Duty Free Alcohol from BKK

[Trevor Sinclair]

I noted on a trip from BKK (Thailand) to SYD (Australia) back in January that pax Duty Free Alcohol was being confiscated at the gate, I gather that this must be a development in the past 10 years since my previous visit.

This month I am flying from BKK-SGN (Vietnam), can anyone advise if there are similar restrictions or is this purely and Australian Government requirement ex BKK?

Thanks is anticiparion.

 

[flying_double]

The alcohol being confiscated was most likely purchased at the original port of boarding. The passenger would not have been allowed to take it through the security screening point at Bangkok when re-boarding / transferring to the flight to Australia, hence the need to confiscate it.


The duty free outlets at Bangkok won't sell alcohol to anyone travelling to Australia. Other destinations are ok. My wild assumption is that the duty free operator elects that is easier to not sell it, rather than dealing with the logistics of distributing purchased alcohol at the boarding gate (condition imposed by the Australian government).


The restriction on alcohol sales to people travelling on flights to Australia ex Bangkok has been in place for a number of years now.

 

[JohnK]

This month I am flying from BKK-SGN (Vietnam), can anyone advise if there are similar restrictions or is this purely and Australian Government requirement ex BKK?

I think you should be fine.

This seems to be a restriction imposed by Australian governement on behalf of Australian duty free stores.

 

[Austman]

I think you should be fine.

This seems to be a restriction imposed by Australian governement on behalf of Australian duty free stores.

Except of course that any international airport in NZ or USA as well as in-flight sales can sell DF for non-stops flights to Australia. And of course that there are many airports/shops/airlines that meet the current Australian government DF sale requirements (which are much like the US government requirements).

Post even one example of any story or coverage in a newspaper, TV show or similar of how it is a "restriction imposed by Australian governement on behalf of Australian duty free stores". They have only had 10 years or so to do the research.

And of course try flying from BKK to the USA or the EU and then connecting there with your carry-on DF (banned in the USA and banned in the EU unless you originate from a handful of airports/countries, of which BKK is not one). So the USA and EU must be in on this too. But you actually can take your carry-on DF on Australian domestic connecting flights departing from an Australian domestic terminal.

Still, it does seem about time that these rules were relaxed. The technology is there.

And it seems the EU laws will be relaxed from 31 Jan 2014. But they have said it a few times before and it didn't actually happen.
Liquids, aerosols and gels - Transport

 

[serfty]

Check these threads

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

 

[Austman]

Back on topic. The best advice (and also the advice that many DF stores give) is to check with your airline. Some airlines ban DF even when other airlines flying the same route allow it (eg DPS to Australia). The overall rule is a combination of government/airport/shop and airline requirements.

And if you are connecting domestically after your international flight from BKK, check the domestic LAG rules.

 

[Trevor Sinclair]

Thanx flying_double, yes you are correct on the Government restrictions from ANY port heading into Australia.
I know for a fact my fellow travellers bought the Duty Free alcohol at BKK and were not asked.
I never buy O/S to bring into AU.

Serfty, As this question was specifically about BKK-SGN I could not see it in any search on this forum.
Thanks for your assistance, all sorted, best advice for inbound DF to AU is on the travel secure website (not permitted to post link as I'm a newbie to posting here)

 

[serfty]

...
Serfty, As this question was specifically about BKK-SGN I could not see it in any search on this forum.
Thanks for your assistance, all sorted, best advice for inbound DF to AU is on the travel secure website (not permitted to post link as I'm a newbie to posting here)

Myopia strikes - I thought you were referring to BKK-SYD ... by all means with BKK-SGN you should be fine.

Thanx flying_double, yes you are correct on the Government restrictions from ANY port heading into Australia.
I know for a fact my fellow travellers bought the Duty Free alcohol at BKK and were not asked.
I never buy O/S to bring into AU.
...

Actually you can buy in NZ, the USA, SIN, DXB and several other ports to bring back as long as they are your last port before arrival into Oz.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../dutyfree-buying-in-bkk-40472.html#post629890

Travelsecure - Restrictions for inbound flights to Australia

Do	Don't
Only carry liquids, aerosols and gels in containers of 100 millilitres or less, packed in a resealable bag. The four sides of the sealed area of the bag should add up to no more than 80 cm.	Don't have liquids, aerosols or gels in containers larger than 100 millilitres in your possession. You will have to surrender these at the security screening point in order to board your aircraft.
Purchase duty free at your last airport before Australia, but make sure it is delivered to the boarding gate. Alternatively, purchase duty free items onboard the last leg of the flight to Australia. Have your duty free items in their sealed plastic bag ready for screening upon arrival at the Australian international gateway airport transit screening point.	Don't carry duty free purchased at another airport through the screening point, as it will not be allowed on flights to Australia. You risk having to surrender these items. Only duty free delivered to the boarding gate will be allowed onboard flights to Australia.

(FWIW, I won't buy DF on arrival into Oz on personal principle.)

 

[Austman]

Here is at least a DF store guide on LAGs from BKK. King Power ( King Of Duty Free ) Vietnam looks OK for non-stops if it is the final destination. Subject of course to the airline allowing it too. As you can see from the list, DF sales, even in BKK, are far more restricted than you might imagine!

 

[N860CR]

Still had the same experience on my last transit through BKK. Couldn't be sold duty free in the terminal.

SIN seems to work well. They seal it and deliver it to you as you're boarding.

Why, dare I ask, am I sitting in the AKL QP right now and was able to buy vodka that was given to me in an unsealed bag to carry into the plane?!

Some consistency would be nice... Especially given the claimed reason is "security"

 

[Austman]

Why, dare I ask, am I sitting in the AKL QP right now and was able to buy vodka that was given to me in an unsealed bag to carry into the plane?!Some consistency would be nice... Especially given the claimed reason is "security"

Because NZ is an exempt country from the 'usual' (meaning delivery to the gate) rules. As is USA.

 

[N860CR]

Be that as it may... This is meant to be for "security", not defending the value of the Australians and New Zealanders against those "scary" Asians.

Either make it uniform or dump it. It's far too obvious otherwise!

 

[Austman]

It actually is fairly uniform - except for the 2 countries that are currently on the "exempt country" list (NZ and USA). In all other countries, for flights to Australia, carry-on DF LAGS > 100ml need to be delivered to the gate (or placed in the hold).