Argentina - My Argentina visit - great time, a few DL hassles shipping wine, but resolved

Sorry it's taken a while for me to post.

I had a fabulous trip, even though it was a highly compressed 6 days. I finally made it to Mendoza and loved my experience there.

A few quick kudos. I really enjoyed:

In Buenos Aires:

Abode Buenos Aires - B&B run by a great British couple who were impeccable hosts. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g312741-d1105656-Reviews-Abode_Buenos_Aires-Buenos_Aires_Capital_Federal_District.html

In Mendoza:

Trout and Wine Tours - great, professional, fun, savvy tour operators.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g312781-d982478-Reviews-Trout_Wine_Tours-Mendoza_Province_of_Mendoza_Cuyo.html

Lares de Chacras - fantastic 10 room lodge in a small town in Mendoza. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g644399-d655858-Reviews-Lares_de_Chacras-Chacras_de_Coria_Province_of_Mendoza_Cuyo.html


After returning to B.A., it was great to finally meet Gaucho100K at his store and he helped me pick out a great selection of 12 bottles. I really enjoy the experience of shopping with Alex. We packed my 12 bottles in a top-notch styrofoam shipper inside a cardboard box.

The next day when I went to check in at the DL counter (Gold Medallion line), there was a DL security person who had to ask you the requisite questions before you could proceed to the counter (did anyone give you any gifts, have you been in control of your bags, etc.). He asked what was in the box, and as advised in this forum I told him, 12 bottles of wine.

He had a dismayed look on his face and said, 12 bottles in one box exceeds Delta's regulations. I was a little worried but decided to relax and see what happened. He told me to go ahead and check in at the counter, but that if the agent refused to check my bag, to come back and get him, and he would see about finding two boxes in which to split my wine shipment.

Now, after paying a good bit to get my wine packed just so, and not all that much time until the flight, I was not excited at the prospect of running around trying to repack everything.

I went to the counter, she didn't ask anything, I didn't offer any info, and the box was checked.

Whew.

I miss the place already. Can't wait for my next trip.

Hello Boston Guy-- happy to read you had a good time in town, and that your wine situation was resolved. You were among the unlucky that got caught with a Security person that, surprise surprise, has no idea what he/she is talking about.

It is simply not true that DL or any other airline has a limit on wine shipped as baggage... the problem is that there is a limit on flammable liquids, and hard liquor is indeed such an item. As an example, hold a flame to a glass of Vodka and watch the fireworks...

The problem is, many people just assume that wine falls into this same category... but this is just not true. Hold a flamethrower to any wine and it will ignore it.... wines are well below 20% alcohol so there is no chance of ignition.... Vodka is usually 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol and that will indeed start a combustion.....

In any event, its good that you kept your cool and proceeded to check-in. For all others, if you get a difficult security person, just ask (nicely) to speak with the check-in agent... and make sure you talk about the flammable vs. non-flammable liquids... therein lies the crux of this issue.

Cheers,
Alex / Gaucho100K