Duty Free - Hong Kong/Singapore

[ethernet]

Just how much is Australian Duty? - Here are the numbers - Alcohol (sprits) is $74.27/L of alcohol or $430.94/kg of tobacco content for Dec 2011!

$74.27/L of alcohol plus 10% GST for starters. I think the rate is set by Al-Qaeda Treasury and some policy makers who think prohibition era is a something worth bringing back.With AUD being over parity, this is a windfall for budget collection, and IMHO too high. Favors beer and wine.

Now cheapest rot gut scotch I know is 700ml at Aldi for $25 , but on my calculations, duty is presently $22.32 so the store is not making much (unless it is hoarded old stock from $56 days). Sydney DF I think aims to be 30% cheaper than Dans, which I interpret at 25% dearer than reasonable.

So a 40% Scotch is say $29 excise plus 10% =$31.88 (Plus duty on CV) locally - duty paid.
Uncle Dan sells Cointreau 1 L for $64 odd. $40 at Sydney DF? and $31 at Gold Coast DF. And $27 odd at Singabore DF. If buying locally go to Boozle - Finding Australia's Cheapest Alcohol then get Dans to price match.

I guesstimate the supply cost is something like cointreau $18 with all paperwork and stock loss costs, leaving $8 profit for the store and $14 for MacAirport.

So not worth it - but there are other alternatives as evidenced 2 litre port/sherry/Muscat drinkers which are the park bench wino's friends on dole check days.

 

[serfty]

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

http://law.ato.gov.au/atolaw/view.htm?Docid=PAC/BL030002/1&PiT=99991231235958

 

[ethernet]

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

Schedule - (1 December 2011)

Thanks - CPI increases are wicked!
On a global rank, I am thinking Australia has one of the highest spirits duties of OECD in the world - then adjust for FTAWE. Can't say if this contributes to the rise in illicit tablets, but its sure a big earner .

 

[medhead]

I agree - DF competition is definitely needed, but the fact still remains that the AU government is restricting imports of alcohol from some airports and not others -

The restriction apply equally to all airports. It is just that some airports offer the extra service of delivering the DF to the passenger after the final check. Whereas other airports don't.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[Archphoto]

The restriction apply equally to all airports. It is just that some airports offer the extra service of delivering the DF to the passenger after the final check. Whereas other airports don't.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

And that seems to mean the AU government is stipulating requirements that exclude some airports from DF sales to AU passengers (I could of course be wrong there). What is the reasoning behind that decision?? - seems pretty daft to me, but then, what do I know about the workings of the AU government these days (or previously) anyway . . . . :mrgreen:

 

[medhead]

And that seems to mean the AU government is stipulating requirements that exclude some airports from DF sales to AU passengers (I could of course be wrong there). What is the reasoning behind that decision?? - seems pretty daft to me, but then, what do I know about the workings of the AU government these days (or previously) anyway . . . . :mrgreen:

Maybe or we can say that those airports are excluding themselves by not providing the service. Or that they are misinterpreting the Oz government requirements, which seems likely based on reported experiences with HKG.

As I understand Oz, US and UK all have the same restrictions. There is a certain alignment in that with other geopolitical events since 2001.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[serfty]

The restriction apply equally to all airports. It is just that some airports offer the extra service of delivering the DF to the passenger after the final check. Whereas other airports don't ...

Nup, I can go though security at AKL, pick up D/F liquids in > 100ml container before heading to the gate.

To quote Austman upthread:

The Australian Government rule is that airport purchased duty free must be delivered to the departure gate. But some airports that centrally screen all > 100ml LAGs (including > 100ml LAG purchases carried by transit passengers), seem to be exempt from the "delivered to the departure gate" part of the rule.

 

[medhead]

Nup, I can go though security at AKL, pick up D/F liquids in > 100ml container before heading to the gate.

To quote Austman upthread:

I would maintain that the same restriction applies in AKL, just that they are not enforcing it by doing screening at the gate. That is another way to deal with the situation. Maybe it is a big conspiracy that Australia is not making NZ do something about it.

But then what are they going to do? Refuse to accept all aircraft departing AKL?

I don't know HKG at all but it sounds like they have a second level of screening at the gate for flights to Australia only. Why not stop doing that on the basis of the AKL precedent?

The fundamental issue is that pax need to take possession of their DF after the last screening point. This is what happens in SIN and AKL. Surely all it takes is a bit of will on the part of HKG and BKK to implement a system that achieves that requirement.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[serfty]

HKG and BKK both have centralised screening such as AKL, WLG, CHC, HNL, LAX, DFW, NRT ¹ all have.

