Dutyfree buying in BKK

[splinter1949]

Could someone of the forum please explain to me why I can not buy dutyfree alcohol in BKK when I fly to Australia direct?
When I stop and change flights in Singapore I have no problem optaining alcohol for my flight to Australia!
It seems to me that there could be colousion between KingPower and Dutyfree in Australia or owned by the nsame parent company!

Looking forward to an logical explaination.

Thanks

 

[NM]

I suggest you do a quick search of the forums here. There are many existing threads on this topic and its been answered from many different perspectives. See these threads as examples:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ringing-duty-free-bangkok-mebourne-22817.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ider-tips/duty-free-liquor-sin-bkk-26966.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/hkg-or-bkk-duty-free-21023.html

 

[mannej]

Don't hold your breathe for a logical answer.

There are several theories as to why you can not buy DF LAGS (the same applies for flights ex-HKG).

Somehow, even with all the conjecture, I don't think you will find the actual answer

 

[splinter1949]

Thanks for the info!

 

[splinter1949]

Thanks for that I was afraid of that also that we never find out why!

 

[NM]

Thanks for that I was afraid of that also that we never find out why!

The first level of "why" is very simple. The Australian Government will only allow DF LAGS (>100ml) if they are delivered by the DF shop in a sealed bag to the aircraft boarding gate. And at BKK there are no DF shops that are currently offering this "service".

The debate is around "why" the Australian government maintains this policy. There is no definitive answer to this "why" and different people have different views, most of which are well established in the previously referenced existing threads.

 

[Austman]

It seems to me that there could be colousion between KingPower and Dutyfree in Australia or owned by the nsame parent company!

The conspiracy theory has been often suggested but has never stood up. We all hate the processes but!

 

[richie9x]

I suggest you do a quick search of the forums here. There are many existing threads on this topic and its been answered from many different perspectives. See these threads as examples:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ringing-duty-free-bangkok-mebourne-22817.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ider-tips/duty-free-liquor-sin-bkk-26966.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/hkg-or-bkk-duty-free-21023.html

But most of those threads are old ~2010. I thought last year Suvarnabhumi moved their security checks from the gate to just after immigration departures. Are you still not allowed duty free booze?

 

[Austman]

But most of those threads are old ~2010. I thought last year Suvarnabhumi moved their security checks from the gate to just after immigration departures. Are you still not allowed duty free booze?

The rules:

From Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005, amended to 21 November 2011:

Exempt LAG items:
A LAG product (including a duty free item or an item supplied by the aircraft operator) is an exempt LAG item, if:
(a) the LAG product is in the possession of a passenger travelling on an aircraft that is operating an inbound international air service to Australia from an airport in an exempt country; and
(b) the passenger passed through a screening point for international passengers at the airport in the exempt country before boarding the aircraft; and
(c) the passenger obtained the LAG product after he or she passed through the screening point and before he or she boarded the aircraft; and
(d) the passenger did not disembark and reboard the aircraft in a non-exempt country during the international air service, unless the passenger did so as the result of an unscheduled stop.

An exempt country means: New Zealand or the United States of America.

Exempt duty free items:
An exempt duty free item, in relation to a passenger who will arrive in Australia on an aircraft operating an inbound international air service, means a duty free item that:
(aa) is acquired at an airport retail outlet at the point of origin of the flight, or a port of call before reaching Australia, at which all goods for sale:
(i) undergo security screening at the point of entry to the airport; and
(ii) are protected from unlawful interference by a process of supply chain security from the time they are delivered to the airport; and
(a) is collected by the passenger at the boarding gate before boarding the aircraft for departure from the airport where the item was acquired; and
(b) is in a sealed plastic bag with proof of purchase by the passenger affixed to the bag, or enclosed in the bag, so that proof of purchase is visible.

 

[NM]

But most of those threads are old ~2010. I thought last year Suvarnabhumi moved their security checks from the gate to just after immigration departures. Are you still not allowed duty free booze?

I believe the situation remains the same at BKK as far as duty free LAGs are concerned.

