What are the current rules on transporting wine out of EZE to the USA? I checked as baggage two cases of Gaucho1K-supplied wine onto a flight on the 31st of October without problems, but there was a recent thread on the UA forum where a guy was saying wine could no longer be checked.

Gaucho1K, can you enlighten us with an airline-by-airline breakdown?

PS: Perhaps this information should be made into a sticky.

I am of the (uneducated) opinion that checking wine is acceptable still.

When I returned from BsAs a week ago I couldn't carry/check any additional luggage and I emailed Gaucho100 about him shipping some to me. He indicated that for under 24 bottles it was better to check the wine.

He also said he has some cardboard (?) transport containers that are appropriate for checking 6 bottles of wine.

I'm assuming it is okay to check the wine, since, when I return at the end of this year I plan to do some serious wine shopping at terroir.com.ar

Rita

To the best of my knowledge, all airlines still accept wine as checked items. If someone could point me to the thread where UA appears to have given a pax trouble with wine I would greatly appreciate it. I will also call UA here in Buenos Aires tomorrow and reconfirm with them on what their policy is.

The best available (and the only reliable) packaging is professional grade styrofoam wine shippers, these are reinforced cardboard boxes with styrofoam inserts that allow you to safely check wine to your final destination.

To the best of my knowledge, all airlines still accept wine as checked items. If someone could point me to the thread where UA appears to have given a pax trouble with wine I would greatly appreciate it.

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6910552#post6910552

I checked wine last weekend out of Germany into the US on US Airways. No problems at customs whatsoever (it was declared). You may have to pay a duty on it if it is above the allowed personal exemption amount, but you should have no problem keeping it.

I usually don't go so high tech when checking wine back in my checked luggage, but I'm not buying super expensive wine, either. The bottles fit nice inside of an athletic sock or two, and then further wrapped in an article of clothing. I usually use the straps that are inside my luggage to strap them all down afterwords.

Thanks BillScann for pointing out the thread. I will report back once I get more information from United here in Buenos Aires.

As the issue of US Customs is mentioned above, I would like to share what I know regarding bringing in wines to the USA when you are above the duty free allowance.

US Customs is very easy going with wines, provided that you declare every single bottle you have with you. I have a significant group of customers that are serious "whinos" and will sometimes carry back 3 cases (yes, 36 bottles of wine) and regularly have no issues bringing in the wine.

Again, whats important is that you place every single bottle you have on your customs declaration form, and if you get asked questions, as long as you can convince them that you are not in the wine trade (ie. that the wines are not for resale - that they are for your own personal use) almost every time the customs folks will not bother to charge you tax & duty. As far as Ive researched, the reason for this is that the US doesnt charge duty based on the value of wines, rather on the alcohol content, so since most wines have an average 13-14% alcohol content in the end even if you have 3 cases of wines its not worth their time to write you up and charge you what they are supposed to.

However, please do not try to scam the Customs guys and say you have 4 bottles of wine when you are carrying 6... since if you get picked for a spot check and they catch you with a lie, they will give you the full Midnight Express routine... :eek: :eek: :eek:

On a final note on how Customs are with wines, I have one interesting anecdote to share.... last month, I received the visit of a retired member of Congress who purchased 3 cases of wines to take back home with him. He asked a lot of questions about duty free allowances and listened very carefully to what information I gave him. This gentleman travels with an aide/personal assistant, and I remained in email contact with the assistant to make sure that the Senator´s wines arrived well, etc. I was surprised to hear from the assistant that upon entry to the US, the Senator had to insist the Customs agent charge him the duty, as he wanted to play 100% by the rules.

I´ve always declared the specific number of bottles of alcoholic product I have and have never had a problem (maximum 7 or 8 total). As far as checking liquids goes, I´ve done it for the first time today. Boxed Pisco with 2 thick socks around the bottle in the box, then a tshirt around the box, and then plastic bags around. I also bought duty free in SCL, which they bring to the plane, but then I´ll have to get it in my checked luggage in LAX prior to the connection. Bleh. SCL security also took away my water at the screening point even though it is an hour with no US flights (with a 7 hour connection).