SIN is the odd one out in this thread with screening at the gate.

¹ All ports I have passed through in the last 12 month or so.

 

[Austman]

HKG and BKK both have centralised screening such as AKL, WLG, CHC, HNL, LAX, DFW, NRT ¹ all have.

SIN is the odd one out in this thread with screening at the gate.

¹ All ports I have passed through in the last 12 month or so.

But HKG and BKK allow 'transit' duty free through their central screening. This 'transit' duty free is not allowed at AKL, WLG, CHC, HNL, LAX, DFW, NRT as far as I know. I'm guessing - but I imagine this 'transit' duty free adds an extra layer of risk that the Australian (and EU and USA) governments find unacceptable?

 

[medhead]

HKG and BKK both have centralised screening such as AKL, WLG, CHC, HNL, LAX, DFW, NRT ¹ all have.

SIN is the odd one out in this thread with screening at the gate.

Ok I'm really getting lost on this. Central security or not I don't think it changes the point that DF can be purchased if you can get it after the last screening point. That BKK and HKG apparently see fit to a have second layer of screening at the gate and don't deliver DF after that screening seems to be more an issue for the airport. Rather than a conspiracy by the australian government.

Do those other airports allow purchase of DF after central screening? Yes for AKL and It was possible in NRT May 2010. If yes for all airports except BKK and HKG the government would seem to be doing a poor job protecting Australian DF shops.

But HKG and BKK allow 'transit' duty free through their central screening. This 'transit' duty free is not allowed at AKL, WLG, CHC, HNL, LAX, DFW, NRT as far as I know. I'm guessing - but I imagine this 'transit' duty free adds an extra layer of risk that the Australian (and EU and USA) governments find unacceptable?

I'm definitely giving up because I'm not even sure what that means.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[Austman]

But HKG and BKK allow 'transit' duty free through their central screening. This 'transit' duty free is not allowed at AKL, WLG, CHC, HNL, LAX, DFW, NRT as far as I know. I'm guessing - but I imagine this 'transit' duty free adds an extra layer of risk that the Australian (and EU and USA) governments find unacceptable?

I'm definitely giving up because I'm not even sure what that means.

In HKG and BKK if you are a transit passenger with duty free purchased in a previous airport, they will allow it through their central screening provided the DF is in tamper-proof bags. AKL, WLG, CHC, HNL, LAX, DFW, NRT and all international airports in Australia do not allow this (nor does the EU unless it was purchased in the EU).

 

[Archphoto]

If you can't take DF purchased at those airports that disallow due to non-gate delivery, are they essentially saying that the security is lacking? And that seems really weird - it's (supposedly) a secure area that you're buying in - why does it matter if it is delivered by the store or not.

The initial screenings are supposed to catch any LAG restriction violations - so what's the big deal about purchasing your DF at HKG or BKK (and the other airports mentioned)? The comment regarding the UK, USA, and AU "banding together" after 2001, does seem plausible, but is a cop-out IMHO.

On a happier note, if the LAG restrictions are removed by AU, will that help our cause with purchasing DF in the future? (One can but dream!!)

 

[Austman]

If you can't take DF purchased at those airports that disallow due to non-gate delivery, are they essentially saying that the security is lacking? And that seems really weird - it's (supposedly) a secure area that you're buying in - why does it matter if it is delivered by the store or not.

The initial screenings are supposed to catch any LAG restriction violations - so what's the big deal about purchasing your DF at HKG or BKK (and the other airports mentioned)? The comment regarding the UK, USA, and AU "banding together" after 2001, does seem plausible, but is a cop-out IMHO.

On a happier note, if the LAG restrictions are removed by AU, will that help our cause with purchasing DF in the future? (One can but dream!!)

I beleive it's because the Australian government also wants to know where the DF was purchased - it must be at the last airport before the flight Australia. It does seem to be part of the security measures. Why - I don't know. But delivery to the gate or purchase at an airport that bans all 'transit' DF means that the DF must have been purchased at last airport.

From: Restrictions for inbound flights to Australia

Do purchase duty free at your last airport before Australia, but make sure it is delivered to the boarding gate, and that you are not transiting through another Australian airport before reaching your final destination. Check with your airline to find out if you will be transiting in Australia.

 

[Awesom Andy]

In HKG and BKK if you are a transit passenger with duty free purchased in a previous airport, they will allow it through their central screening provided the DF is in tamper-proof bags.

And then they'll take it off you at the gate (in HKG at least) if you are AU-bound, I suppose?

