Carrying Duty Free Alcohol.

[Roberto]

My 2 cents worth:

1. I have done comparisons many times including noting down specials in Sydney before flying out of Sydney. On every occasion I have found that Sydney duty free alcohol is substantially more expensive than duty free alcohol in Singapore so if you're flying through Singapore back to Sydney buy your alcohol there. Note that you need to buy in Singapore at least 1.5 hours before your onward flight.

2. If you want to take wine overseas buy it at a discount liquor store before you fly and pack it among your clothes in your checked baggage (in a sealed plastic bag to be safer). It will be at least 20% cheaper than buying at Sydney airport duty free.

In your particular case it would be best to buy the cognac in either Singapore airport or London airport.

 

[serfty]

Generally that's the case.

Here's the JW Index thread:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....cheapest-duty-free-liquor-airports-31533.html

 

[Febs]

It's a pretty rare occurrence when Australian duty-free is worthwhile.

From my experiences, the best places (given current exchange rates) are:

Spirits: US (duty free is ok but find a bit liquor mart in pretty much any city and they'll make Dan Murphys look like a tin shack, and prices will be about 1/2 to 1/3 of what we pay, from cheap spirits right up to high-end).

Champagne and wine: UK. Always seems to be much cheaper than the US and Asia (duty-free).

Of course there are plenty of cheap Asian ports (SIN, HKG especially) too, but IMO based on current exchange rates, the US is cheaper for spirits and UK for champagne. On a recent RTW trip I waited until the US and got all my grog from a liquor mart there (except for a bottle of Glenfidich Madeira cask 19yo which I wasn't confident of finding, so I bought in London).

Cheers
Febs.

 

[Foreigner]

For AKL from SYD, Friday, what's the suggestion on buying JW black label, 6 units...on departure in Sydney or on arrival in Auckland?

Any idea about specials going in...like free bag per 3 bottles, for instance?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I'm coming back from Europe via-BKK in a few months time.
Has anyone shopped Duty Free in BKK before?
And more importantly, can you take liquids through BKK security/gate?
Seems that there are a few stories about people getting stopped, even if it's their 'last port of call'....

 

[serfty]

For AKL from SYD, Friday, what's the suggestion on buying JW black label, 6 units...on departure in Sydney or on arrival in Auckland? ...

On arrival into AKL.

You can pre-purchase from DutyFreeStores - if you join their "Frequent Buyer Club" you get 20% off their list price - you'd need to do this buy Tuesday as 3 working days is required. (NZD6 fee if order less than NZD50)

http://www.dutyfreestores.co.nz/Home

Today they have a 25% Easter special if you buy two bottles finishing:

Duty Free Stores - Easter Sale midnight Monday - save 25% off any 2 or more bottles of Duty Free

Their online list price is NZD59.90, with the FBC discount that's NZD47.92, with the 25% discount it's NZD44.92.

To get the 25% discount you need to purchase "2 or more Bottles".

SYD duty free list price is $50, that NZD44.92 is ~AUD40 with most Oz CC; 28° might charge $38.

 

[JessicaTam]

I am putting this to the test. I can't bring alcohol from OZ as I don't do checked luggage, so I have bought a couple of bottles of red in SIN. They handed it to me at the DF outlet, as it seems only flights to OZ need it to be delivered to the gate 60 minutes before departure. (Maybe they think we will be too tempted to start in on it)!

I walked around for a while (QP shut ) and then just sailed through at gate security. In HKG again it was no problem as it was still sealed. Just have LHR to go as I transit to FRA.

I will let you know in a few hours how I get on.

 

[Austman]

I am putting this to the test. I can't bring alcohol from OZ as I don't do checked luggage, so I have bought a couple of bottles of red in SIN. They handed it to me at the DF outlet, as it seems only flights to OZ need it to be delivered to the gate 60 minutes before departure. (Maybe they think we will be too tempted to start in on it)!

I walked around for a while (QP shut ) and then just sailed through at gate security. In HKG again it was no problem as it was still sealed. Just have LHR to go as I transit to FRA.

I will let you know in a few hours how I get on.

It will be good to know. SIN-LHR-FRA should be no problem (the EU allows SIN). But SIN-HKG-LHR-FRA? The EU rule says the flight must depart from KUL or SIN (the only ones in S-E Asia). So I wonder if they need to see your xx_-LHR BP as well to check if you came from SIN or KUL?

 

[JessicaTam]

The journey continues...

I have arrived at LHR and been processed. At the security screening as part of transitting I had my sealed plastic bag with receipt inside on display. The attendant asked me where it was from and I said "Singapore, and purchased in the last 36 hours". I neglected to mention that I had transitted at HKG, but somehow I don't think it would have been too much of an issue. The wine was screened and I was waved through with two bottles of Penfolds in hand! I am now toasting my success in the T5 BA lounge (after a quick discussion if a QP/PS member is able to enter).

So it appears it is possible to go SIN-HKG-LHR-FRA (or other european destination for that matter) with duty free bought in SIN.

Perhaps I should have bought that £8 Baileys bottle on the plane after all...


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[Austman]

The journey continues...

I have arrived at LHR and been processed. At the security screening as part of transitting I had my sealed plastic bag with receipt inside on display. The attendant asked me where it was from and I said "Singapore, and purchased in the last 36 hours". I neglected to mention that I had transitted at HKG, but somehow I don't think it would have been too much of an issue. The wine was screened and I was waved through with two bottles of Penfolds in hand! I am now toasting my success in the T5 BA lounge (after a quick discussion if a QP/PS member is able to enter).

So it appears it is possible to go SIN-HKG-LHR-FRA (or other european destination for that matter) with duty free bought in SIN.

Perhaps I should have bought that £8 Baileys bottle on the plane after all...


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

Good to know! So it's where the DF was purchased (SIN) and not the last departure airport (HKG) that's important!

 

[JessicaTam]

It is worth noting that I purchased the DF less than 36 hours before arriving in LHR, kept it in the airport sealed bag with receipt visible, remained 'in transit' and forgot to mention that I had come via HKG. I don't know if mentioning HGK would have made any difference, but there you have it.


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