One of the reasons for the second level of "why" (why does the Australian Government impose this policy?) is that some airports like BKK and HKG allow transit passengers to carry duty free LAGs through the transit screening point if they are in a sealed tamper-evident bag with a receipt from the originating airport. Such carriage of LAGs is against the Australian policy, so such airports must perform gate checks and the only allowed exception is if the product is delivered to the gate in appropriate packaging, which is not offered by the local DF shops at BKK. So if that theory is accurate, it makes no different where the initial screening is performed, but is all about the fact they allow carriage of some LAGs through the transit screening.

 

[JohnK]

I think NM is trying to bring logic into the argument.

I do not believe there is any logic other than possibly KingPower and Nuance group.

 

[NM]

I think NM is trying to bring logic into the argument.

I do not believe there is any logic other than possibly KingPower and Nuance group.

Yes, that certainly is a well recognised view also :!:

 

[Austman]

I think NM is trying to bring logic into the argument.

I do not believe there is any logic other than possibly KingPower and Nuance group.

So please provide one shred of factual evidence (or even a newspaper report, reporter show, enquiry etc) or please retract it. There is a LOT of factual evidence that refutes your belief.

I don't like the rules either but views like this (with no factual foundation) do no good for anyone. (unfortunately)

 

[spudseamus]

I think NM is trying to bring logic into the argument.

I do not believe there is any logic other than possibly KingPower and Nuance group.

because they can ? I suppose

 

[NM]

So please provide one shred of factual evidence (or even a newspaper report, reporter show, enquiry etc) or please retract it. There is a LOT of factual evidence that refutes your belief.

I don't like the rules either but views like this (with no factual foundation) do no good for anyone. (unfortunately)

Lets not let facts get in the way of a good conspiracy theory.

 

[JohnK]

So please provide one shred of factual evidence (or even a newspaper report, reporter show, enquiry etc) or please retract it. There is a LOT of factual evidence that refutes your belief.

I don't like the rules either but views like this (with no factual foundation) do no good for anyone. (unfortunately)

I don't think I said I was providing facts. I was speculating. I didn't think there was a law against speculating and it is certainly not against forum guidelines and I am certainly not going to retract my statement. Believe or not, like it or not is entirely up to you.

And I still believe my theory is closer to the mark. Who owns duty free stores in Australian airports?

As for the current governement(s) and their decision making processes the less said the better.

 

[NM]

I don't think I said I was providing facts. I was speculating. I didn't think there was a law against speculating and it is certainly not against forum guidelines and I am certainly not going to retract my statement. Believe or not, like it or not is entirely up to you.

And I still believe my theory is closer to the mark. Who owns duty free stores in Australian airports?

As for the current governement(s) and their decision making processes the less said the better.

My personal conspiracy theory (equally unjustified by facts as yours) goes a little further and implicates the lobby power of the airport owners who are able to set the rent rates for retail space at the airport facilities based on some level of exclusive opportunity for revenue earning for their "clients".

So in addition to asking who owns the DF stores, I ask who owns the airports ... and from these answers, who stands to gain from the current government policies?

But its just speculation and each person should do their own research to develop their own theory - conspiracy, incompetence, security or otherwise.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

If thailand is your destination, purchase the duty free alcohol on your inbound flight to BKK, store it in your checked luggage for the return.

 

[JohnK]

But its just speculation and each person should do their own research to develop their own theory - conspiracy, incompetence, security or otherwise.

I suspect we will never know the "real" truth and I do not believe the powers that be will release that sort of information so easily.

If thailand is your destination, purchase the duty free alcohol on your inbound flight to BKK, store it in your checked luggage for the return.

Correct. Although the limit of one bottle into Thailand is a not as generous as one would hope. Managed 2 entries into Thailand last trip and bought two 1L bottles which came back in checked luggage.

 

[serfty]

But most of those threads are old ~2010. I thought last year Suvarnabhumi moved their security checks from the gate to just after immigration departures. Are you still not allowed duty free booze?

The first thread is 2 years but is still very relevant.

The second and theirs have quite contemporary posts as recently as this year.

It really doesn't matter when BKK moved security, but it certainly was over two years ago.

No- those thread are all useful in the context of the OP.

As for 'conspiracy', I subscribe to the principle of "Hanlon's Razor".