So, if I uderstand correctly, you cannot take large quantities of liquids in carry-on luggage now. So if I had two liters of high-quality scotch that I wanted to bring with me to Africa, I would have to pack it in my checked bags, correct?

If so, how would you suggest packing it? I'm afraid of a broken bottle and liquor all over my luggage. Perhaps packed in a sturdy box with styrofoam, wrapped in multiple layers of bubble wrap, all in a tightly sealed ziplock bag?

And then put in my Tuffpak?

John

I have transported Laphroiag Scotch in checked baggage a few times inside its original tube with some duck tape to keep the lid on.

I have done this in a Tuff-Pak.

I Also just buy it in the Airport and put it in my carry on.

However you must be sure that if you are making connecting flights you do not leave the secure area, or they will not let you get back on the next plane with it.

The Jo'berg airport duty free has a good selection of Scotch.

Roger what 450#2 says.
I've left for Africa via LA, Denver, Dulles, Atlanta, and Frankfurt. Always been able to buy premium liquor at duty free shops and simply put it into my carry on. Not worth the worry of packing, in my view.

OK - I had just heard about new restrictions on liquids.

From this story:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2004067552_webvodka12.html

John:
To be more specific. I did this in 05 at Dulles and this year in Frankfurt. Things may have changed.

It does seem rather strange that they sell all this duty-free liquor in the airorts, but are now saying you can't take it on the plane with you and have to put it in checked bags? But how do you get it in the checked bags after they've already been checked?

John
Check the regs real close. On my past trips, anything bought in the secure area ie Duty Free Shop food court etc. was allowed on the plane.

I always buy a couple of bottle waters to carry on, as well as the Scotch.

And with the meal cutbacks on domestic flights I buy some snacks as well.

Duty Free is in the secure area and you can purchase alcohol and bring it home.

But, if you have any connections your carry on bags may get re-scanned, at which point they will very likely tell you the liquids must be checked or discarded.

I'm fairly certain this will happen in Johannesburg and absolutely certain it will happen at Washington Dulles [IAD].

Best to wait to buy at duty free at the last connection point, after the security scan.

Les

quote:

Originally posted by LHowell:
But, if you have any connections your carry on bags may get re-scanned, at which point they will very likely tell you the liquids must be checked or discarded.

I'm fairly certain this will happen in Johannesburg and absolutely certain it will happen at Washington Dulles [IAD].

Best to wait to buy at duty free at the last connection point, after the security scan.

Les

That's what I was worried about - I'm flying Orlando to Frankfurt, then Frankfurt to Windhoek. I want to bring a special bottle to give as a gift to the ranch owner. Trust me, it won't be available in a duty-free shop in Frankfurt or Windhoek - or most likely in any liquor store in those places. So I guess I'll have to slip it into my Tuffpak or other checked bag and try to make sure it doesn't get broken.

Just FYI, those of you who might be traveling Delta through Johannesburg... be advised that Delta (and maybe other carriers) won't let you bring liquids (>4oz.) back in your carry-on. This includes purchases from the duty-free stores inside the secure area. Not only is it a no-no, but they were screening all carry-on luggage for liquids (twice). They had a pretty good collection of 'contraband', mostly bottled water.

Unfortunately, I found that out on the way back thru Jo'burg from Vic Falls last month. Apparently there's something about Tambo not being a 'properly secured' airport. Oh, well, at least I found out before dropping the $$ on some good rum. SAA didn't have a problem with taking it TO Vic Falls on the way over.

A lot of people have a problem when they return to the US and they have bottles from duty free in their carry on. If you have a connecting flight after clearing customs the liguids must go into your checked luggage. If you recheck your luggage and hit security with liquor still in your carry on bag you will lose it. Have seen it happen numerous times, lots of long faces.

quote:

Originally posted by JohnCrighton:
That's what I was worried about - I'm flying Orlando to Frankfurt, then Frankfurt to Windhoek. I want to bring a special bottle to give as a gift to the ranch owner. Trust me, it won't be available in a duty-free shop in Frankfurt or Windhoek - or most likely in any liquor store in those places. So I guess I'll have to slip it into my Tuffpak or other checked bag and try to make sure it doesn't get broken.

