Glenfiddich 30yo - duty free in BKK?

[Febs]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has passed/is passing through BKK soon and could tell me roughly how much a bottle of Glenfiddich 30yo goes for?

My girlfriend is coming back in a few days and said she'd pick up a bottle of whatever I want. I love Glenfiddich 30yo but not at Sydney dutyfree prices...so I'm wondering if it's a bit more reasonable in BKK. She probably won't be able to call me from the airport, so I figured I'd ask now.

Thanks muchly
- Febs.

 

[bazzam]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has passed/is passing through BKK soon and could tell me roughly how much a bottle of Glenfiddich 30yo goes for?

My girlfriend is coming back in a few days and said she'd pick up a bottle of whatever I want. I love Glenfiddich 30yo but not at Sydney dutyfree prices...so I'm wondering if it's a bit more reasonable in BKK. She probably won't be able to call me from the airport, so I figured I'd ask now.

Thanks muchly
- Febs.

I don't think she will be allowed to purchase alcohol in Bangkok on the way to Sydney. For some reason Australian laws prohibit this. This was the case a few months ago when I flew through Bangkok. FYI alcohol was cheaper and I was all set to buy when the checkout person informed me of the rules. You can check the price at Sydney duty free at dutyfree.com.au

 

[Evan]

Huh, maybe something strange at BKK< but no problems from SIN or HKG, i just did it last week. (Once again almost forgot to pick it up from the gate, doh ! but remembered as i stored my carry-on and ran back to grab it)
E

 

[Evan]

But they do say if SYD is not your final destination in Australia, blah blah blah, tell them they are wrong there is no domestic liquids law and just buy it. (Exception being international flights inside AU, eg CX's HKG-ADL-MEL flight, if you final destination is MEL you cant buy in HKG)

E

 

[serfty]

BKK is similar to SIN in that you need to pass through the X-rays and WTMD between the shops and the gate (BKK being at at the entrances to the piers, rather than the gates themselves like in SIN).

However, at BKK, they do not seem to have yet cottoned on to methods like they employed in SIN to allow the purchase of D/F liquids.

Interesting about HKG, many recent anecdotes indicate they would not sell liquid D/F to Oz destined PAX, this did not make sense to me as the x-rays/WTMD are immediately after emigration.

 

[NM]

I don't think she will be allowed to purchase alcohol in Bangkok on the way to Sydney. For some reason Australian laws prohibit this.

The Australian government rules require any airport purchased DF liquids >100ml to be delivered to the aircraft door by the DF shop in a tamper-evident clear package with the receipt visible. In SIN and I believe now in HKG, some of theairport DF stores (all of them??) will package at the check-out and deliver post security screening to the departure gate as the flight is boarding. It is my understanding that this arrangement is not provided by the DF shops at BKK airport, making it not possible to purchase at BKK for carriage to Australia. But I have not been through BKK recently so have no first hand experience of arrangements there.

 

[Evan]

<..>
Interesting about HKG, many recent anecdotes indicate they would not sell liquid D/F to Oz destined PAX, this did not make sense to me as the x-rays/WTMD are immediately after emigration.

I had no issues buying last time i was through there to SIN (Dec 08) and also Australia (not that recently, July 08 i think), they do question if you have a connection and then wont sell or try not to and i just say i will take the risk knowing the domestic situtation better than they do.
E

 

[Evan]

So you canty Duty Free liquids in BKK... yet another reason to avoid that terrible airport ! (ok not like some but i found it horrible the couple of times i have been, poor for a new build thats for sure)
E

 

[NM]

So you canty Duty Free liquids in BKK... yet another reason to avoid that terrible airport ! (ok not like some but i found it horrible the couple of times i have been, poor for a new build thats for sure)
E

Indeed. And the only reason I can see for Australia to enforce such additional screening is to protect the Australian airport DF operators from revenue losses due to reduced outbound sales by ensuring increased inbound sales.

 

[Evan]

Indeed. And the only reason I can see for Australia to enforce such additional screening is to protect the Australian airport DF operators from revenue losses due to reduced outbound sales by ensuring increased inbound sales.

I guess the Thais's should get better people to lobby for them... maybe hire the same ones that managed to get it done for Singapore and Hong Kong, Japan etc.

Why should i protect Australian duty free stores that are clearly sometimes chargeing well above what they should and they cant put the massive cost over say Singapore as all freight costs.
Sometimes i do still buy in Oz, More often than not i would buy on the way out, but thinks like the pattons choc coated maccas for friends

E

 

[JohnK]

The Australian government rules require any airport purchased DF liquids >100ml to be delivered to the aircraft door by the DF shop in a tamper-evident clear package with the receipt visible. In SIN and I believe now in HKG, some of theairport DF stores (all of them??) will package at the check-out and deliver post security screening to the departure gate as the flight is boarding.

