limit is $10,000 AUD at the present time. So if the value of the bullion exceeds $10k, and it's an international flight, you should declare it. Nothing illegal about doing this ... but you just have to declare.
I can imagine that in some circumstances an over exubant security official suspects that you may be carrying ill-gotten funds, if you have proof of ownership this will ensure a swift transition through all checks. I will say however I have not been asked to provide any evidence yet and that includes a movement of PM OS on a number of ocasions. Moral to the story better to be safe than sorry
The thread pertains to domestic flight. I'd love to see any exorbitant security official question me about MY property. It'd be none of his bloody business where I got my pm's from, with or WITHOUT proof of ownership. International flights would be a different kettle of fish though.
Been on 4 domestic flights todays...and i can tell you...there was nothing "domestic" about them God I hate those flying cattle trucks :/
+1. Never any issues RE receipts etc, but if lugging silver just be prepared to have it inspected (comes up on their scanners). A few ounces of gold in the wallet goes straight through but a few kilos in the bag gets inspected. They're generally fine with private viewing etc (i.e. they won't blab it over the loudspeaker to all and sundry).
Well, that's the question, isn't it For bars, obviously bullion value, but for legal tender coins you could argue both ways...
Recent experience: Security: Who's bag is this? Me: Mine - I would like a private screening please. Security: What's in the bag? Me: Um, I would like a private screening please. Security: Why? What's in it? Me: I'd rather not say in public. Security (blushes, makes assumption): Oh, um, well, of course sir, I see, we totally respect your privacy and don't make any judgements... (later in the room) Security: Oh, it's gold! Oh. Oh. Sorry. Dunno what he thought I had in the bag :lol:
I think you would be pretty safe going on face value of the coins and I don't think the $10000 limit mentions gold/silver on the form.
Also, security staff may only open a bag with your permission. But that won't stop them from trying to open it without your permission. In some cases it's a dismissable offence. You could raise the issue by asking them what their supervisor's policy on staff conducting illegal uncondoned luggage inspections ? That got me into a private viewing room quickly just about as fast as they found their manners again. They even detected explosives residue on my clothes from the quarry I'd just inspected & had no choice but to let me on...hehehe... f@#ers!!!
Lets say you want to leave the country with 30oz of gold coins. since the bullion value is much greater than $10,000 what are you meant to do?
What's your source of information for this? I see nothing on the Austrac site that mentions reporting of bullion value for travellers - http://www.austrac.gov.au/info_for_travellers.html Thanks!
