Originally Posted by
Voda_boy
Hello,
Probably not strictly for the BA forum - but it's the only forum I really use and I do normally fly with BA (hope this is ok).
I'm hoping to take some special kinds of Japanese sake back from Japan. These particular types are supposed to be kept refrigerated before being opened (at least that is what the knowledge staff in Isetan kept on insisting!)
I'm assuming that the hold temperature is quite cool - but actually I have no idea. I'm only going on the fact that often bags arrive on the baggage carousel quite cool - but perhaps that is only during the winter months. Does anyone know what the temperature would be like on a long flight from Tokyo to London?
Arigato
Assuming the sake is in a fairly normal-shaped bottle, you could try first packing it in one of these, which I discovered during a FT discussion on how to transport wine:
They are made of bubble wrap material inside thick plastic, then the ends seal like ziploc bags and then fold over to seal again with velcro. I have found them excellent for transporting bottles of wine and spirits back as they protect it from blows and also should be watertight in the event of a break - I have not had to test that yet but they are pretty difficult to unseal!
The bubble wrap material should give a helpful layer of insulation, and with them being well-sealed (so no air flow) should keep the cold in if the bottle is cold in the first place. I would then wrap thoroughly in more clothes to add as much insulation as possible and make sure it's in the middle of the suitcase away from the sides. I think that should stay pretty cold even if the suitcase is somewhere warm for some of the journey.
In terms of size/shape, I have managed to get a 1L bottle of Bombay Sapphire in there which is square and fairly fat, but it was a tight fit. They aren't going to fit something *very* short and squat. If there's a box that would have to be packed separately.
There are also inflatable types but they don't seal as well and would need you to take a small pump as well.