Duty free as hand luggage

[KLMCM]

Hi, am getting myself tied in knots as to the question of carrying on duty free alcohol (in tamper proof security bags) as opposed to packing it in checked luggage. I want to buy duty free at Syd international to carry onto Vancouver flight and then onto connecting flight to Calgary. And on the way home I will be coming in from Vancouver to Syd International and hope to buy duty free there to take onto connecting flight to Perth. In either case can I carry it on as hand luggage?

 

[JohnK]

You should be able to carry duty free on the international leg but I am not sure you can carry liquids >100 mls on internal USA/Canadian flights as per liquid and gel rules.

 

[KLMCM]

You should be able to carry duty free on the international leg but I am not sure you can carry liquids >100 mls on internal USA/Canadian flights as per liquid and gel rules.

CATSA seem to imply it is ok on domestic Canadian flights, if I am reading them correctly...Duty-free Purchases | CATSA | ACSTA. I am just not sure if I AM reading them correctly....

 

[aussiel]

You won't have any issues with buying at Syd Intl and transferring to domestic terminal to PER from a security perspective - as long as it fits in your carry on allowance.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Internationally, no problems if direct flight.

Domestic, from the United website,

"The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows each traveler to carry on liquids, gels and aerosols in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 mL) or less, inside a single quart-size (or liter-size) clear, sealable bag.

Passengers traveling internationally into the U.S. and connecting to another flight are allowed to have in their carry-on baggage liquids in excess of 3.4 ounces (100 mL) that were purchased as duty-free merchandise. This only applies to products purchased in duty-free stores, placed in an intact designated secure, tamper-evident bag, and successfully screened and cleared by TSA officers. Scanning may not be effective for liquids in opaque, ceramic, or metallic bottles, or other containers. Liquids that cannot be screened and cleared will not be allowed to remain in carry-on baggage. Customers may choose to place these items into checked baggage or throw them away."

To be safe, check with the specific airline for that domestic leg.

I know it's a different country, but one can't, for example, carry bottles of Scotch bought duty free in GLA onto London bound flights.

 

[serfty]

You should be fine going by the web site information you linked to.

Also, there's certainly no issues with LAGs on domestic Oz flights.

 

[JohnM]

I was recently unable to carry some bottles of wine from Calgary to Vancouver as hand luggage as Canadian domestic has the 100 mL limit. They were not in tamper-proof duty free bags. It may have been OK had they been - but I do not know for certain.

I don't think I'd take the risk, so I would put it in the checked luggage in YVR before re-checking it to YYC.

There is no constraint on carrying large bottles on Australian dom flights, irrespective of duty free packaging.

 

[lakeman]

I agree with JohnM
Was in canada traveling internaĺly from kelowna to YVR and observed one very upset canadian surrendering a treasured bottle of wine to the bin on trying to get through the xray line with his carry on wine !
Sorry but I wouldnt recommend it..

 

[KLMCM]

I agree with JohnM
Was in canada traveling internaĺly from kelowna to YVR and observed one very upset canadian surrendering a treasured bottle of wine to the bin on trying to get through the xray line with his carry on wine !
Sorry but I wouldnt recommend it..

But doesn't the CATSA website read that it is ok in a security proof bag?

 

[JohnM]

But doesn't the CATSA website read that it is ok in a security proof bag?

That may well be the case - but do you want to take the risk for the sake of stowing it in your re-checked bag YVR-YYC (and you don't have to carry it)? Personally, I would put it in my checked bag to avoid any risk of having to discard it - or argue the toss with a security agent who may not know the rules. I usually carry a few of those bubble-wrap bottle bags in the outside pocket of my case for just such situations.

 

[lakeman]

But doesn't the CATSA website read that it is ok in a security proof bag?

I heard the conversation with the official.
She said had she purchased it after going through security it would have been fine.
There was a store selling the local wines through security.
They were quite friendly about it and offerred to let them put it in their car but of course the pax was flying home so had to surrender it

 

[RooFlyer]

But doesn't the CATSA website read that it is ok in a security proof bag?

As a frequent traveller YYC-YVR I can confirm that you cannot take bulk liquids through security and onto the flight. Buy it after security, and it's OK ( and probably twice the price).

 

[KLMCM]

As a frequent traveller YYC-YVR I can confirm that you cannot take bulk liquids through security and onto the flight. Buy it after security, and it's OK ( and probably twice the price).

Have to say I am even more confused now. Some people on this and other forums say you can take duty free as onboard luggage onto a connecting domestic Canadian flight, others categorically say you can't. CATSA seem to say you can but Air Canada have conflicting info - their website says you must pack it but an email response says you can carry it in secure duty free bag. I am really puzzled as to why something so apparently simple should be so difficult to resolve. It's not an 'end of the world" issue but it is annoying me now I find I can't get a definite answer. If Canada had the Aussie system of buying it on arrival it would bypass all this confusion.

 

[JohnM]

Have to say I am even more confused now. Some people on this and other forums say you can take duty free as onboard luggage onto a connecting domestic Canadian flight, others categorically say you can't. CATSA seem to say you can but Air Canada have conflicting info - their website says you must pack it but an email response says you can carry it in secure duty free bag. I am really puzzled as to why something so apparently simple should be so difficult to resolve. It's not an 'end of the world" issue but it is annoying me now I find I can't get a definite answer. If Canada had the Aussie system of buying it on arrival it would bypass all this confusion.

Any confusion means, IMO, why not be sure and pack it in checked luggage? You definitely can't go wrong that way.

 

[KLMCM]

Probably won't be able to afford the weight in the luggage :-(

 

[RooFlyer]

Have to say I am even more confused now. Some people on this and other forums say you can take duty free as onboard luggage onto a connecting domestic Canadian flight, others categorically say you can't. CATSA seem to say you can but Air Canada have conflicting info - their website says you must pack it but an email response says you can carry it in secure duty free bag. I am really puzzled as to why something so apparently simple should be so difficult to resolve. It's not an 'end of the world" issue but it is annoying me now I find I can't get a definite answer. If Canada had the Aussie system of buying it on arrival it would bypass all this confusion.

Re-reading the CATSA info originally linked to, I found this bit (my bolding)

These are sealed clear plastic bags with special security features that hold goods purchased from airline or airport retailers after security screening. They are designed to make it easier for you to carry liquids, aerosols and gels through screening. - See more at: Duty-free Purchases | CATSA | ACSTA

I interpret this to mean that if you bought something duty free after screening, in Australia, and it was in an 'official' security bag, (as defined by the Canadians), and you also had the receipt, and you then carried in your carry-on for the international leg, then they would allow it through screening in Canada (ie your Canadian domestic connection.).

This contrasts with my and one other example above where we attempted to take un-bagged stuff through domestic security (in my case it was maple syrup ).