Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - SYD Security to US

What are the rules now from SYD -> US flights with respect to liquids? Do they recognize the "baggie" rule that the US has? I am taking a flight from SYD to LAX on Saturday and would like to know.

Also, what about Duty Free in SYD? Last time we were not allowed to buy anything liquid in SYD to take on the plane back to the US. Has this rule changed?

Thanks in advance.

This should answer all your questions
http://www.qantas.com.au/info/travelAdvice#jump1

Egad.

The election has been over now for a month and a half.
Bush lost.
Can't we please stop with this silliness?

What are the rules now from SYD -> US flights with respect to liquids? Do they recognize the "baggie" rule that the US has? I am taking a flight from SYD to LAX on Saturday and would like to know.


I believe last time I flew (last month) from SYD-LAX on UA, they had
separate screening areas by the gate. The liquid&freedom baggie rule
still applies, but they didnt even bother to see if I had any of that.
I had a bottle of water in my hand.. and nobody asked me to throw it
out or surrender it.


Also, what about Duty Free in SYD? Last time we were not allowed to buy anything liquid in SYD to take on the plane back to the US. Has this rule changed?
Thanks in advance.
I didnt pay much attention to this, but even if they did let you take
duty free stuff.. .. you'll have to give
it up for the connecting flight within US.

...even if they did let you take
duty free stuff.. .. you'll have to give
it up for the connecting flight within US.

Not so! Just stick it into your checked baggage after (or before ;) ) Customs, but make sure it is protected by your clothing in the suitcase :) !

Not so! Just stick it into your checked baggage after (or before ;) ) Customs, but make sure it is protected by your clothing in the suitcase :) !

I would rather not do that. If it breaks, ......... :(

I would rather not do that. If it breaks, ......... :(Bubble wrap works very well (wine bottles can take a 5 foot fall onto concrete if protected by bubble wrap). I travel with a couple of bubble wrap sleeves in my suitcase for emergencies. And this wrap only adds a fraction of an inch to the bottle size (unlike styrofoam, which is much less effective).

Some of the high-end wines in Australia (not duty free) cost less than half the US price. Plus many great wines are not imported, unless you do it yourself.

Unfortunately this was still in effect Nov 28th when I returned MEL-SYD-LAX.

You could not purchase Duty free. Also, EVERYONE had their bag searched by hand, and were patted down. :(

I asked why this was being done and they told me it was American policy. I said 'Why don't they do it in America then?'

But in reality it is not the Aussie's fault, they are just following our dumb rules to the letter, and our TSA is much more lax. Since they don't catch liquids at the X-ray (not illegal for other flights), they can't distinguish between what you brought and what you purchased like they can (sort of) in the US. So they have to have the secondary screening.

Unfortunately this was still in effect Nov 28th when I returned MEL-SYD-LAX.

You could not purchase Duty free. ....The rules changed just after your flight. Since early Dec 2006 you are allowed to purchase duty free after security and carry on liquids from duty free (booze, perfumes, etc.) onto your flight (the bag is sealed and receipted). Upon landing in the US or Canada it must be placed in checked luggage and not allowed as carry-on. That is the current rule, and I doubt they will return to banning duty-free liquids, as the security procedures are now in place and work well. Note that for a MEL-SYD-LAX routing you cannot purchase duty free in MEL, it must be bought in SYD.

The rules changed just after your flight. Since early Dec 2006 you are allowed to purchase duty free after security and carry on liquids from duty free (booze, perfumes, etc.) onto your flight (the bag is sealed and receipted). Upon landing in the US or Canada it must be placed in checked luggage and not allowed as carry-on. That is the current rule, and I doubt they will return to banning duty-free liquids, as the security procedures are now in place and work well. Note that for a MEL-SYD-LAX routing you cannot purchase duty free in MEL, it must be bought in SYD.

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear that they have come up with a better system. ^

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear that they have come up with a better system. ^

Only marginally better. Those with onward flights are stuffed unless they are happy to check bags with the duty free inside.

Only marginally better. Those with onward flights are stuffed unless they are happy to check bags with the duty free inside.Absurd. I've been traveling with bottles of wine in checked baggage for many years, before the security restrictions. It is absolutely no problem. Judging by the comments on FT, lots of other people have been doing this as well. Most duty-free bottles come with packaging, so you don't even have to plan ahead for it. It really is a minor inconvenience, at best, and has the positive effect of reducing the carry-on weight. In any case the duty free prices out of Australia are rather poor, most things are not worth buying if traveling to the US or HKG.

Absurd.
I'm not saying it can't be done, but I never check in anything... and if I want
to carry wine or something else.. I'll be forced to check-in..
and wait for my luggage at the destination..:(
I wouldn't prefer to do this. who knows what they could
do with your bags: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=640202

Absurd. I've been traveling with bottles of wine in checked baggage for many years, before the security restrictions. It is absolutely no problem.

I meant for those not wanting to check bags. When I have 5+ flights in a row with tight connections the last thing I want to do is check bags. Since August, if I wanted to bring a nice bottle of NZ duty free as a gift on such an itinerary I cannot (except where I don't pass through US, europe and certain other countries en route). Thus a number of people, including FTers, have been deprived of such gifts in recent months.

When I have simple itinerary with just 1 or 2 flights before stopover and the gift is relevant to that first stopover, then I am fine to check it in, and have done so. However, more often than not, my itineraries are much more complex.

Well, it's better for me, since I arrive in LAX, and my taxi does allow liquids ;)

Not so fast CPM! In Minneapolis & some other US cities (I don't know about L.A.) Muslim taxi drivers are refusing passengers with alcohol in plain view!

But they are not permitted to search your bags, so just put it inside where it can't be seen!

The rules changed just after your flight. Since early Dec 2006 you are allowed to purchase duty free after security and carry on liquids from duty free (booze, perfumes, etc.) onto your flight (the bag is sealed and receipted). Upon landing in the US or Canada it must be placed in checked luggage and not allowed as carry-on. That is the current rule, and I doubt they will return to banning duty-free liquids, as the security procedures are now in place and work well. Note that for a MEL-SYD-LAX routing you cannot purchase duty free in MEL, it must be bought in SYD.

Accroding to the melbourne airport website, www.mel.com.au, one can purchase duty free on both direct flights to the US. QF 93 non stop, and UA 840 via SYD. It says duty free will be delivered to passengers at the gate. Even though flying to JFK, I had planned on buying, and in LAX putting the duty free in my checked baggage. So when i travelled (on Dec 24th), I went into duty free, and they told me that I can't buy duty free, only in SYD. But when in SYD I was actually about to complete a purchase, when they asked what airline I'm flying on. When I said UA they said i'm sorry you cannot purchase duty free liquids when flying UA. No ifs, no buts. I wasn't going to argue and went to the NZ lounge.

goodo