Some Int'l Airports do not allow Duty Free alcohol purchases for flights to the U.S.
Jul 1, 2015, 5:53 pm
#1
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Some Int'l Airports do not allow Duty Free alcohol purchases for flights to the U.S.
Just joined FlyerTalk. A couple of days ago, before boarding UA 88 from Beijng to Newark, I visited the airport duty-fee shop, and decided to buy a bottle of whiskey. At check-out I was asked to show my boarding pass (as usual) and then told that United does not allow the purchase of duty-free alcohol. The cashier simply said: this is because of airline regulations. Has anyone had the same experience? This is the first time an airline prevents me from buying a duty-free item at the airport shop.
Jul 1, 2015, 6:10 pm
#3
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Welcome to Flyertalk! ^
Unless there is some China related regulation that I'm not aware of, that sounds highly unlikely to me.
Did you have a connecting flight from EWR? That would be the only issue, although even then you could simply add the booze to your checked in luggage when you reclaim it before going through customs at EWR.
Unless there is some China related regulation that I'm not aware of, that sounds highly unlikely to me.
Did you have a connecting flight from EWR? That would be the only issue, although even then you could simply add the booze to your checked in luggage when you reclaim it before going through customs at EWR.
Jul 1, 2015, 6:19 pm
#4
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True.
No liquids beyond the Kippie bag are allowed on U.S. bound aircraft. Same rule at HKG for flights on CX to the U.S. No duty free liquor.
No liquids beyond the Kippie bag are allowed on U.S. bound aircraft. Same rule at HKG for flights on CX to the U.S. No duty free liquor.
Jul 1, 2015, 7:12 pm
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Jul 1, 2015, 7:26 pm
#7
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I had a similar experience as the OP in HKG last month. This is clearly a China-Hong Kong rule. No similar rule exists in Japan and in South Korea they deliver the duty free to the airplane.
Jul 1, 2015, 8:02 pm
#8
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Must be a China thing. It is not a UA rule at all. And elsewhere in Asia and Europe, I've never had a problem. In Japan, you just carry it with you.
FWIW, EWR even allows duty free through connecting security so long as it's in the right type of bag with tamper protection. You don't even have to recheck it.
FWIW, EWR even allows duty free through connecting security so long as it's in the right type of bag with tamper protection. You don't even have to recheck it.
Jul 1, 2015, 9:00 pm
#9
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Jul 1, 2015, 9:26 pm
#10
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Jul 1, 2015, 9:29 pm
#11
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But sometimes you can buy things at Duty Free you can't buy anywhere else (e.g., Jack Daniels Sinatra).
If you want to have some fun, when you are done with the transaction and the liquids are bagged, ask for a spare security bag. They literally freak out. The bags themselves are very tightly controlled.
If you want to have some fun, when you are done with the transaction and the liquids are bagged, ask for a spare security bag. They literally freak out. The bags themselves are very tightly controlled.
Jul 1, 2015, 10:22 pm
#12
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Greetings - Dirk
Jul 2, 2015, 8:10 am
#13
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True . . . although I thought one could buy duty free in HKG, PEK, etc. and then collect the items at the aircraft door. Never tried it myself, but thought that was available . . . but you definitely can't bring any liquids (even airside) past the aircraft boarding check (even, say, a soda from the Air China lounge).
Jul 2, 2015, 10:41 am
#15
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I'm also helped by living in a state with a ~30% liquor tax.