Duty Free Liquor at SIN and BKK airports

[ps107]

I'm amazed at the reports of not being able to find the basics at SIN duty free. Which terminal does QF use? Whenever I've been there (only ever on SQ or NZ), it's been like kid in a candy store. The selection's amazing and there are whole shops dedicated to whisky. Almost worth the trip just for the duty free!

1L Laphroaig for ~SGD50! Can't get it less than NZD90 here and even more expensive in Australia.

 

[JohnK]

QF uses Terminal 1 in SIN.

Late October, early November not a single duty free store in SIN had Bombay Sapphire gin.

 

[laffer]

I should have taken note of this thread earlier. Tried to buy some duty free liquor from BKK after the security check in. When I approached the register, they asked if I was travelling to Sydney and they told me that I could not buy any alcohol because of some security regulations.

How ridiculous.

I tried another store and was told the same thing.

Unfortunatley no one could give me an explanation as to why this rule was being forced.

The prices were so good. The same bottle in Sydney was $20 higher.

 

[NM]

How ridiculous.

I tried another store and was told the same thing.

Unfortunatley no one could give me an explanation as to why this rule was being forced.

The prices were so good. The same bottle in Sydney was $20 higher.

There is your reason! Nothing to do with security or safety. Its all about protecting the profits of the DF stores in Australian airports and hence allowing the airport monopolies to protect their profits from the rents they charge the DF stores for prime real estate in arrivals and departures areas.

 

[laffer]

There is your reason! Nothing to do with security or safety. Its all about protecting the profits of the DF stores in Australian airports and hence allowing the airport monopolies to protect their profits from the rents they charge the DF stores for prime real estate in arrivals and departures areas.

The other half said exactly that. Guess she was spot on. I refused to buy anything from Syd out of principle when I got back. Whats the point of being given an allowance if you cannot use it. Even when out of the country Macq Airports etc reach out and grab your wallet.

P.S. First time I have been through Syd airport since the renovations. Crazy rip off as always post security. $10 for some dumblings or $28 for a katsu curry.

I just fine the whole experience of this country a let down at the moment.

 

[Archphoto]

Prior to all this being implemented, it always amazed me that you couldn't buy liquor if you were transiting to another international flight.

How does me buying in a secure area (NRT), being allowed to take onto a secure flight and then coming into a secure, air-side area, before walking through yet another security checkpoint, make the duty free allowance illegal - it's been sealed since purchase??:shock:

A colleague decided *not* to take the advice of the saleswoman, and had to hand over his 1L Absolut at the security checkpoint - not happy (and really, a pointless exercise!!), but he learnt to listen and never did it again, unless we were flying domestic to ADL.

Guess though it's a moot point now - you can't buy anyway!:evil:

 

[Smackbum]

I returned from London a few weeks ago and assumed it would be via Singapore, but found out at Heathrow that QF2 refuelled in Bangkok. I was looking forward to my first time in the lounge there (nothing to write home about) but was very disappointed that Qantas were doing secondary checks so duty free liquor was out of the question.

Is this something that Qantas have decided to enforce or is it the governments' call? Also if Singapore can satisfy the requirement via their secure delivery method then why don't other airports do the same? I would even pay a few bucks handling fee because it would still be a damn sight cheaper than Sydney.

The real bummer was that I would still have bought the booze in Sydney, but we landed a bit late and the place was heaving. If I had stopped for duty free I would have been 500 further people back in the Immigration Queue / Customs Queue / Taxi Queue.

But it looks like plenty of people still do shop at T1

 

[simongr]

It is because Johnny Foreigner does not have as good security screening as the wonderful security teams in Australia:

Railpage Australia™ - [ABC] Qantas embarrassed by airport security breaches
Sydney Airport security breached - HOTheadlines - Australian News Headlines
Dubbo airport PIN taped to security gate | Herald Sun
www.theage.com.au/.../in-through-exit-thousands-evacuated-at-qantas-terminal-20110407-1d53v.html
Melbourne airport evacuated in security scare | thetelegraph.com.au

Or maybe not...

 

[NM]

Is this something that Qantas have decided to enforce or is it the governments' call?

Its not Qantas decision or enforcement. Its an Australian Government requirement for all flights arriving into Australia (with some notable exceptions). It is my belief that the government requirement remains in force due to lobbying from the Australian airport owners so they can justify the high rents they charge for DF shops at their airports.

Also if Singapore can satisfy the requirement via their secure delivery method then why don't other airports do the same?

Again its about politics and lobbying, not about safety. I expect Singapore (airport of Government) make threats about reciprocal embargoes and obtained the exemption.

 

[laffer]

Touch of racism here?

Can I buy from the US for instance?

 

[serfty]

Yes you can buy from the US.

I purchased 2 One litre bottles of Chivas out of LAX earlier this month for USD$60 before QF94.

These days I have a moratorium on the purchase from any of the Australian Airport Duty free stores.

They are a monopolistic rip-off - When the Federal government increased Tobacco Excise significantly about 18 months ago, a Duty Free carton of 250 cigarettes that had been $50 jumped to $58 ... even though there is no tax/excise payable on D/F items.

 

[mannej]

Touch of racism here?

Can I buy from the US for instance?

No, I don't think so. I'm fairly sure you can get duty free alcohol from other Asian airports (KL).

Duty free smokes have also increased again in AUS to about $70/carton


Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[serfty]

.

...
Duty free smokes have also increased again in AUS to about $70/carton ...

They are about $30 ex NZ.

 

[JohnK]

Duty free smokes have also increased again in AUS to about $70/carton

Tobacco has also gone up to ~AUD70 (from ~AUD40 not that long ago) but it is still ~AUD60 cheaper than retail so I will continue to purchase tobacco from Australian duty free stores.

 

[straitman]

Tobacco has also gone up to ~AUD70 (from ~AUD40 not that long ago) but it is still ~AUD60 cheaper than retail so I will continue to purchase tobacco from Australian duty free stores.

Travel to NZ occasionally. It's about half that price GF out of NZ.

 

[straitman]

Tobacco has also gone up to ~AUD70 (from ~AUD40 not that long ago) but it is still ~AUD60 cheaper than retail so I will continue to purchase tobacco from Australian duty free stores.

Travel to NZ occasionally. It's about half that price DF out of NZ.

 

[serfty]

Tobacco has also gone up to ~AUD70 (from ~AUD40 not that long ago) but it is still ~AUD60 cheaper than retail so I will continue to purchase tobacco from Australian duty free stores.

B&H 200's at LAX earlier this month were USD37.

 

[JohnK]

Travel to NZ occasionally. It's about half that price DF out of NZ.

It has been a while since I have been to New Zealand.

 

[medhead]

Isn't this really all about the timing/location of when you get the liquids. Fundamentally this is about the 100ml liquids restriction. So everytime you go through security that restriction will be enforced.

But say you flying out of SYD you are able to buy grog after the security check point. I assume the same from the US. Similarly in SIN they give you the grog after you get security screened. I'm not sure why that doesn't happen in BKK or HKG - no doubt the political aspects mentioned. But I would suggest they could do the same as SIN, using them as justification.

 

[JohnK]

Silly question but is the restriction on purchasing duty free liquor at BKK airport and travelling to Australia still in place? Unfortunately on next trip I am returning direct from BKK

I wish the Australian government would stop assisting monopolies ripping off the travelling public.