Bleh. I would have bought more wine in Mendoza last week, but it just isn´t worth the hassle. I just bought enough to share w/friends in Santiago upon returning here.

I just got off the phone after a good 15 minute conversation with the folks at UA Buenos Aires.

I first spoke to a very friendly agent who said that there are no restrictions regarding wine in checked baggage, whether placed in the passenger's luggage or checked in separately. I explained about previous experiences with different interpretations of the rules, and the friendly agent suggested that in such a case, the pax should request to speak to a UA staff member and if needed, to the station manager to clear things up.

The agent was really helpful and even reconfirmed all this with his supervisor, who eventually came on the phone and re-confirmed all this directly with me. The only possible "issue" that came up in the chat with the supervisor was that if a check-in agent thinks that the wine is not properly packed, the pax may be asked to sign a waiver (this will not happen if wine is presented in styrofoam wine shippers).

I wonder what kind of packing the airport, at least in SCL, puts them in. For the first time, I saw signs that if you are flying to the EU (unlike the US, where everyone claims @ first point of entry), your duty free purchase will be delivered to and placed inside your CHECKED LUGGAGE and you will first encounter it at your final destination. I wonder if EZE is doing the same thing, and that whole setup doesn´t sound so hot, except there is no other way for connecting EU pax to get wine home.

I wonder what kind of packing the airport, at least in SCL, puts them in. For the first time, I saw signs that if you are flying to the EU (unlike the US, where everyone claims @ first point of entry), your duty free purchase will be delivered to and placed inside your CHECKED LUGGAGE and you will first encounter it at your final destination. I wonder if EZE is doing the same thing, and that whole setup doesn´t sound so hot, except there is no other way for connecting EU pax to get wine home.

This sounds bizarre.... in practice, this means that airport staff need to OPEN your bags and place Duty Free items INSIDE your suitcases....????

:confused:

This sounds bizarre.... in practice, this means that airport staff need to OPEN your bags and place Duty Free items INSIDE your suitcases....????

:confused:
Yes, this is what the signs basically said - for all EU passengers that had a connecting flight. I read it a few times because I could hardly believe it.

I checked in 12-bottle cases EZE-JFK 3 times in 2006 without any problems at EZE or at JFK (I always declare the actual amount I paid in wine).

I checked in 12-bottle cases EZE-JFK 3 times in 2006 without any problems at EZE or at JFK (I always declare the actual amount I paid in wine).

ssoul-- have you ever been written up by US customs for the wine (ie. gotten taxes and duty charged)?

Yes, once, comig from EZE but with check-in at MVD. Had to pay $40. They calculated $4 per bottle on 10 of the 12 bottles. I still don't know where the $4 came from but I wasn't going to argue...

Yes, once, comig from EZE but with check-in at MVD. Had to pay $40. They calculated $4 per bottle on 10 of the 12 bottles. I still don't know where the $4 came from but I wasn't going to argue...

Thanks for sharing your experience.... I dont recall having any customer being written up before.

Where do you "declare" wine on a US customs form? On the back there is a list for itemizing but I never bother filling it out and I think the small print says that you only have to fill it out if above $800 or something like that.

Yes, its on the back where you should declare the no. of bottles of wine you are bringing into the country.

Yes, once, comig from EZE but with check-in at MVD. Had to pay $40. They calculated $4 per bottle on 10 of the 12 bottles. I still don't know where the $4 came from but I wasn't going to argue...

I don't know where they got that amt from either. We flew back from Italy last May, arrived at EWR with 8 bottles and the calculated amount was something like 17 cents per bottle. Needless to say, they didn't bother.

When we returned from EZE last November we decided not to bring any wine back, due to the TSA security hassles, etc. At the EZE airport x-ray we were specifically asked if we had any wine in our checked luggage. I didn't think to ask why since we didn't have any.

Gaucho100K,

Where do you get these special styrofoam packing boxes? Do you know some wine merchants in BA who have them? Are they much of an extra expense?

