Woman took free flight snack off plane 'for later' and it cost her £350
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After eight-and-a-half hours on a transatlantic flight, Crystal Tadlock was pleased when the crew started handing out clear plastic bags with snacks.
When she arrived in Minneapolis in the US from Paris, her journey wasn't over.
She had to continue on a connecting flight to her home in Denver.
So Crystal thought she might be doing herself a favour when she decided to save an apple that was included in the Delta handout in case she got hungry again.
But before her onward journey to Denver, she had to go through US customs.
"Well, what do we have here?" Crystal says a Customs agent told her.
"Well, we have an apple. This is a civil violation."
(Image: Bloomberg)
Crystal explained that the apple was clearly from Delta airlines because it was still in the Delta-branded bag it came in.
But she said the smug Customs agent appeared to enjoy her misfortune, saying he couldn't be certain it hadn't come from France.
The fine was $500, more than £350.
Crystal raised her situation with Delta, but they said the rules on "food produce" being brought into the US were clear.
(Image: KDVR)
An airlines spokesperson told CNN the apple was "intended to be consumed on the plane."
Crystal has filed a complaint against the Customs agent and against the fine but her hopes appear slim.
Rules are rules, apparently.
She told CNN: "If all else fails and I have to pay, maybe it will help someone else in the future.
"Even if it's Delta putting a note in the bag about the apple."