Duty Free - Hong Kong/Singapore

[trippin_the_rift]

Put simply, Oz duty free is a virtual monopoly of the Nuance Group and is ridiculously expensive when compared to nearby countries - very easy to consider a conspiracy.

Agreed. Add to that the CC surcharge and no QFF points anymore...

I havn't purchased duty free in Australia for years. Dan murphys is quite often cheaper, gets QFF points and no surcharge. Free delivery at times too!!

 

[Austman]

Put simply, Oz duty free is a virtual monopoly of the Nuance Group and is ridiculously expensive when compared to nearby countries - very easy to consider a conspiracy.

See the comparative JW table in this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....cheapest-duty-free-liquor-airports-31533.html

Yes but that's a different conspiracy (between them and airport owners?). Regardless of LAG rules, they'd have still probably have the virtual monoploy.

 

[Austman]

But why this restriction?

If your flight transits through an Australian airport en route to your final destination, you will be rescreened at the transit airport and you may not take liquid, aerosol and gel products (including duty free) in excess of the restrictions through the screening point. Please check with your airline whether your flight transits another airport in Australia (e.g. Kuala Lumpur–Brisbane–Sydney).

Any takers?

It only applies if the second flight (Brisbane–Sydney on the Kuala Lumpur–Brisbane–Sydney trip) departs an international terminal in Australia. If so, carry-on LAG restrictions apply. LAG carry-on restrictions apply to all flights leaving international terminals in Australia. If the Brisbane–Sydney flight departs a domestic terminal, LAGs are allowed as carry-on.

 

[Stephen65]

We flew back from HKG on QF last night and there were a team of checkers doing very thorough manual searches of all carry-on at a point just prior to boarding. Incidentally the "free duty" shops at HKG are no bargain at all - everything we compared could be bought cheaper in the city and sometimes much cheaper.

 

[Awesom Andy]

We flew back from HKG on QF last night and there were a team of checkers doing very thorough manual searches of all carry-on at a point just prior to boarding. Incidentally the "free duty" shops at HKG are no bargain at all - everything we compared could be bought cheaper in the city and sometimes much cheaper.

It's worth noting that HKG does not have sales/VAT/GST taxes, so savings from "duty free" stores may be limited (if any).

 

[straitman]

Incidentally the "free duty" shops at HKG are no bargain at all - everything we compared could be bought cheaper in the city and sometimes much cheaper.

Agreed which is why I have never bothered with DF out of HKG.

 

[jozdemir]

I find this all very bizzare myself, but as a few people have said I can really only attribute it to the airports operational procedures themselves.

HKG and BKK are the only two airports I have not been allowed to purchase anything over 100ml

SIN and DXB you can purchase it, then take it to a desk and they then box it and you hand it to staff at the plane just before you board

At SIN budget terminal and DPS (Nov 2010 this was) they deliver you a sealed bag at the gate, but at KUL budget they just gave me a sealed bag and away I went.

It would be handy to have some uniformity but naturally that would eat into too much of the overpriced Aussie duty free store revenue...

Just last month I did forget I had a 600ml bottle of water in bag going through SIN budget and they didn't notice at all when my backpack went through the scanners

 

[Austman]

It would be handy to have some uniformity but naturally that would eat into too much of the overpriced Aussie duty free store revenue...

Very cynical!

An interesting article here: US warns EU not to relax aeroplane liquids ban | World news | The Guardian

On 29 April 2011, the EU was going to partially lift restrictions on flights originating outside the EU to allow carry-on duty free purchases such as perfume and alcohol on to connecting services at European airports. But the USA objected at the last minute (28 April 2011) - and the restrictions still remain.

2013 seems to be the year that restrictions might be lifted (as per Australia). But even that is doubtful.

 

[ethernet]

Smiths .. 1000 machines .. Software Upgrade - AKA the golden screwdriver, then US has a hissy fit.
I guess they are saying they don't trust the operators to get the false negatives to the right level.

Don't pack DF bottles into luggage (unless it is going to be a gift, not personal consumption). Nothing is more leak proof than a PET plastic soft drink bottle, lighter too. I too declare excess hooch, and they see it in odd bottles - wave me through. I believe it is condemned/worthless if opened, or in the wrong container.
PET is also good for storing Champagne leftovers - retains fizz better.

As said, if local prices remain too high(see US off the supermarket prices), I will only be happy to pay excise on my excess. Duty is fuzzy, if it becomes commended. As Drambuie is over the top locally, I will experiment with some budget asian hooch and additives. Somebody reply if they know the formula.

 

[Stephen65]

Agreed which is why I have never bothered with DF out of HKG.

I've since discovered that you may be able to get cheaper booze and cigarettes at the airport than HK city because there is a special HK sin tax on those two items. However between being a non-smoker and the rules about liquids on flights to Australia I wouldn't ever consider these items anyway.

 

[ethernet]

I've discovered you don't need to go to HK for Camera gear.
Google for DWI and HK. 27% cheaper than Sydney Duty Free. I suggest this mob is reliable, but delivery date is about +3 days of their estimate. Between that , Amazon and a Shipito.com US re-mailing account I have given the finger to local box stores, mostly.