I am visiting BA in 10 days and then leaving for a 2 week stop in SCL before flying back to YYZ. I know exactly what I'll pay when I get home and I'm SE on AC so I have extra baggage allowance. How will customs at SCL react if I try to bring cases into Chile? And would you trust the luggage storage place at SCL with storing them if I brought them in?

I'd appreciate your advice on my many questions. I'd love to bring a few cases home.

I don't know where they got that amt from either. We flew back from Italy last May, arrived at EWR with 8 bottles and the calculated amount was something like 17 cents per bottle. Needless to say, they didn't bother.

When we returned from EZE last November we decided not to bring any wine back, due to the TSA security hassles, etc. At the EZE airport x-ray we were specifically asked if we had any wine in our checked luggage. I didn't think to ask why since we didn't have any.

A question on your x-ray experience... I assume you mean when your carry-ons were x-rayed...? I ask this because your checked luggage gets x-rayed after the airline desk checks you in, or did you get some sort of secondary screening for your checked bags that involved an xray machine?

Ive heard the question of wine in checked bags by some of the security folks that grill you before you get to the check-in desk, but in my experience this step never includes an x-raying of the bags, if at all there is a hand inspection.

On this issue of wine in baggage, there are continuos report of folks being harrassed by these private security folks that dont work for the airlines, each with their own interpretation of what one is allowed to put in your suitcase. Dont let these guys bully you, you are allowed wine in your suitcase, just ask to speak with a supervisor of the airline.

Gaucho100K,

Where do you get these special styrofoam packing boxes? Do you know some wine merchants in BA who have them? Are they much of an extra expense?

I am visiting BA in 10 days and then leaving for a 2 week stop in SCL before flying back to YYZ. I know exactly what I'll pay when I get home and I'm SE on AC so I have extra baggage allowance. How will customs at SCL react if I try to bring cases into Chile? And would you trust the luggage storage place at SCL with storing them if I brought them in?

I'd appreciate your advice on my many questions. I'd love to bring a few cases home.

Please PM me on the styrofoam case issue, Id be happy to assist you.

I doubt SCL customs will give you any issues, you are a non resident of Chile and are only there on your way home. You will be OK. Also, I would have no issues with leaving the cases at SCL left luggage facility, Im sure its perfectly safe to leave some things there and collect them on your way out.

When I checked in with DL at EZE in late November, with a case of Gaucho-supplied wine, the DL agent told me that if I had 6 bottles they all had to be 750 ml, not 1 liter, because DL's maximum amount of wine they allowed checked in the hold per package was 5 liters.

Don't know if they were making this up or not.

No problems at ATL customs, no charges. And TSA at international bag re-check insisted that they x-ray by hand with other fragile items so that it didn't go on the main x-ray processing belt where "things get knocked around some".

When I checked in with DL at EZE in late November, with a case of Gaucho-supplied wine, the DL agent told me that if I had 6 bottles they all had to be 750 ml, not 1 liter, because DL's maximum amount of wine they allowed checked in the hold per package was 5 liters.

Don't know if they were making this up or not.

No problems at ATL customs, no charges. And TSA at international bag re-check insisted that they x-ray by hand with other fragile items so that it didn't go on the main x-ray processing belt where "things get knocked around some".

Mark, thanks for sharing your experiences. The 5 liter "rule" sounds to me like just another of these free interpretations... :rolleyes: I mean, whats the difference between 5 and 6 liters of wine?

It would be great if airline employees could point to a part of the website where the rules are spelled out in print, so there is no room for funny interpretations.

A question on your x-ray experience... I assume you mean when your carry-ons were x-rayed...? I ask this because your checked luggage gets x-rayed after the airline desk checks you in, or did you get some sort of secondary screening for your checked bags that involved an xray machine?

Ive heard the question of wine in checked bags by some of the security folks that grill you before you get to the check-in desk, but in my experience this step never includes an x-raying of the bags, if at all there is a hand inspection.

