Dutyfree buying in BKK

[Austman]

So - no evidence re the government. And don't forget that the LAG laws apply in various forms world-wide. So if it's a conspiracy, it's an international, mult-government conspiracy!

Monopoly arrangements with private owners of airports is another matter. Lots of concern about that! No conspiracy but.

eg Airport monopolies under pressure - National Interest - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) and many, many, more.

 

[NM]

So - no evidence re the government. And don't forget that the LAG laws apply in various forms world-wide. So if it's a conspiracy, it's an international, mult-government conspiracy!

The rules are specific to flights departing direct to Australia and imposed by the Australian government. A few other countries impose similar LAGs limits for departures to their country (e.g. USA), but most departures from BKK (and HKG as another example) to countries other than AU and USA do not have the same restrictions imposed at the boarding gate. So yes it most certain is imposed by the Australian Government. The signs at the gate where the additional screening takes place also note that it is an Australian Government requirement for the screening.

The debatable part is the conspiracy theory relating to why the Australian Government imposes the LAGs limits for flights departing BKK destined for Australia. As I see it, there are several possibilities, none of which seem to be able to be verified by facts (except maybe the last one in my list):

• Pressure by the owners of the Australian DF stores to enable them to make more profit from passengers purchasing on arrival at inflated prices
• Pressure by airport owners so they can charge inflated rent rates to DF shops because they know passengers will purchase on arrival at inflated prices
• A real security risk resulting from BKK policy of allowing DF LAGs purchased at other airports through transit screening
• Australian Government incompetence to review and adjust policy appropriately

 

[richie9x]

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.

Fair enough, my mistake. I just read the first posts in those threads that said BKK has gate security so that is why you can't have duty free booze. I just assumed they might be outdated and didn't read on to see that they do go on to cover security being moved and the real cause being Australian regulations for no duty free booze.

 

[Austman]

The rules are specific to flights departing direct to Australia and imposed by the Australian government. A few other countries impose similar LAGs limits for departures to their country (e.g. USA), but most departures from BKK (and HKG as another example) to countries other than AU and USA do not have the same restrictions imposed at the boarding gate. So yes it most certain is imposed by the Australian Government. The signs at the gate where the additional screening takes place also note that it is an Australian Government requirement for the screening.

The debatable part is the conspiracy theory relating to why the Australian Government imposes the LAGs limits for flights departing BKK destined for Australia.

The rules are there and it's not just from BKK. And they are not just for flights to Australia/USA. You cannot buy at BKK if you later transit the EU for example. And many countries including Thailand and the USA have domestic LAG laws (whereas Australia doesn't).

Try to change the laws? It can be so much more complicated than you might suspect. This was widely reported when the EU tried to relax their LAG rules in 2011: LAGs phase 1 postponed

Sometimes we have to remember that these are LAG rules. And alcohol happens to be a LAG. To the DF conspiracy supporters: Why don't the same conspiracy rules apply for non-LAG DF items (like tobacco)?

 

[serfty]

...
Sometimes we have to remember that these are LAG rules. And alcohol happens to be a LAG. To the DF conspiracy supporters: Why don't the same conspiracy rules apply for non-LAG DF items (like tobacco)?

While I don't put much credence to the conspiracy theories, it could be said it's had to justify a reason for making them hard to purchase elsewhere (unlike those put forward for LAGS).

Aside from that, the D/F profit on non Tobacco/Non-LAG items is not as great due to the lack of excise.

From September, Tobacco will be moot in relation to Oz arrivals.

 

[NM]

The rules are there and it's not just from BKK. And they are not just for flights to Australia/USA. You cannot buy at BKK if you later transit the EU for example. And many countries including Thailand and the USA have domestic LAG laws (whereas Australia doesn't).

I am not aware of any EU destinations for flights departing BKK where passenger carry-on bags are screened and prevented from carrying LAGs onto the aircraft as happens for flights departing to Australia.

 

[JohnK]

So - no evidence re the government. And don't forget that the LAG laws apply in various forms world-wide. So if it's a conspiracy, it's an international, mult-government conspiracy!

Yes no evidence but I am aware of 2 airports in Asia (BKK and HKG) where one cannot bring duty free into Australia. I need to do research and see if Nuance own duty free stores in either of these airports.

I do know that Nuance own stores in SIN who by some weird coincidence allow duty free liquor into Australia and by even stranger coincidence own duty free stores in Australian airports.

From September, Tobacco will be moot in relation to Oz arrivals.

What is the new limit? Is it 50 grams of tobacco? I am going to buy some now and park it in Thailand and bring it back slowly.

Also as far as I am aware you are allowed to keep one opened in your pocket and also purchase one duty free. So purchase one on the way out and purchase one on the way back.

 

[Austman]

I am not aware of any EU destinations for flights departing BKK where passenger carry-on bags are screened and prevented from carrying LAGs onto the aircraft as happens for flights departing to Australia.

But they can be screened in the EU. You cannot buy DF (... well the DF stores should advise you not to) if your final destination is anywhere in the EU that involves a transit within the EU (eg BKK-LHR-CPH) . Only a select few countries are exempt. Thailand is not one of them.

 

[mannej]

But they can be screened in the EU. You cannot buy DF (... well the DF stores should advise you not to) if your final destination is anywhere in the EU that involves a transit within the EU (eg BKK-LHR-CPH) . Only a select few countries are exempt. Thailand is not one of them.

But that is different altogether compared to the Australian situation.

 

[Austman]

But that is different altogether compared to the Australian situation.

True, but the point is to show that it's not just Australia that has 'strange' rule requirements on DF. I was actually in this exact EU transit situation. BKK-CPH-ARN. And my bottles were about to be confiscated in CPH. I decided to migrate in CPH and check-in my hand luggage complete with bottles (that were in boxes). They made it OK.

But if your flight originates within the EU (and a few other countries), LAG purchases will be allowed at transit points in the EU.

So it's OK to fly to the EU with DF, but not OK to transit the same DF within the EU. Mmmmm.

 

[NM]

But they can be screened in the EU. You cannot buy DF (... well the DF stores should advise you not to) if your final destination is anywhere in the EU that involves a transit within the EU (eg BKK-LHR-CPH) . Only a select few countries are exempt. Thailand is not one of them.

Being unable to carry them through a transit in EU is very different to being screened at BKK departure and having them confiscated at point of departure when you don't have any transfer upon arrival. Totally different situation and different rules applying. In fact there is no rules or laws prohibiting you purchasing DF LAGs at BKK if you have an EU transit. There is no rules stopping you taking them onto the aircraft at BKK. The rules would be applied at the EU transit point.

 

[Austman]

Being unable to carry them through a transit in EU is very different to being screened at BKK departure

Why? The end result is the same. The goods are confiscated. Only the location of the confiscation is different.