 

[Robyn Jorgensen]

Having recently returned from Europe via Dubai, the restriction is in force because of security. You can purchase the alcohol, but it cannot be collected until you arrive back in Australia. It was handed to Emirates, and after x raying, it was placed in cargo with other passengers purchases, to be collected from this end A real nuisance as it means another collection point. Maybe a little over cautious from Australian regulations end, but better to be safe than sorry.:idea:

 

[kingcorio]

I too learnt the hard way at end of Sept on ret leg from Milan-Bne (via HKG). Bottles were 'taken' at the gate. No matter how the question was asked/posed the CX staff refused to state that they were confiscating the bottles. They merely repeated the legalise' :"you are not allowed to board with these bottles because they exceed Australian regulations". Leaves me wondering if they've actual legal authority to enforce such an action by airline staff.

 

[Archphoto]

I think the "safety" aspect is a total crock - it's airside *after* screening, going onto a secure aircraft. If this were of concern, then woul;dn't every airline being doing the same? As others have stated, it's appears to be a simple case of protecting AU DF stores - a totally lost cause on me, as I refuse to buy DF at *any* AU port at the rip-off prices they charge.

Quick check of pricing today at SIN vs SYD:

JW Blue 1L SGD200.20 (AUD152.00) vs AUD235.00

Have also noted that some airports have specials that aren't available in AU - 2pks, in-store etc or they look the same but are actually different. Picked up a 2pk of Baileys for my mum last year at a great price, saw what appeared to be the same (quick look at the ad, rather bleary eyed) but cheaper in AU, however, on closer inspection they were only 700ml bottles, *not* the 1L ones I'd got in SIN.

 

[Austman]

As others have stated, it's appears to be a simple case of protecting AU DF stores - a totally lost cause on me, as I refuse to buy DF at *any* AU port at the rip-off prices they charge.

What nonsense. If that's true then it's the EU protecting EU Duty Free and the USA protecting US Duty Free too. A massive conspiracy theory - I don't think so. Inefficient application, regulation and consistency of airport screening standards - quite possibly.

For some Australian Duty Free competition, we need more than one operator at the airport.

 

[Archphoto]

What nonsense. If that's true then it's the EU protecting EU Duty Free and the USA protecting US Duty Free too. A massive conspiracy theory - I don't think so. Inefficient application, regulation and consistency of airport screening standards - quite possibly.

For some Australian Duty Free competition, we need more than one operator at the airport.

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 - whilst I'm certainly *not* believing there's a "conspiracy theory", there is most definitely something going on in the background that assists AU DF in some way.

Airport A is ok but Airport B isn't? Why? Simply because one has departure gate screening and the other doesn't? Better pricing at these airports? LAG restrictions? (and if it that is why, I'm seriously wondering how "secure" LAG screening really is, after all isn't "airside" supposed to be a "secure area"?)

As an aside, do the EU and US restrict the same way as AU at certain airports? The last few times I travelled there was for work, and outbound DF was the last thing on my mind, so I've never actually purchased alcohol before arriving at these destinations.

 

[Austman]

As an aside, do the EU and US restrict the same way as AU at certain airports? The last few times I travelled there was for work, and outbound DF was the last thing on my mind, so I've never actually purchased alcohol before arriving at these destinations.

They are even more restrictive in some ways: No >100ml Duty Free that originated from outside the EU is allowed in hand luggage on connecting flights. No >100ml Duty Free is allowed in hand luggage on connecting flights in the USA. Duty Free in both cases will be confiscated. At least we can carry it on most domestic connecting flights in Australia (once we get it here ).

And here is the CX guide which shows just how restrictive many countries still are: Liquids, Gels, Aerosols Restrictions - Cathay Pacific

And of course the Australian Duty Free restrictions only apply to fluids >100ml. You can still buy <100ml (even in HKG) and other Duty Free goods.

 

[serfty]

...
And of course the Australian Duty Free restrictions only apply to fluids >100ml. You can still buy <100ml (even in HKG) and other Duty Free goods.

Liquids or no liquids, there's little value in Duty Free for me at an Oz airport. Cartons of cigarettes are three times the price at the Oz Naunce monopoly stores when compared with Asia or USA (nterestinglt, Nauance run the DFW store where Jim Beam can be had for USD15 and a carton of B&H for USD32)..

 

[Austman]

Liquids or no liquids, there's little value in Duty Free for me at an Oz airport. Cartons of cigarettes are three times the price at the z Nauance monopoly stores when compared with Asia or USA.

Which adds weight to the argument that high prices here are not much to do with LAG rules. More to do with lack of competition.

 

[serfty]

Which adds weight to the argument that high prices here are not much to do with LAG rules. More to do with lack of competition.

May be so, but it stick more in the craw as that bottle of Booze hits the bin on boarding in BKK for OZ when you can buy the same and fly to Oz from DFW, AKL, LAX, SIN, ....