On this issue of wine in baggage, there are continuos report of folks being harrassed by these private security folks that dont work for the airlines, each with their own interpretation of what one is allowed to put in your suitcase. Dont let these guys bully you, you are allowed wine in your suitcase, just ask to speak with a supervisor of the airline.

Gaucho: It was the private security folks you describe above, I am sure that was it. I got the impression it was just to be aware of the glass containers before x-ray, but I apologise I did not ask. Since we did not have any wine with us, I just answered "no" and went to the TA.

The 5 liter "rule" sounds to me like just another of these free interpretations... :rolleyes: I mean, whats the difference between 5 and 6 liters of wine?

It would be great if airline employees could point to a part of the website where the rules are spelled out in print, so there is no room for funny interpretations.

The 5 liter rule is very real on certain US airlines, not for wine but for hard liquor. It's 5l per person, not per checked bag. This is something I investigated very thoroughly before a recent trip to Mexico...

Wrong airline I know but this points to specific limits by alcohol content.

http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/baggage/restrictedArticles.jhtml?anchorEvent=false

Recognize that individual US states, not Federal law, will set importation limits at point of US re-entry and that Federal Customs staff will be responsible for implementing state law in these circumstances.

3Cforme-- thank you for providing the link, very good information. Perhaps its relevant to discuss in further detail a few issues that come to mind:

i) as you correctly point out through the provided link, the 5 liter limit per pax is for hard licquor, and is therefore not applicable to wine. There is no set limit as long as its in "retail packaging".

ii) I agree with your point about Federal Customs Agents enforcing the regulations and limits related to what you can bring in to the USA... however, where do the airlines come into play here? If someone wants to bring back X amount of wine and deals with the airline on the issue of bags checked and total weight (all this is done at the airport of departure), it would appear that the issue of customs & duty is something to be settled upon arrival & entry into the USA - and is a separate issue to the actual transportation of the goods.

Hello everybody, and Gaucho100K in particular...

So I travel to Argentina fairly often (once a year, my family is there) and I always brought a few bottles of wine back to the US, but only on my carry-on.

I was under the impression that wine might not travel so well in the regular luggage compartment, due to the pressure/temperature changes, and that it might be "spoiled" by that. Is this a complete fantasy? Will wine travel OK in my checked luggage?

Thanks for the clarification!

E.

So I travel to Argentina fairly often (once a year, my family is there) and I always brought a few bottles of wine back to the US, but only on my carry-on.

I was under the impression that wine might not travel so well in the regular luggage compartment, due to the pressure/temperature changes, and that it might be "spoiled" by that. Is this a complete fantasy? Will wine travel OK in my checked luggage?


Wine will be fine if you check it in. The cargo area in passenger aircraft is pressurized and temperatures are also controlled. While it may get a little colder than the main cabin, your wine will not freeze.

Having said that, remember that wine in your suitcase may mean stained clothes... if you must do this I suggest you wrap each bottle with protective material such as bubble wrap, etc. The best solution is to use styrofoam shippers and check these as regular baggage.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Good news for those wanting to bring back a nice quantity of their favorite Argentine wines to the US. Here is the official rule explained on the TSA website. The 5 liter rule applies to flammable products, but wine is not one of the substances that is regulated because it does not fit into the alcohol content category. Please see below in RED the limitations for hard licquor, and in BLUE the explicit exclusion of liquids such as wine that are below 24% alcohol content:

Carrying Alcohol In Your Checked Baggage

Please note, you can’t take alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol content (140 proof), including 95% grain alcohol and 150 proof rum, in your checked luggage.

You may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70% per person as checked luggage if it’s packaged in a sealable bottle or flask.

Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol content are not subject to hazardous materials regulations.

Link to the TSA website:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1189.shtm

Here is a handy link to a printer friendly format PDF file that lists details on what you are allowed to carry in your baggage:

http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/Prohibited%20and%20Permitted%20Items_printerfriend ly_3-16-07.pdf

On page 2 of this document, check the middle (center) column under the item "Additional Useful Information:" where Alcohol is discussed. There, it is clearly stated that the 5 liter rule applies to alcoholic products with alcohol contents of between 24% and 70%.