I took a bottle of Wild Turkey Rare Breed to Namibia in 2005 in my checked rolling duffel. I packed it up in some bubble wrap. Luckily it did not break or I would have had some interesting smelling hunting clothes.

PostDriver,
Saw the same thing leaving Joberg on Delta to Atlanta. Guys were buying huge bottles of liquor in the duty free shop only to have it confiscated right before you check on the plane. Looked like it was a party every nite for the folks confiscating.
If you do put it in your tuff pak, get one of those water seal bags. They are a thick nylon bag that you can make water tight. They sell them at most sporting goods stores. That way if it does break it won't leak outside of that container.

The truth is no matter how much you research it and insure you are doing everything by the book, if the customs agent decides to confiscate it he/she will and there isn't a thing you can do about it.

By all means take every precaution to do it right but understand you still might loose it.

I saw some special containers for transporting wine in your checked bags in one of those in flight catalogs. They even had a special suitcase for wine bottles. Of course if you couldn't fit it in your duffel ther'd be an extra bag fee......

We just pack the bottles in the checked luggage with lots of padding. So far, no problems. Joberg airport does not have my brand of scotch, or, we would buy it there, altought the liquor is a lot more expensive than here on St. Thomas.

If you just want the booze and do not care about the bottle. Get some liter nalgene bottles pour your scotch in and pack in check on. Those bottles are tough. I have made several trips using the same nalgene bottle.

I placed mine in heavy boot socks, carefully wrapped them put them in my bow case. The airport screener unwrapped each one from my checked luggage and tested them for explosives using a test strip and some machine. No big deal, just took about an hour. Everything was re-wrapped and transported fine!

When on business trips, I like to rlax with a bourbon in my room before bed.

So as mentioned by xgrunt I carry a bit in a nalgene bottle, inside a gallon ziploc bag (as a backup against spillage).

On short overnight trips I have a couple of those little airline bottles that I refill and put them in my carry on. They're small enough to fit in the quart sized ziploc, along with my toothpaste, deodorant, etc... One of the TSA guys saw them once and thought that it was a cool idea.

As to alcohol, a fine and tried method of transportation which I can recommend is to transport it in your belly.
To do this, open the bottle, tilt the contents into your mouth and swallow.
The method is infallible.

quote:

Originally posted by Schauckis:
As to alcohol, a fine and tried method of transportation which I can recommend is to transport it in your belly.
To do this, open the bottle, tilt the contents into your mouth and swallow.
The method is infallible.

I really want to sit next to you on my next trans-oceanic flight...

big piece of pvc pipe and 2 caps make sure it fits tight and is padded from moving around insidethe pipe also vent the pipe so reduced presure does not blow the cap off. it will be only slightly larger than the bottle itsself .

I have just padded the bottle in the past with tape and t shirts but the pipe is drop and idiot resistant.

Never been a problem with it in my duffle but then I drink Canadian Mist and order it in 1.75 liter plastic bottles. They don't take up near as much space as conventional bottles do.
Rich Elliott

quote:

Originally posted by Schauckis:
As to alcohol, a fine and tried method of transportation which I can recommend is to transport it in your belly.
To do this, open the bottle, tilt the contents into your mouth and swallow.
The method is infallible.

You must have missed the story of the German who drank his entire bottle of Vodka in the security line rather than have it confiscated and almost died. I believe the link is at the top here...

The JoBurg airport has a great duty free store (several actually) with a very good selection of single malts. I picked up a few bottles and some cigars before connecting to Harare. Too much effort to pack them and they could still break as well as increasing the weight of your luggage (Air France tagged me in London after making me check one of my bags...only one carry-on rule there).

My daughter just yesterday took a flight from Paris to ORD to LAX with a bottle of wine in her checked luggage. We wrapped it with bubble wrap, then a plastic bag around it, taped it up tightly to avoid wine soaked clothes if the bottle were to break. She and the wine made it fine, no problems of any sort.

quote:

Originally posted by CRUSHER:
big piece of pvc pipe and 2 caps make sure it fits tight and is padded from moving around insidethe pipe also vent the pipe so reduced presure does not blow the cap off. it will be only slightly larger than the bottle itsself .

I have just padded the bottle in the past with tape and t shirts but the pipe is drop and idiot resistant.

Make sure to attach a timer or fuse. The airport security love this kind of thing.