Duty free liquor policy to the us
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: jfk
Programs: AA- exp 8.2MM, SQ, DL, spg plat
Posts: 284
Duty free liquor policy to the us
Can someone please clarify the policy about bringing on liquor purchased at the duty free store on board a US bound flight??
Asking because i bought a bottle in duty free (my boarding pass was checked) and it was confiscated during the pre-boarding security inspection with the security supervisor insisting that this was "US POLICY" which it isn't!!
is this a special situation with US flights?? Was the security personnel mis-informed?? Is there a scam going on between duty free and the security people??
Not a big deal but just one of those travel annoyances that can be prevented.
Asking because i bought a bottle in duty free (my boarding pass was checked) and it was confiscated during the pre-boarding security inspection with the security supervisor insisting that this was "US POLICY" which it isn't!!
is this a special situation with US flights?? Was the security personnel mis-informed?? Is there a scam going on between duty free and the security people??
Not a big deal but just one of those travel annoyances that can be prevented.
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
I heard that US and certain countries asked for the secondary security check. The secondary check, of course, follows the same LAG rule as the primary check.
I feel that they should have warned you before the purchase. I also think that they should put the item in a sealed duty-free bag. Perhaps that would be acceptable by the secondary security (but I have not personally done that).
In any event, as this is not CX-related, I am moving this thread to the HKG forum.
cxfan1960
CX Mod
I feel that they should have warned you before the purchase. I also think that they should put the item in a sealed duty-free bag. Perhaps that would be acceptable by the secondary security (but I have not personally done that).
In any event, as this is not CX-related, I am moving this thread to the HKG forum.
cxfan1960
CX Mod
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
and also rather annoying when flying on CX888, especially if getting off in YVR only...
ahh...why some airlines like JAL, perhaps just for domestic flights, let you just bring your booze with you in carry on...
i mean really, are they worried about the contents or the glass as a weapon?
ahh...why some airlines like JAL, perhaps just for domestic flights, let you just bring your booze with you in carry on...
i mean really, are they worried about the contents or the glass as a weapon?
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: jfk
Programs: AA- exp 8.2MM, SQ, DL, spg plat
Posts: 284
I heard that US and certain countries asked for the secondary security check. The secondary check, of course, follows the same LAG rule as the primary check.
I feel that they should have warned you before the purchase. I also think that they should put the item in a sealed duty-free bag. Perhaps that would be acceptable by the secondary security (but I have not personally done that).
In any event, as this is not CX-related, I am moving this thread to the HKG forum.
cxfan1960
CX Mod
I feel that they should have warned you before the purchase. I also think that they should put the item in a sealed duty-free bag. Perhaps that would be acceptable by the secondary security (but I have not personally done that).
In any event, as this is not CX-related, I am moving this thread to the HKG forum.
cxfan1960
CX Mod
Also, if the rules for the second check are the same as for the first check are the same, they should have allowed this....
#7
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: jfk
Programs: AA- exp 8.2MM, SQ, DL, spg plat
Posts: 284
is this a scam??
the issue is that this is allowed in almost every airport in the world INCLUDING HKG in he past
in retrospect, i am wondering if this is a security scam!! Very easy - "security" guards in cohoots with duty free employees - take the confiscated bottles that they do not give a receipt for (there were a about 6-10 that flight) and then return them to duty free for cash!!
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...agrestrictions
However, I thought it would be okay if it is already in sealed tamper proof duty-free bag:
"All duty free items of LAG must be accompanied with proof of purchase, and packed in a sealed tamper evident bag (Please note that some Duty Free Stores DO NOT provide sealed tamper evident bags to customers)".
Is your proof of purchase attached in the bag?
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: jfk
Programs: AA- exp 8.2MM, SQ, DL, spg plat
Posts: 284
The secondary check is not CX-specific. It applies to all US- and Australia-bound flights and flights to some other countries. IIRC, it also applies for all US carriers departing from Hong Kong. LAG rules at the primary check also disallows liquor unless it follows the packaging requirements.
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...agrestrictions
However, I thought it would be okay if it is already in sealed tamper proof duty-free bag:
"All duty free items of LAG must be accompanied with proof of purchase, and packed in a sealed tamper evident bag (Please note that some Duty Free Stores DO NOT provide sealed tamper evident bags to customers)".
Is your proof of purchase attached in the bag?
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...agrestrictions
However, I thought it would be okay if it is already in sealed tamper proof duty-free bag:
"All duty free items of LAG must be accompanied with proof of purchase, and packed in a sealed tamper evident bag (Please note that some Duty Free Stores DO NOT provide sealed tamper evident bags to customers)".
Is your proof of purchase attached in the bag?
Trust me, i have done this enough to what i can't bring or not bring on board a plane - and, if there were "special restrictions" on US flights (which there may indeed have been), i should have been prevented from buying is - the same way as they will not let you buy if your final destination is an on-line connection!!
According to the IFM, there were "many" bottles confiscated at the gate...
Waiting to hear from CX to see what they say..
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,687
All US bound flights, even with stopover at NRT are subjected to at gate US DHS?TSA level security screening and the 311/100ml rule strictly enforced.
#12
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
I'm used to the liquids search at boarding in HKG, PEK, PCG, etc
I didn't realize it extended to duty free.
None of the duty free stores at HKG have an airbridge deliver service?
I thought some airports have an arrangement where your duty free purchases are delivered as you are boarding the airplane.
I didn't realize it extended to duty free.
None of the duty free stores at HKG have an airbridge deliver service?
I thought some airports have an arrangement where your duty free purchases are delivered as you are boarding the airplane.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
Not in HKG. It's quite specific, per the link from cxfan1960- you want duty free to take home to the USA, buy it on the plane.
(emphasis added)
This covers duty-free.
Similar to the Australia security requirements, the US government also requires a secondary LAG screening at the boarding gate of Hong Kong International Airport to ensure no excessive LAGs to be carried onboard CX US bound flights. Passengers to the US can purchase duty free LAGs in-flight on the last sector of their journey e.g. JFK bound passengers travelling on a HKG-YVR-JFK flight can purchase duty free on the YVR-JFK sector. Likewise, arrival passengers to Canada, such as YYZ bound passengers travelling on a HKG-ANC-YYZ flight, can purchase duty free on the ANC-YYZ sector.
This covers duty-free.
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
The secondary check is not CX-specific. It applies to all US- and Australia-bound flights and flights to some other countries. IIRC, it also applies for all US carriers departing from Hong Kong. LAG rules at the primary check also disallows liquor unless it follows the packaging requirements.
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...agrestrictions
However, I thought it would be okay if it is already in sealed tamper proof duty-free bag:
"All duty free items of LAG must be accompanied with proof of purchase, and packed in a sealed tamper evident bag (Please note that some Duty Free Stores DO NOT provide sealed tamper evident bags to customers)".
Is your proof of purchase attached in the bag?
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...agrestrictions
However, I thought it would be okay if it is already in sealed tamper proof duty-free bag:
"All duty free items of LAG must be accompanied with proof of purchase, and packed in a sealed tamper evident bag (Please note that some Duty Free Stores DO NOT provide sealed tamper evident bags to customers)".
Is your proof of purchase attached in the bag?
#15
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
I've gotten duty free in the tamper evident bags at several airports. It looks like a very secure way of packaging items so it is obvious if you even try to open the bag.
Has anyone had a tamper evident bag confiscated at the secondary US screening?
Has anyone had a tamper evident bag confiscated at the secondary US screening?