Carrying Duty Free Alcohol.

[stroudie]

I am flying Sydney/London with Qantas, London/Moscow with BA.
I would like to purchase duty free liquor in Sydney when departing. This will need to be carry on & won't be able to put into checked luggage until I collect same in Moscow (I am also connecting with S7 in Moscow to fly onwards domestically)
The liquor would be 2 litres in total & I presume in sealed plastic see through carry bag.
Am I able to take this as carry on to London, go through customs etc. & carry on for trip to Moscow. I intended to then put in my checked bag when I retrieved it in Moscow.
What are your thoughts/suggestions on this please ?
Stroudie.

 

[TonyHancock]

Am I able to take this as carry on to London, go through customs etc. & carry on for trip to Moscow. I intended to then put in my checked bag when I retrieved it in Moscow.
What are your thoughts/suggestions on this please ?
Stroudie.

I think your problems are going to occur before you get to London. If it is QF all of the way you will be transiting through Singapore so you won't be able to buy the booze in Sydney.

 

[harvyk]

You'll lose the booze well before you even get to LHR unless you can place it into your checked bags at your transit point.
Is this something you intend to drink whilst your away or something you plan to have and drink on your return to AU? If so check out SYD's collect on arrival service... It lets you buy your DF, and they hold it until you return.

 

[serfty]

How long is you SIN transit? If you can get to a store and purchase at least one hour before your onward flight departs you may be in luck.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....irport-question-connecting-flights-31476.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/duty-free-hong-kong-singapore-34372-3.html

 

[Princess Fiona]

Agree with the others you cannot buy duty free in SYD and get it to DME.
Possible to purchase in SIN if time and you will be permitted to take it through security at T 5 in LHR. Alternatively you could purchase it in LHR prior to departure

 

[Awesom Andy]

Is this something that's unattainable in other ports? Generally, I find SYD's duty free pricing to be extremely poor. If it is something that you can only buy in AU, then perhaps consider getting it from Dan Murphy, and pack it with your checked luggage. As crazy as this sounds, you might actually save money.

 

[james4321]

If it is something that you can only buy in AU, then perhaps consider getting it from Dan Murphy, and pack it with your checked luggage.

Very Very Very Very carefully - unless you like your clothes to have an alcohol smell and a broken glass feel !!!!!

 

[JessicaTam]

If you only intend buying wine, as opposed to beer or spirits, then you can buy that from your favourite retailer before you go and pack it in your checked luggage. You will need your receipt and to show the wine to someone* before checking your luggage to prove you have it with you. Otherwise do as Awesom Andy suggested and don't worry about claiming the GST.

* I have not done this myself but have a look at Advice for travellers for more info.

Transitting passengers in Singapore go through a security check at their departure gate so any carry on liquids over 100ml will be confiscated unless they were purchased at a duty free outlet at Changi and delivered to the gate.

 

[serfty]

...
Transitting passengers in Singapore go through a security check at their departure gate so any carry on liquids over 100ml will be confiscated unless they were purchased at a duty free outlet at Changi and delivered to the gate.

... in tamper evident sealed bags.

 

[JessicaTam]

... in tamper evident sealed bags.

Good point, Serfty. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Danger]

Singapore is an excellent place to buy duty free booze.

Agree with the others you cannot buy duty free in SYD and get it to DME.
Possible to purchase in SIN if time and you will be permitted to take it through security at T 5 in LHR. Alternatively you could purchase it in LHR prior to departure

I regularly pack bottles of duty free alcohol in my checked baggage. I first place each bottle in a heavy-duty plastic bag (like a Myer or David Jones bag, not a disposable shopping bag) and then just pack around it. I've never had a problem.

 

[stroudie]

Thank you everybody for your replies/suggestions.
I wanted to buy a couple of bottles of good cognac as gifts. I thought that I might be able to carry them on the plane, leave them in the overhead locker while we transit in Singapore |(for how long I don't know yet) I don't know if I'll have time to purchase in Singapore, so I think I'll try & get them in London & transfer to my check in luggage when I arrive in Moscow.
Stroudie.

 

[mannej]

What is the transit time in SIN?

Are you allowed to leave items in the overhead lockers during transit, I wouldn't have thought so?

 

[Princess Fiona]

What is the transit time in SIN?

Are you allowed to leave items in the overhead lockers during transit, I wouldn't have thought so?

Cannot leave anything on the aircraft whilst in transit.
Plan of buying them in LHR will probably work out best if no time in SIN (and most certainly cheaper than SYD)

 

[Austman]

You will even have them confiscated in LHR if you buy them in SIN. Russia is not part of the EU. This topic comes up so many times mabye a sticky is needed?

 

[Princess Fiona]

You will even have them confiscated in LHR if you buy them in SIN. Russia is not part of the EU. This topic comes up so many times mabye a sticky is needed?

I have taken sealed duty free whisky bought at SIN through T5 security within the last couple of years, although I wasn't travelling to Russia but I don't think this makes a difference ?

 

[serfty]

Cognac??? That is not generally cheap from Asian ports - it's considered a boutique drink. Even "brandy" can be surprisingly costly, even at Duty Free stored.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Buy at LHR.

 

[Austman]

I have taken sealed duty free whisky bought at SIN through T5 security within the last couple of years, although I wasn't travelling to Russia but I don't think this makes a difference ?

Sorry I was wrong! The current rule is:

If your journey involves transferring or transiting through any BAA airport, you may be permitted to carry liquids, aerosols or gels – including duty free – through security in either of the following cases:The items have been bought in the passenger-only zone at one of the following airports: all international airports in Canada and the USA; Dubrovnik, Pula, Rijeka, Split, Zadar and Zagreb in Croatia; Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; or Changi in Singapore. The items must be packaged in a sealed tamper-proof bag provided by the airport, inside of which is proof of purchase showing that the items were bought within the last 36 hours.

So yes, 3 countries Canada, USA and Singapore and selected airports in Croatia and Malaysia are exempt. But buy in HKG or BKK or anywhere else and it would be confiscated.

 

[busissi]

It's many years ago now but having used my last currency to buy a bottle of whisky in Vienna a large guard with a very large gun knocked my bag onto the floor. Complaining did not seem an option at that stage so I had a very strong aroma to accompany me all the way home to Sydney.

I got some very funny looks in the various lounges I passed through!