This document, in addition to a print out of the other link posted above that specifically deals with alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol should be enough to end any discussion with an ill-informed gate agent.

Link: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1189.shtm

Important update: with the help of FT and thanks to a member that is part of the CO Management Team, CO has announced that it has changed its Wine Transport Policy out of EZE. This is great news for all EZE visitors, and means that CO will now join the ranks of wine friendly airlines that operate from EZE !!! ^

Please see the CO related announcements on this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=719146

Thanks Gaucho100k
I just made it back home with 14 bottles of wine.:D One case and 2 in my check bags.:rolleyes: The packing case I received from you worked GREAT. At check in the United gate agent marked the case fragile and just smiled.
At US customs they did not even stop me, just waved me thru.

Congratulations on the new member of the family.

Hi Twobyte.... glad you made it home with your bottles... ^ Thanks for the well wishes... :D ^

I brought 12 bottles back from EZE came in via ATL in January. I didn't have to pay duty. The only bad part was the wine made it on 4 flights w/i south american and EZE-ATL fine but one bottle broke from ATL-SYR.

I brought 12 bottles back from EZE came in via ATL in January. I didn't have to pay duty. The only bad part was the wine made it on 4 flights w/i south american and EZE-ATL fine but one bottle broke from ATL-SYR.

How did you pack your wine...?

Thanks for sharing your experience.... I dont recall having any customer being written up before.

Alex,

I forgot to tell you, but when I muled-back two cases of wine from your shop last November, I was delayed by customs for close to an hour as I waited to pay $6.43 in duty.

-Bill

I'll be in EZE with the family for all of November: what are LAN's rules on wine shipments as checked baggage to the USA?

-Bill

Alex,

I forgot to tell you, but when I muled-back two cases of wine from your shop last November, I was delayed by customs for close to an hour as I waited to pay $6.43 in duty.

-Bill

Hi Bill... sorry to hear this happened. Good news is that you now have a US$10 credit waiting for you, with our thanks for your understanding.

I'll be in EZE with the family for all of November: what are LAN's rules on wine shipments as checked baggage to the USA?

-Bill

Bill, I dont know what the rules are... but I think it would be best if you posted this over on the LAN fora.

Many thanks to Gaucho for the wine we bought at his shop on our recent trip through Buenos Aires. It safely made it back to Canada through two flights due to its expert styrofoam packing provided by Alex. Just wish we could have brought more back! He was swamped with pre-Christmas demands yet was very welcoming and gracious to us - Thanks, Alex!

My pleasure.... and thank you for your goodwill in understanding the special time of year and allowing me to "suffer" all those interruptions during the times we met.

Would anyone happen to be familiar with LH's rules on checking wine. I will be returning to Europe on a UA/LH itinerary early January and thought I might check some wine...

Ive never heard of LH having problems with wine as long as its properly packed and you are not grossly over your allowed weight limits/baggage allowance.

US Customs is very easy going with wines, provided that you declare every single bottle you have with you. I have a significant group of customers that are serious "whinos" and will sometimes carry back 3 cases (yes, 36 bottles of wine) and regularly have no issues bringing in the wine.

Again, whats important is that you place every single bottle you have on your customs declaration form, and if you get asked questions, as long as you can convince them that you are not in the wine trade (ie. that the wines are not for resale - that they are for your own personal use) almost every time the customs folks will not bother to charge you tax & duty. As far as Ive researched, the reason for this is that the US doesnt charge duty based on the value of wines, rather on the alcohol content, so since most wines have an average 13-14% alcohol content in the end even if you have 3 cases of wines its not worth their time to write you up and charge you what they are supposed to.

