Originally Posted by
youngbru
I just checked out the new TSA rules on Duty-Free liquids and it is pretty clear that I can now purchase duty-free and get it on the plane into the USA. It was less clear to me if I will be able to get it from the international customs area into domestic area. I will be coming from NRT to PDX and then on to MSP and would like to buy some duty-free Sake.
Am I going to have any trouble or do I need to check my bag and put the Sake into it when I re-check it domestically?
First of all, NRT security is different than other airports. Flying on UA at least, they manually inspect every carryon bag on the ramp to the aircraft, and don't allow any liquids except for the one quart baggie. If flying to the US, that includes duty-free purchases. If flying to Asia, duty-free purchases are delivered after the manual bag check and are allowed.
Second, connecting at a US airport, if you have to go through security again (like at SFO for example), the same no-liquids rules apply. So duty-free liquid purchases would have to be checked or discarded at that point. But if you don't have to go through security again, then you're OK to carry the duty-free liquids.