On our way back from France we bought two bottles each of a Bordeaux and a perfume. The clerk in the store sealed the bag and we went on our way. The flight attendant on the first leg of our flight (thank god) informed us that if we were stopping in Philly and then proceeding on to our final destination the liquids would be confiscated by the TSA if we didn't have them in the checked in luggage. But wait? Didn't we already go through security in France and we never left the secured area of the Philly airport? Why go through TSA security again? We were saved since we had to pick up our luggage to go through customs and were able to stick everything in the checked in luggage, which had to be checked in again, X-rayed and loaded on to the final destination plane (obviously AA didn't load them in our flight). If you are NOT flying directly to your destination from anywhere in the world and have to make a stop for Immigration and customs back in the USA, keep in mind our little experience buying in the duty free area of any airport. DON'T, unless you're sure you'll see your checked in luggage before going through the TSA again.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
748 posts
Thanks for the reminder. And this is especially tricky when you are killing time waiting for the first flight in the duty free shops. We got caught when we completely forgot the set of mini vodka bottleswe bought waiting for flight to Helsinki and then transfer to us flight
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4656 posts
Yep. I had similar happen to me on Europe to Toronto to Ottawa flight. Had tompick up and recheck luggage after arrival in Toronto. Thankfully had space to stuff in that bottle of Bailey's before rechecking bag. Now I do carry on only, so avoid the DF all together.
Posted by
Paris
10188 posts
I always buy a bottle of Champagne for my parents in duty free when leaving Paris, and I always stash it in my checked bag when I get it back in Atlanta after immigration and baggage claim and before I give it back to the Delta folks to recheck it. Have never had an issue and they always enjoy the bottle I bring them sometime during my visit in Tulsa.
Posted by
Freedonia
16272 posts
I flew from Vienna to London last week. Since I was up front, I had my freebie drink. As we were approching London, the flight attendant came over to me and asked if I was connecting in London. I said no and was handed four 'small" bottles of Vodka.
Even if I was connecting, they were small and I would have found a way to stuff them in my 3-1-1 bag.
Posted by
Mayberry on the Willamette
355 posts
We brought back some olive oil from Italy. Ohh and a bottle of whisky! Oregon is expensive for liquor. We bought it in the duty free shop. The duty free store/mall put it in a duty free bag & sealed it. We stopped off in Joisey (EWR). We had to go out & come back through security. TSA flagged the liquid & we got "special treatment". Secondary screening. The agent cut open the bag & I think scanned it. (we could not see him doing it) After doing that he put it back in the duty free bag & put TSA tape on it to close it up. That's it. It took a few extra minutes but not bad.
I was shocked the 2 bags of flour made it through though
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8965 posts
More than once I have heard clerks at a duty-free shop tell people that their liquid purchases were Ok to go through (US) TSA on connecting flights. I don't know why that would be true. Anyone else comment?
Posted by
Freedonia
16272 posts
More than once I have heard clerks at a duty-free shop tell people that their liquid purchases were Ok to go through (US) TSA on connecting flights. I don't know why that would be true. Anyone else comment?
This from our good friends at the TSA:
Planning on buying some ‘cough medicine’ at the duty-free store after the security checkpoint? You’re limited to 5 liters of alcohol between 24%-70% ABV or 48 – 140 proof. If you purchased the alcohol overseas and have a connecting flight in the United States, the alcohol is allowed in your carry-on bag if;
The bottles are packed in a transparent, secure, tamper-evident bag by the retailer. Don’t try to sneak a swig! If the bag looks opened or tampered with, then it won’t be allowed to fly in your carry-on bag.
Keep the receipt! You must show that the alcohol was purchased within the last 48 hours.
Posted by
412 posts
This is a good thread. I learned this the hard way coming back from Mexico once
Posted by
Washington DC
28065 posts
So, can the alcohol-purchased-from-a-duty-free-shop rule be used to carry in balsamic vinegar? I went on an ultimately-unsuccessful hunt for a specific aged balamic vinegar when I returned from Rome in March. I was sort of relieved not to find it at the airport, because I was not at all sure I'd be able to get it home with a change of planes in Newark.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2790 posts
Liquids in the sealed bags are supposed to be an allowed. . But sadly done agents right like to play let’s make up a rule or are poorly trained .
here’s what I do when they don’t understand their own information. I open my phone, I find the appropriate page on the website and I show it to them. And there’s a page on the website that says if duty-free liquids are in the sealed bag that can be brought on. If they continue to play, “ we made a rule” I ask for their supervisor.
I also would not leave the liquid there, I would take it out and throw it away and empty it before I handed it over 😂. I am convinced that those liquids don’t get destroyed. I’m sure the TSA in some cities has quite the Christmas party or has wonderful gifts for their partners. (a friend of mine‘s cousin used to work for the TSA. She lasted about six months, but what she told me was enough to make me believe that some of the staff are just helping themselves.)