My last few times through SIN the duty free purchases have been handed to me in tamper-evident clear bags.

 

[Evan]

My last few times through SIN the duty free purchases have been handed to me in tamper-evident clear bags.

Yep, Almost since day 1 of the introduction of new security it was available like that. I think the Singapore govt lobby'ed to all such a setup where originally the Australian govt was not going to allow it.

No idea why Thailand is so disorganised to manage it. I guess it will affect you John but i almost never fly via BKK, i will always choose HKG or SIN for to my way point of view much better airport and transit.

(Flying SQ C/J a few times from BKK and it just did not work for me, the airport is horrible, the lounges of SQ and TG sub standard, but it has been 12 months since i have done it so maybe its improved since i dont know)

E

 

[serfty]

...
Why should i protect Australian duty free stores that are clearly sometimes chargeing well above what they should and they cant put the massive cost over say Singapore as all freight costs.
Sometimes i do still buy in Oz, More often than not i would buy on the way out, but thinks like the pattons choc coated maccas for friends ...

I've been buying in MEL arrivals a lot lately.

This is solely due the the 20% discount coupons available from Skybus counters. The current version is valid until Feb 28th and only at Melbourne Arrivals Duty Free.

In a week or two I'm coming from HKG to BNE - Any know of discount for BNE arrivals? I will be looking around HKG. (not as good as it was this time last year I guess, back then the it was HKD6¾:AUD1)

 

[NM]

My last few times through SIN the duty free purchases have been handed to me in tamper-evident clear bags.

The process depends on your next destination. If heading from SIN to Australia, the item will be packed by the DF check-out staff and retained and then delivered to the departure gate after the gate security scan point. If departing SIN for other destination, it just has to be given to you at the check-out in the tamper-evident packaging and you can carry it through the gate screening point yourself.

 

[NM]

I will be flying BKK-SYD later this year. I will be considering purchasing on arrival into BKK and then have it in my checked bags for the flight to Australia.

Also note there is a risk in carrying DF alcohol onto the flight. If you are diverted to a different point )say SYD is fogged in a divert to BNE) you will lose the DF item in the diversion transit.

 

[Evan]

I will be flying BKK-SYD later this year. I will be considering purchasing on arrival into BKK and then have it in my checked bags for the flight to Australia.

Also note there is a risk in carrying DF alcohol onto the flight. If you are diverted to a different point )say SYD is fogged in a divert to BNE) you will lose the DF item in the diversion transit.

I would have imagined this is possible... but...

Cant you ask them to gate check it or ask QF for a domestic flight instead ? I would think it would make sense that the airline would sort something out would they not , or i am sure we would have 100 people here screeming that they took my duty free away !

E

 

[NM]

I would have imagined this is possible... but...

Cant you ask them to gate check it or ask QF for a domestic flight instead ? I would think it would make sense that the airline would sort something out would they not , or i am sure we would have 100 people here screeming that they took my duty free away !

E

No, the airlines do not normally sort it out for you. There are many, many reports of people having to dump their expensive booze when a flight diverts. The airline is very reluctant to let you take a domestic connection since they will need to search the hold for your bags. Its far better for the airline to keep all the passengers together and deliver them (and their bags) to the originally planned destination.

 

[Evan]

I guess it also depends what type of diversion, if it s weather one like has happened to me a few times we were not allowed off the aircraft, just stopped waited and got some fuel.

Oh well lucky i usually have cheap booze Of course if a passanger was smart at the point in time then i guess they may be feeling a little faint after all the excitement and possible does feel able to continue there journey just yet.

I dont understand why the airline would just just collect it put it in a box hand it to the ground staff, put it down below and off you go again if security is that much of a concern. Crazy isn't it given you can gate check a pair of scissors but not a bottle of booze at the other end.

Oh well something to keep in mind i guess.

I guess we better not start wondering why a sealed bag at the begining of the flight is any more dangerous at the end of a flight .... hmmm..

E

 

[JohnK]

No idea why Thailand is so disorganised to manage it. I guess it will affect you John but i almost never fly via BKK....

You need to visit Thailand a few more times to understand the mentality of the people in charge. King Power duty free is a monopoly and the people running it have absolutely no clue. I have not bought anything from them since the airport moved to Suvarnabhumi. They are so disorganised most times do not even have the basic things in stock.

It will not affect me as I would prefer to buy in Sydney, with $10 off vouchers it makes most items competitive, both on outbound and inbound flights. I also get QFF points. Yes I know no big deal but all points add up....

 

[Febs]

Thanks guys. I just assumed BKK would have their act together like SIN...clearly not.

No worries then, I'll order something at SYD duty-free, but it certainly won't be the more-expensive-than-retail Glenfiddich 30yo!

Cheers,
- Febs.