However, please do not try to scam the Customs guys and say you have 4 bottles of wine when you are carrying 6... since if you get picked for a spot check and they catch you with a lie, they will give you the full Midnight Express routine... :eek: :eek: :eek:

On a final note on how Customs are with wines, I have one interesting anecdote to share.... last month, I received the visit of a retired member of Congress who purchased 3 cases of wines to take back home with him. He asked a lot of questions about duty free allowances and listened very carefully to what information I gave him. This gentleman travels with an aide/personal assistant, and I remained in email contact with the assistant to make sure that the Senator´s wines arrived well, etc. I was surprised to hear from the assistant that upon entry to the US, the Senator had to insist the Customs agent charge him the duty, as he wanted to play 100% by the rules.

I have to say, as an experienced wine tourist, that this is VERY dependent upon where you clear customs in the U.S. As an individual traveler, I have muled back as much as 20 bottles and been waved through in many places - especially when clearing customs on the East Coast of the U.S., but while clearing customs in California - particularly LAX, I have been given grief and forced to wait on line for over an hour for as little as 4 bottles with duty due of less than $3. My sense is, that in California, they are conscious of protecting the local wine industry, while in other locales, they don't care and can't be bothered with the inconvenience of charging people a few dollars duty so long as the traveler has declared the stuff honestly and is bringing it back for personal consumption.

I have to say, as an experienced wine tourist, that this is VERY dependent upon where you clear customs in the U.S. As an individual traveler, I have muled back as much as 20 bottles and been waved through in many places - especially when clearing customs on the East Coast of the U.S., but while clearing customs in California - particularly LAX, I have been given grief and forced to wait on line for over an hour for as little as 4 bottles with duty due of less than $3. My sense is, that in California, they are conscious of protecting the local wine industry, while in other locales, they don't care and can't be bothered with the inconvenience of charging people a few dollars duty so long as the traveler has declared the stuff honestly and is bringing it back for personal consumption.

I have brought back as many as 7+ bottles of mixed wine and spirits through LAX without any issue. I don't know why US Customs, collecting tax for the US government (don't forget, this was part of the Department of the Treasury until the reorganization to keep us free and safe) has any interest in the California wine industry.

Case bought from Gaucho... no duty in DFW. Customs said no duty on up to 3 gallons. Ymmv. Good luck.

Gaucho - do you ship wines back to the US? And where is your shop - I will be there in November.

Gaucho - do you ship wines back to the US? And where is your shop - I will be there in November.

Hi DCPremEx-- I see you live near Tysons Corner.... I lived there back in my middle-school days... :D The answer to your question is Yes... I think we should take the details of the discussion to PM.

Cheers,
Alex (Gaucho100K)

Case bought from Gaucho... no duty in DFW. Customs said no duty on up to 3 gallons. Ymmv. Good luck.

4 bottles arrived safely as checked luggage EZE-ATL this morning. I did have to pay AR$30 to have the box wrapped at the airport. Also of note, I had to claim the box in the oversized luggage claim area - wasted 15 minutes for it to show up on the regular carousel. No mention of duty as I cleared Customs.

I have to say, as an experienced wine tourist, that this is VERY dependent upon where you clear customs in the U.S.

D1andonlyDman, is right. It is very dependent of where you clear customs. IAH used to be very strict.

It is also very dependent of traveler's attitude. My husband and I have brought many bottles back (always in foam shipper) from Australia, Italy, and France. Never had problems with airlines or customs except for one time when my husband got sassy and started to explain what the law allows to the customs agent. Things went down hill very fast. We were losing our treasures. As a dutiful wife, I quickly pushed him aside and begged for forgiveness. We were charge about $80 for the two cases we had with us. (I guess about $4.00 per bottle). We did gain a wonderful travel story.

Just to add to the above posts... when I have customers at the store that worry about US customs and wine, I offer them a money back guarantee. If folks follow my instructions with how to declare wine (which is to declare 100% of the bottles you have on you), if you get checked and they charge you duty on your wines, I will refund your credit card for the duty amount you are charged. In my almost 5 years in business, Ive had to refund a client in only 2 (two) occasions. One client was charged $14 and the other $16.50......

Therefore, in my experience, play legit and by the rules and 99.9% of the time they will send you on your way.

No issues with a checked case of wine from EZE to IAD.

