HKG or BKK for duty free

[N860CR]

Will be passing through both BKK and HKG shortly and wanted to see if anyone knows which has the best (alcohol) duty free prices? Last time I was in HKG I tried to buy on departure and forgot what the prices are. I'll have to buy on arrival and pack it into the suitcase...

It's a little frustrating so if it's only a little cheaper than SYD then I'll probably get it on arrival here... but isn't that exactly what they want us to do?

 

[Renato]

BKK is slightly cheaper , but i think best would be Australian airports , also I believe you cannot purchase large bottles of alcohol ( 750ml ) in BKK airport to carry on board for flights to Australia , As a side note I find HK airport duty free very expensive and most items cheaper if you buy direct in HK island or Kowloon

 

[HardieBoys]

I was in BKK in late November 2009, and was informed by an attendant in one of the duty-free stores that passengers en route to Australia were not permitted to buy duty-free alcohol there.

 

[serfty]

... also I believe you cannot purchase large bottles of alcohol ( 750ml ) in BKK airport to carry on board for flights to Australia ...

Welcome to AFF

This may have changed with the introduction of centralised WTMD/Security.

 

[moa999]

At BKK there is still (as of yesterday) a final bag check before the holding pen at the gate at which point any duty free liquids will be removed

 

[N860CR]

Thanks. I'll be on a HKG bound RJ flight from BKK so depending on local regulations in HKG they may allow it on.

Guess I shall find out.

 

[HardieBoys]

Not sure what alcohol you're planning to purchase, but the duty-free limit for alcohol into Australia is 2.25 L. Just off the top of my head, the biggest price differential will be between retail prices in Australia compared with any duty-free alcohol (rather than variance between different duty-free prices).

 

[JohnK]

Is it the Thai government that imposes the no duty free alcohol allowed if travelling to Australia from BKK or the Australian government? I was told by various duty free stores in BKK that the restriction was for Australian flights only so I am guessing it is imposed by the Australian govermnent. It is an absolute joke.

I got off a SIN-SYD flight yesterday morning and noticed many passengers with duty free alcohol purchased in SIN. Why not allow duty free alcohol purchased from BKK?

 

[thewinchester]

Is it the Thai government that imposes the no duty free alcohol allowed if travelling to Australia from BKK or the Australian government? I was told by various duty free stores in BKK that the restriction was for Australian flights only so I am guessing it is imposed by the Australian govermnent. It is an absolute joke.

I got off a SIN-SYD flight yesterday morning and noticed many passengers with duty free alcohol purchased in SIN. Why not allow duty free alcohol purchased from BKK?

There's no legal prohibition in terms of ICON conditions of bringing commercially produced alcohol from Thailand into Australia, and nothing on the customs site either.

So it's down to DITRDLG and the LAG rules for inbound flights to Australia. The reason why SIN is Ok for liquor and other LAG's purchased are delivered to the customer in sealed, tamper-evident bags. DITRDLG do say that the product must be delivered to gate, and I assume this is to reduce the risk and time requirements for carriers. Seriously, gate staff don't want to check every piece of carry-on baggage brought aboard.

If the BKK duty free stores can't be bothered to sell product in sealed, tamper-evident bags or implement a sales system that means customers won't lose their booze when getting home, their loss AFAIC. They're missing out on the sales at the end of the day, so its on them to do something about it.

 

[N860CR]

Not sure what alcohol you're planning to purchase, but the duty-free limit for alcohol into Australia is 2.25 L. Just off the top of my head, the biggest price differential will be between retail prices in Australia compared with any duty-free alcohol (rather than variance between different duty-free prices).

There's often a huge difference between the "duty free" price in SYD compared to some asian ports (SIN being the cheapest). I've saved 50% buying duty free spirits in SIN as opposed to SYD, however wasn't sure about BKK or HKG

 

[NM]

Is it the Thai government that imposes the no duty free alcohol allowed if travelling to Australia from BKK or the Australian government? I was told by various duty free stores in BKK that the restriction was for Australian flights only so I am guessing it is imposed by the Australian govermnent. It is an absolute joke.

It is the Australia government regulations that require all passenger's carry-on bags to be screened for liquids, aerosols and gells during boarding. It is my belief that the requirement remains active due to lobbying from the Australian airport owners as it results in more people purchasing duty-free booze upon arrival into Australia. This in turn allows the inbound duty-free shop operators to charge higher prices as they don't have to compete with overseas suppliers, and hence the airport owners can charge the duty-free shops higher rent.

So the winners are the airport owners (higher rent) and the inbound duty-free shop owners (higher profits). The losers are the passengers. And the bureaucrats take the easy option of maintaining the status quo rather than investing in reality.

Singapore is an exception as the airport struck a deal that protects their duty-free sales interests, delivering the purchases in a sealed bag to the boarding gate after the passengers have been screened.

 

[markis10]

Singapore is an exception as the airport struck a deal that protects their duty-free sales interests, delivering the purchases in a sealed bag to the boarding gate after the passengers have been screened.

Any airport can do it according to the legislation provided they are able to deliver the goods to the gate, not just Singapore, I suspect the numbers just make it economically viable for them to actually provide the service.=, along with a setup that allows this to occur post screening.

Restrictions for inbound flights to Australia

 

[Dee Thom]

Is it the Thai government that imposes the no duty free alcohol allowed if travelling to Australia from BKK or the Australian government? I was told by various duty free stores in BKK that the restriction was for Australian flights only so I am guessing it is imposed by the Australian govermnent. It is an absolute joke.

I got caught with a 1lt bottle of Capt Morgan Gold bought at D/Free on a BKK/NRT flight, with a second bag check, a few months ago. Was relieved of the bottle (probably sold back to D/F for half price) by a smiling security boy, who had a nearly full drum of booze beside him.
Have just gotta remember that wine and liquor are cheaper to buy in any Supermarket in Japan, than most D/F Ports "DUMB"..................

Cheers Dee