Duty Free Items

[Ned]

Originally posted by from TSA rules and regulations: August 30 2006
Duty Free Items

Due to enhanced security measures most liquids, gels, lotions and other items of similar consistency will not be permitted in carry-on baggage. These types of items must be packed in your checked baggage.

Duty free items are permitted if delivered directly onto the aircraft. However, passengers making connections from international to domestic flights must transfer the items to their checked bag before boarding their flight. At pre-clearance airports passengers must put duty free items into their checked luggage since the aircraft deplanes behind passenger security checkpoints.

Please note: Duty free policies differ by airport. For additional information on duty free, please contact your airport directly.

It is important to note, that if you are departing from the following cities directly to the United States, you need to pack duty free items containing liquids or gels in your checked baggage. When you land in the United States after leaving from these cities you do not process through customs and therefore will not have access your checked baggage. Due to current security procedures, you will not be allowed to board a connecting flight in the United States with liquids and gels. Learn more about our security procedures before you fly. Our Travel Assistant

Aruba
Bermuda
Calgary, Canada
Edmonton, Canada
Freeport, The Bahamas
Montreal, Canada
Nassau, The Bahamas
Ottawa, Canada
Toronto, Canada
Vancouver, Canada
Winnipeg, Canada


So, if you're flying to your destination direct, you're in good shape with the duty free items, as long as your bags don't go through customs before you board at such airports as Aruba or Bermuda. If you're flying from those airports, you're going to have to pack your duty free liquids and gels in your checked-in luggage.

If you're flying to or from Europe, for example, you'll be able to take your duty free liquor aboard the flight into the cabin if it's delivered to the gate. But if you're not flying direct, you're still in trouble, because you're going to have to pack those duty free liquids and gels into your checked-in luggage and seriously chance having bottle breakage in your luggage, before you get on to your connecting flight.

Summarizing, the new rules with duty free liquids and gels are definitely a mixed bag blessing. If you're flying direct you're in great shape if you don't go through customs in your embarkation airport, but otherwise the stuff still has to go into your checked luggage to break wide open in your luggage.

[tdew]

We're home! Flying from Paris yesterday we were told that NO liquids or gels of any type from the duty free area were allowed on the plane.

Once we were identified as passengers to NY, we had to show passports and boarding passes at least 4 times before we got to the xray machines. At that point, all shoes had to be removed, computer did not have to come out of the case. My 6 year old grand son's backpack was hand searched, but we never did figure out what had caused the search...

After that, boarding started about 1 hour before flight time. We weren't going to rush, until I noticed that they were doing a bag search in the gangway. We got on the line and the search of carry on bags was intense. Every zipper was opened, every case was opened, cd cases were checked to make sure there was nothing else inside. We thought we were through at this point, but then we had to be patted down!

Departure was slightly delayed, but they made up the time, until we got to the NY area and landing was delayed. We were watching the countdown to landing and were down to 18 minutes - when it jumped to 56 minutes....

Just for the record, at no time did anyone question whether I had permission to take the granchildren with a different surname in or out of the country. We were prepared with notarized letters from both parents, and birth certificates as well as passports, but never needed them.

And - I did find the time to get the International driver's license before we left and we rented cars in
Bodo, Norway, Stavanger, Norway and Berlin, Germany. None of these agents wanted to see the International license - even though I offered it.

[weblet]

Great info, tdew!

But someone will have to enlighten me. It has been my experience that most airports have the duty free shopping after you check your bags. So how are you going to put what you've bought into your checked luggage? Going to cut down on all those booze and perfume sales.... :lol:

[Kairho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(weblet @ Aug 30 2006, 10:16 AM) 35975</div>
Great info, tdew!

But someone will have to enlighten me. It has been my experience that most airports have the duty free shopping after you check your bags. So how are you going to put what you've bought into your checked luggage? Going to cut down on all those booze and perfume sales.... :lol:
[/b]
In some cases they are allowing duty free purchases, done after security, to be brought on board as carry on. It is when you arrive in the US, and have to collect your bags and go through security again, that you have to put the purchases into the re-checked bags.

[weblet]

Yes, I see that. I guess I was thinking about those cities listed that you don't see your luggage... Should have clarified...