 

[Danger]

And then they'll take it off you at the gate (in HKG at least) if you are AU-bound, I suppose?

I've noted it elsewhere on AFF but I travelled PVG-xHKG-PER last year. I bought a bottle of booze airside in PVG (but don't recall if it was tamper proofed or not). On the aerobridge boarding for PER a polite CX agent insistently told me I could not take it on board. I made a song-and-dance, they found a box and threw it in the hold (fortunately not literally; it arrived in once piece).

 

[Danger]

It's taken forever for me to find but this may be of interest.

I can't comment on BKK specifically. However, I suffered confiscation of duty free alcohol while in transit (I never left the secure area/airside) at HKG in early March this year (coming from PVG, heading to Perth). When I returned I got in touch with the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure who provided this reasoning:

I understand from your explanation, that you were required to surrender his oversized liquid, aerosol and gel (LAG) product at the security screening point at Hong Kong airport.

The restrictions on the carriage of LAGs apply to international flights to and from Australia. This security measure restricts the amount of LAGs that can be taken through the screening point in carry-on baggage for international flights into, out of and through Australia. Passengers are only able to take LAGs, including duty free liquids, through security screening points if they are in containers of 100ml or less and contained in a transparent, resealable plastic bag that has a volume of no more than one litre.

Where an international flight transits at an international airport before arriving in Australia, airlines are expected to inform passengers of the aviation security requirements in Australia, including the LAGs measures. Duty free stores overseas have also been informed of Australian requirements.

At some last ports of call into Australia, the retailer may deliver duty free goods to the boarding gate after the screening point, allowing the passenger to take these goods on board [I think SIN is an example of this]. However, retailers at Hong Kong airport do not provide this service due to the large number of gates.

The National Aviation Policy White Paper, released in December 2009, addresses this issue by proposing an amendment to the regulations primarily affecting oversized duty free liquid purchases. The White Paper state the purpose of the proposed amendment to the Australian regulatory requirements as “to allow some duty free purchases to remain on board aircraft during transitional stops on international flights and as a result avoid the need to rescreen these items”.

The proposed amendment referenced in the White paper concerning restrictions for the carriage of LAGs onboard an aircraft is yet to be included in Australian aviation security legislation.

In June 2009, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government launched a TravelSECURE website to help promote awareness of LAGs requirements. Information for international travellers is available at http://travelsecure.infrastructure.gov.au/international/lags/index.aspx.

I trust that this information is helpful.
​

As for F1rst Duty Free in Australia, I find them to be a rip-off. Departing PER yesterday I purchased a 1L bottle of Canadian Club and a 1L bottle of Bombay Saphire Gin for $52. I arrive at Changi and 1L of Bombay is SGD27. I also checked the price of a couple of men's toiletries and they were significantly cheaper up here. I'm glad I didn't pre-order booze for my arrival back in PER!

 

[sadlier]

The last year or so I have been travelling back from Asia via SIN and they seem to fairly organised in getting your DF purchases to the gate after the final security check.

Recently the DF shops in BKK would not sell me liquor. In BKK the 'major' security check was before one got to the shops and there was a cursory 'bag check' at the gate.

So is it that the BKK airport does not want to make the appropriate arrangements, or is the DF stores, or is it the OZ Guvment that does not regard this final security check as adequate???

And the whole charade does not seem to apply out of NOU or AKL.

As for the prices - Bushmills black was $10 cheaper in BKK compared to arrival in MEL.

Will we ever know?

 

[whughes3]

I struck this problem last weekend flying back from MNL on QF20...went to buy some grog at the D/F store in the departure terminal, and was shown a sign stating that liquor purchases were not allowed for pax flying to Australia or Brunei. Brunei, being Islamic, I can understand...but why does Australia have to be so much securer-than-secure??? (Not to mention that a 1-litre bottle of Chivas is $15 cheaper at MNL than SYD!).

 

[Austman]

I struck this problem last weekend flying back from MNL on QF20...went to buy some grog at the D/F store in the departure terminal, and was shown a sign stating that liquor purchases were not allowed for pax flying to Australia or Brunei. Brunei, being Islamic, I can understand...but why does Australia have to be so much securer-than-secure??? (Not to mention that a 1-litre bottle of Chivas is $15 cheaper at MNL than SYD!).

Where is the LAG check done at MNL? Is it at the gate or centrally (with no exceptions for tamper-proof bags)? And if you bought a >100ml of perfume, that would be banned for flights to Brunei too I suspect.

(according to CX, tamper-proof bags are allowed though MNL security. If so, that would be the problem and also a reason for a secondary gate check)