We declared everything at US customs and again had no issues.

Better yet, thanks to Gaucho's shop and packaging, the wine arrived safely.

My only regret? Not buying two cases.

No issues with a checked case of wine from EZE to IAD.

We declared everything at US customs and again had no issues.

Better yet, thanks to Gaucho's shop and packaging, the wine arrived safely.

My only regret? Not buying two cases.

Glad to hear it all worked out.... and, on the issue of your regret, remember there is a "nice" solution to this... you have a great "excuse" to plan another trip down to EZE... :D

I also bought a case from Gaucho but actually had some problems with LAN. I was thinking about getting 2 cases, and I am glad we just went with one.
LAN claimed you are only allowed 6 bottles per person, no matter where you were flying to. Two other supervisors got involved and "double-checked" their policy.
Since it was 2 of us, this meant we would have to break up the packaging into 2 boxes.
What's amazing is LAN handed over this tiny box and asked me to squeeze 6 bottles (with no padding) and that nothing would break, unbelievable.

I decided that I would stuff 3 bottles in each of our other luggage, but our luggage had already left their conveyer belt, so it had to be tracked down.

On the meantime I decide to walk around the shops at EZE to find a box I can use. I come across a wine store and get a hold of some 6-bottle boxes with styrofoam, just like Guacho's (the lady at the wine store told me they were IATA approved). So $100 ARS later, i had found the best solution possible. The airline requested I wrap the boxes, so there went another $60 ARS.

The good news is the bottles arrived intact and no problems with customs.
Hopefully somebody out there can benefit from my experience and save themselves some stress and money (since I ended up doubling my wine packaging expenses).

Im very sorry for your troubles.... this is the first such incident I have reported with LAN. I will try to see if this is in the contract of carriage... and I will actually get to the bottom of this as I have a good friend that is senior management at LAN Argentina.

I will be back and report my findings once I speak to my LAN contact.

Once again, csrx, Im very sorry for your troubles and I appreciate your goodwill with this tense & stressful situation. I will send you a PM with my proposed solution to compensate you for your troubles.

I am posting a little more information on my situation with LAN:

They wouldn't allow that much liquor/alcohol content in a single bag/box. Due to the size of the bottles, only 6 would be allowed.

One of the supervisors seemed confused and unsure about the rule, but since everybody else was telling her the limit was 6, she gave in. At that point, there was no turning back.

The lady at the wine store told me it was hit or miss for 12 bottles.

I remembered reading about a situation with DL and the 5 liter rule. I told the supervisor this was not hard liquor, this was wine and had a lower percentage of alcohol and not bound to that rule. She phoned her supervisor, explained the situation, and the answer was the same. Split the packaging into 2 or you cannot take those with you. I would think that after all these years of people checking-in wine, these agents would be very clear on the policies, specially the supervisors.

csrx-- I think that the agents & supervisors are making the same mistake that the DL folks did a few months back. I think they are forgetting that wine is not flammable.

Im reading over on a few wine IBBs that the TSA is going to be relaxing rules limiting transport of liquids in the next couple of months... this is because most large airports are getting the new generation scanners that are able to detect the dangerous stuff, etc.

This is great news for folks wanting to travel with wine... some are even speculating that wine will once again be allowed as carry-on... ^

I will keep you all posted on the developments.

Im reading over on a few wine IBBs that the TSA is going to be relaxing rules limiting transport of liquids in the next couple of months

Yes, I've seen those reports, too. Fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, I'll be flying back to Buenos Aires from Mendoza on LAN, and I suspect I will have picked up some wine during my travels. :) What's the best transport solution? Can I carry any wine on-board with me? And if I have to check it, am I better off stuffing it in luggage or packing it (securely) in a separate box (not concerned from a wine bottle breakage standpoint, but from a "I hope the airline doesn't hassle me" perspective).

thanks.

Wirelessly posted (Palm TX: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D050; Blazer/4.3) 16;320x448)

Enforcement of regulations on domestic flights is variable. I would not suggest placing bottles in your suitcase so imo its best to get a proper wine shipper and check it in. Of course depending on what your other bags are like, keep your fingers crossed that they dont want to charge something.

