Any issues with carrying alcohol on domestic flights?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, UA Silver
Posts: 1,366
Any issues with carrying alcohol on domestic flights?
I'm planning to fly into DEL and then take domestic flights to various places. I'd like to bring some bottles of alcohol for my various relatives - ideally I'd just buy those at home and pack them in my checked bags and carry them about, disbursing as necessary. Are there any restrictions internally on how much alcohol I can have tucked away, provided that the bag is checked? I did search the board, but couldn't find anything recent.
thanks!
thanks!
#2
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
Alcohol upto two liters is duty free. 200 cigarettes / 50 cigars / 250 grams of tobacco is duty free. After that, wine / beer / champagne are charged duty @ 100% of the cost while hard liquor is charged @ 150% (plus a few percent more as "educaiton cess")
#3
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 1 AU
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Posts: 2,708
The irony is lost on no one
That said, I think the OP's question might be about how much EtOH he can pack for domestic flights (where he wouldn't have to deal with customs), and I admit I'm not sure there is a rule on this. OP, can you clarify your question?
That said, I think the OP's question might be about how much EtOH he can pack for domestic flights (where he wouldn't have to deal with customs), and I admit I'm not sure there is a rule on this. OP, can you clarify your question?
#4
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
He said he would buy booze from home and his home airport in his profile says dca. So, I assume he isn't asking how much old monk he can buy in DEL and pack in his baggage on a domestic flight.
#5
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Well, he said he would be taking a bunch of domestic flights, not just one, and would be dishing out the booze to people he visited on the way. Sounds like a good plan to me
#6
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
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I do the same: purchase liqour at the local supermarket, pack it in checked luggage and transport it inside india.
Customs is least bothered by the amount of liquor you carry: in January I had about 5 bottles with me and was selected in the green channel for x-ray scrutinty in DEL. The customs lady at the terminal clearly saw the bottles and didn't flinch. I suppose they are looking for something else.
When travelling inside India, no one will bother you as long as its in the checked baggage. The silly liquid restrictions for hand luggage are coming though.
Customs is least bothered by the amount of liquor you carry: in January I had about 5 bottles with me and was selected in the green channel for x-ray scrutinty in DEL. The customs lady at the terminal clearly saw the bottles and didn't flinch. I suppose they are looking for something else.
When travelling inside India, no one will bother you as long as its in the checked baggage. The silly liquid restrictions for hand luggage are coming though.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DCA
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Hi all-
sorry for any confusion in my original post. hserus' interpretation was correct- assuming there are no issues, I am planning to buy the alcohol in the US, pack it in my checked bags, and then bring it to India. I was figuring I'd get through DEL customs without an issue (they haven't seemed to care what I'm carrying in the past), but was wondering if I'll have issues flying internally in India with several bottles packed in my (check-on) bags, which I haven't done previously. Based on oliver2002's response, it sounds like I should be ok internally as well.
thanks!
sorry for any confusion in my original post. hserus' interpretation was correct- assuming there are no issues, I am planning to buy the alcohol in the US, pack it in my checked bags, and then bring it to India. I was figuring I'd get through DEL customs without an issue (they haven't seemed to care what I'm carrying in the past), but was wondering if I'll have issues flying internally in India with several bottles packed in my (check-on) bags, which I haven't done previously. Based on oliver2002's response, it sounds like I should be ok internally as well.
thanks!
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Hi all-
sorry for any confusion in my original post. hserus' interpretation was correct- assuming there are no issues, I am planning to buy the alcohol in the US, pack it in my checked bags, and then bring it to India. I was figuring I'd get through DEL customs without an issue (they haven't seemed to care what I'm carrying in the past), but was wondering if I'll have issues flying internally in India with several bottles packed in my (check-on) bags, which I haven't done previously. Based on oliver2002's response, it sounds like I should be ok internally as well.
thanks!
sorry for any confusion in my original post. hserus' interpretation was correct- assuming there are no issues, I am planning to buy the alcohol in the US, pack it in my checked bags, and then bring it to India. I was figuring I'd get through DEL customs without an issue (they haven't seemed to care what I'm carrying in the past), but was wondering if I'll have issues flying internally in India with several bottles packed in my (check-on) bags, which I haven't done previously. Based on oliver2002's response, it sounds like I should be ok internally as well.
thanks!
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,632
The most likely problem you might face is smashed bottles due to rough baggage handling.
The other (remote) possibility is theft...nowadays security x-raying is not done in front of you but behind the scenes at DEL and some other airports, and they will see that you have liquor.
But if you are asking whether bottles of liquid in luggage is against the law, no, why should it be? [Edited to add: I don't know if shipment of liquor is against the law in some right-wing-governed states, but the x-ray people are not responsible for that, and no one else will know.]
The other (remote) possibility is theft...nowadays security x-raying is not done in front of you but behind the scenes at DEL and some other airports, and they will see that you have liquor.
But if you are asking whether bottles of liquid in luggage is against the law, no, why should it be? [Edited to add: I don't know if shipment of liquor is against the law in some right-wing-governed states, but the x-ray people are not responsible for that, and no one else will know.]
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DCA
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Posts: 1,366
Sounds good-- thanks everyone for your help. I'm not too worried about broken bottles,as I routinely bring local alcohols back from my travels, and have gotten used to packing them such that they don't break and/or ruin my clothing... Just wanted to make sure there wasn't some rule limiting quantity that I might hit at a domestic terminal where I wouldn't have any recourse. I'll now carry my bottles about with impunity.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
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#13
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 43
There are various laws about transporting/carrying domestic liquor across state borders.
It would be better to stay within "reasonable" limits.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
but I didn't know that 6 sealed bottles made a person a bootlegger..