Duty free alcohol into Australia

[Isochronous]

So on another thread someone mentioned TPE is good value, so was asking family what they wanted and was told you can no longer buy duty free alcohol from overseas into Australia. Is this true? Ludicrous if so!

 

[moa999]

Depends on the last departure port - SIN is OK, -- HKG, CGK (depending on airline) are not.
You still can you just need to know the rules, and is more difficult if transiting.

On my last visit to TPE, I purchased duty free inbound to TPE, then put it in checked luggage for TPE-HKG (3-day stopover), then again for HKG-MEL-SYD.
No problems whatsoever as in checked luggage.

Australian flights generally have secondary baggage checks just before boarding specifically to check for luggage before boarding.
In SIN this is done as you go into the secure departure gate, then their is a table for purchased duty free.
In HKG this is done as you are about to board the plane, so any duty free would be confiscated (note generally they will check BP and wont sell it to you in HKG)

 

[Austman]

was told you can no longer buy duty free alcohol from overseas into Australia. Is this true? Ludicrous if so!

It's NOT true.

Baggage checked DF is OK from anywhere.

For carry-on, the DF must be purchased at a secure (DF supply wise) airport before a non-stop flight to Australia (no transits/stops on the way allowed) and delivered to the gate. There are carry-on DF rule exempted countries (currently NZ, USA) where the 'to the gate' rule does not apply. For all the rest, if the airport/store/airline choose not to allow delivery of the carry-on DF to the gate then only DF purchased on board or on arrival into Australia or baggage checked is allowed.

 

[Isochronous]

So I guess putting it in checked luggage upon check in at TPE will be fine. Excellent news!

 

[bobe]

Travelling PER-MEL MEL -LAX LAX -MIA Return back to Perth, how do I get my duty free bottles into Perth? I know I can get them in Mel on the way out and pick them up on return but do I have to put them in cHecked luggage ( into the hold ) before boarding the flight back to Per ?

 

[Mak404matt]

Travelling PER-MEL MEL -LAX LAX -MIA Return back to Perth, how do I get my duty free bottles into Perth? I know I can get them in Mel on the way out and pick them up on return but do I have to put them in cHecked luggage ( into the hold ) before boarding the flight back to Per ?

There are no liquid restrictions for domestic, so you can just buy it in LAX

Happy flighting!

 

[bobe]

But what about when you go through the screening at security and are carring liqudes

 

[bobe]

is it cheaper in LAX than OZ?

 

[Febs]

is it cheaper in LAX than OZ?

Everything is cheaper in the US than Australia.

(Yes - LAX doesn't have a great selection compared to some Asian ports, but the prices are excellent and you'll still get the basics, a few decent single malts etc...)

In the US I now just hit up one of the big liquor stores where they have everything you could imagine and the prices are pretty much on par with DF. Think Dan Murphys with a bigger range and everything much, much cheaper. Just pack it well! (I picked up some great foam bottle protectors years ago which I always take o/s with me).

Cheers
Febs.

 

[Mak404matt]

But what about when you go through the screening at security and are carring liqudes

You are allowed liquids through security at domestic locations, so no problem at all. You buy it in LAX, they deliver it to your gate and you carry it on.

Then you clear customs in MEL, and head to domestic security, where you can take your liquids through no problem

Hope this helps

 

[Austman]

You buy it in LAX, they deliver it to your gate and you carry it on.

USA is an exempt country, there should be no need to deliver to the gate. It should be like buying in Australia or NZ international airports. Are you certain this is accurate imformation?

 

[Austman]

You cannot get it though security in the USA. Just like Australia and NZ International. Buy it after security, before your non-stop to Australia and you are OK.

 

[bobe]

Thanks for replys

 

[Febs]

USA is an exempt country, there should be no need to deliver to the gate. It should be like buying in Australia or NZ international airports. Are you certain this is accurate imformation?

He's right. At LAX (T4 at least, and from memory TBIT) they deliver to the gate for Australian flights (possibly others? I flew LAX-HKG once but can't remember if they delivered or not).

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[serfty]

USA is an exempt country, there should be no need to deliver to the gate. It should be like buying in Australia or NZ international airports. Are you certain this is accurate imformation?

At LAX-TBIT they simply hand you the bag in the DF store.

However, at LAX-T4/DFW it gets delivered to the gate for your collection upon boarding.

This is due to airside being mixed domestic/international for most US ports - TBIT is different in that it is "international" only.

 

[Kangol]

What are you planning on buying in particular?
As said before, you may be better off buying it outside of any airport in the US at a regular bottle shop, which may tend to have greater ranges and slightly lower prices, put it in your checked luggage and not have to worry about it. I've just used towels and thicker articles of clothing to wrap the bottles with no problem so far (done it 4 times).

 

[Austman]

At LAX-TBIT they simply hand you the bag in the DF store.

However, at LAX-T4/DFW it gets delivered to the gate for your collection upon boarding.

This is due to airside being mixed domestic/international for most US ports - TBIT is different in that it is "international" only.

Thanks serfty. I suspect that's the US customs rules there - not Australian LAG rules. With mixed INT and DOM departures there would be nothing stopping someone from buying DF and then not exporting it (eg hand it over to someone who is on a DOM flight or even a non-traveller)? Delivering to the gate solves that issue.

 

[serfty]

... Delivering to the gate solves that issue.

Exactamonto!

 

[wandering_fred]

Just remember to buy far enough in advance to permit delivery to the gate.
In Singapore I was told that this is 1 hour 15 minutes before departure.

YMMV

Fred

 

[Sprucegoose]

Everything is cheaper in the US than Australia.

Cheers
Febs.

Have you considered male underwear and medical ?