Wirelessly posted (Palm TX: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D050; Blazer/4.3) 16;320x448)

Enforcement of regulations on domestic flights is variable. I would not suggest placing bottles in your suitcase so imo its best to get a proper wine shipper and check it in. Of course depending on what your other bags are like, keep your fingers crossed that they dont want to charge something.

Ugh. Does LAN Argentina have some sort of one bag limit?

I dont know the specifics about what LAN allows... I suggest you call then so you at least know the rules. As I say above, enforcement is variable, but it is true that LAN tends to run a tighter ship than most and throwing the book of rules at customers happens more often than on other carriers. This being said, a big smile on your face and some people skills come a long way when shmoozing at the check in counter...... good luck!!!

I dont know the specifics about what LAN allows... I suggest you call then so you at least know the rules. As I say above, enforcement is variable, but it is true that LAN tends to run a tighter ship than most and throwing the book of rules at customers happens more often than on other carriers. This being said, a big smile on your face and some people skills come a long way when shmoozing at the check in counter...... good luck!!!

I just looked at their website and -- ouch! The official limits for coach pax are only 20 kilos for checked baggage, and 8 kilos for carry on. And if you go over -- and they feel like enforcing it -- it's an astonishing US$12 PER KILO.

http://plane.lan.com/info_viajes/equipajes/chequeado/vuelos_argentina-en-us.html

So Gaucho, how much does a bottle of wine weigh? :)

What I'm thinking is that I'd do better buying my Mendoza wine in BA after I fly back. AA still is generous on int'l baggage, 2 checked plus a generous carry-on, so I can get it home from there. I presume wine prices in Mendoza are not materially lower than in BA (and could they be higher?).

The only downside is that it seems rude to taste at a winery without buying SOMETHING. How does that all play out in Mendoza?

I'd be inclined to "risk it," but the US$12 per kilo makes that a risky bet. :)

I just looked at their website and -- ouch! The official limits for coach pax are only 20 kilos for checked baggage, and 8 kilos for carry on. And if you go over -- and they feel like enforcing it -- it's an astonishing US$12 PER KILO.

http://plane.lan.com/info_viajes/equipajes/chequeado/vuelos_argentina-en-us.html

So Gaucho, how much does a bottle of wine weigh? :)

What I'm thinking is that I'd do better buying my Mendoza wine in BA after I fly back. AA still is generous on int'l baggage, 2 checked plus a generous carry-on, so I can get it home from there. I presume wine prices in Mendoza are not materially lower than in BA (and could they be higher?).

The only downside is that it seems rude to taste at a winery without buying SOMETHING. How does that all play out in Mendoza?

I'd be inclined to "risk it," but the US$12 per kilo makes that a risky bet. :)

I try to not openly say that its not smart to buy wines while in Mendoza if you will be in EZE before your leave... not because it doesnt make sense but rather because some folks may think Im trying to push a sale. Leaving my ITB status aside, I think its plain dumb and inconvenient to shlep wines around the country. Also, variety in Mendoza is nothing like you will find in Buenos Aires, and there are no relevant price differences when purchasing in Mendoza.

The buying something at the winery "obligation" does not exist in Argentina, especially since many places not charge a nominal tasting fee. However, even if they dont charge, you are not expected to buy anything.

Thanks for the advice. I always like buying wine at wineries. Well, at least in Europe. Indeed, it's kind of expected there. In France, I once bought a couple bottles from a relatively small vintner and he said, "Monsieur, if you just wanted a bottle or two, why didn't you go to the supermarket." :p

But in America, I've generally stopped doing it (at least in California) because it has gotten more expensive at the winery than in the stores. Perhaps because of this, though, I've cut down my winery visits (I was just in SFO this summer for a week and didn't bother heading north to Sonoma or Napa).

So I guess I'll have to use my "American strategy" in Mendoza. It is less fun, however. Fewer fond rememberances when you open the bottle.