Rules on Transporting Wine out of EZE to the USA
#16
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Thanks for sharing your experience.... I dont recall having any customer being written up before.
#17
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Where do you "declare" wine on a US customs form? On the back there is a list for itemizing but I never bother filling it out and I think the small print says that you only have to fill it out if above $800 or something like that.
#18
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Yes, its on the back where you should declare the no. of bottles of wine you are bringing into the country.
#19
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Olympia, WA
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When we returned from EZE last November we decided not to bring any wine back, due to the TSA security hassles, etc. At the EZE airport x-ray we were specifically asked if we had any wine in our checked luggage. I didn't think to ask why since we didn't have any.
#20
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 972
Gaucho100K,
Where do you get these special styrofoam packing boxes? Do you know some wine merchants in BA who have them? Are they much of an extra expense?
I am visiting BA in 10 days and then leaving for a 2 week stop in SCL before flying back to YYZ. I know exactly what I'll pay when I get home and I'm SE on AC so I have extra baggage allowance. How will customs at SCL react if I try to bring cases into Chile? And would you trust the luggage storage place at SCL with storing them if I brought them in?
I'd appreciate your advice on my many questions. I'd love to bring a few cases home.
Where do you get these special styrofoam packing boxes? Do you know some wine merchants in BA who have them? Are they much of an extra expense?
I am visiting BA in 10 days and then leaving for a 2 week stop in SCL before flying back to YYZ. I know exactly what I'll pay when I get home and I'm SE on AC so I have extra baggage allowance. How will customs at SCL react if I try to bring cases into Chile? And would you trust the luggage storage place at SCL with storing them if I brought them in?
I'd appreciate your advice on my many questions. I'd love to bring a few cases home.
#21
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I don't know where they got that amt from either. We flew back from Italy last May, arrived at EWR with 8 bottles and the calculated amount was something like 17 cents per bottle. Needless to say, they didn't bother.
When we returned from EZE last November we decided not to bring any wine back, due to the TSA security hassles, etc. At the EZE airport x-ray we were specifically asked if we had any wine in our checked luggage. I didn't think to ask why since we didn't have any.
When we returned from EZE last November we decided not to bring any wine back, due to the TSA security hassles, etc. At the EZE airport x-ray we were specifically asked if we had any wine in our checked luggage. I didn't think to ask why since we didn't have any.
Ive heard the question of wine in checked bags by some of the security folks that grill you before you get to the check-in desk, but in my experience this step never includes an x-raying of the bags, if at all there is a hand inspection.
On this issue of wine in baggage, there are continuos report of folks being harrassed by these private security folks that dont work for the airlines, each with their own interpretation of what one is allowed to put in your suitcase. Dont let these guys bully you, you are allowed wine in your suitcase, just ask to speak with a supervisor of the airline.
#22
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Gaucho100K,
Where do you get these special styrofoam packing boxes? Do you know some wine merchants in BA who have them? Are they much of an extra expense?
I am visiting BA in 10 days and then leaving for a 2 week stop in SCL before flying back to YYZ. I know exactly what I'll pay when I get home and I'm SE on AC so I have extra baggage allowance. How will customs at SCL react if I try to bring cases into Chile? And would you trust the luggage storage place at SCL with storing them if I brought them in?
I'd appreciate your advice on my many questions. I'd love to bring a few cases home.
Where do you get these special styrofoam packing boxes? Do you know some wine merchants in BA who have them? Are they much of an extra expense?
I am visiting BA in 10 days and then leaving for a 2 week stop in SCL before flying back to YYZ. I know exactly what I'll pay when I get home and I'm SE on AC so I have extra baggage allowance. How will customs at SCL react if I try to bring cases into Chile? And would you trust the luggage storage place at SCL with storing them if I brought them in?
I'd appreciate your advice on my many questions. I'd love to bring a few cases home.
I doubt SCL customs will give you any issues, you are a non resident of Chile and are only there on your way home. You will be OK. Also, I would have no issues with leaving the cases at SCL left luggage facility, Im sure its perfectly safe to leave some things there and collect them on your way out.
#23
Join Date: Jul 2005
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When I checked in with DL at EZE in late November, with a case of Gaucho-supplied wine, the DL agent told me that if I had 6 bottles they all had to be 750 ml, not 1 liter, because DL's maximum amount of wine they allowed checked in the hold per package was 5 liters.
Don't know if they were making this up or not.
No problems at ATL customs, no charges. And TSA at international bag re-check insisted that they x-ray by hand with other fragile items so that it didn't go on the main x-ray processing belt where "things get knocked around some".
Don't know if they were making this up or not.
No problems at ATL customs, no charges. And TSA at international bag re-check insisted that they x-ray by hand with other fragile items so that it didn't go on the main x-ray processing belt where "things get knocked around some".
#24
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Join Date: Aug 2000
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When I checked in with DL at EZE in late November, with a case of Gaucho-supplied wine, the DL agent told me that if I had 6 bottles they all had to be 750 ml, not 1 liter, because DL's maximum amount of wine they allowed checked in the hold per package was 5 liters.
Don't know if they were making this up or not.
No problems at ATL customs, no charges. And TSA at international bag re-check insisted that they x-ray by hand with other fragile items so that it didn't go on the main x-ray processing belt where "things get knocked around some".
Don't know if they were making this up or not.
No problems at ATL customs, no charges. And TSA at international bag re-check insisted that they x-ray by hand with other fragile items so that it didn't go on the main x-ray processing belt where "things get knocked around some".
It would be great if airline employees could point to a part of the website where the rules are spelled out in print, so there is no room for funny interpretations.
#25
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Olympia, WA
Programs: AK, DL,UA
Posts: 360
A question on your x-ray experience... I assume you mean when your carry-ons were x-rayed...? I ask this because your checked luggage gets x-rayed after the airline desk checks you in, or did you get some sort of secondary screening for your checked bags that involved an xray machine?
Ive heard the question of wine in checked bags by some of the security folks that grill you before you get to the check-in desk, but in my experience this step never includes an x-raying of the bags, if at all there is a hand inspection.
On this issue of wine in baggage, there are continuos report of folks being harrassed by these private security folks that dont work for the airlines, each with their own interpretation of what one is allowed to put in your suitcase. Dont let these guys bully you, you are allowed wine in your suitcase, just ask to speak with a supervisor of the airline.
Ive heard the question of wine in checked bags by some of the security folks that grill you before you get to the check-in desk, but in my experience this step never includes an x-raying of the bags, if at all there is a hand inspection.
On this issue of wine in baggage, there are continuos report of folks being harrassed by these private security folks that dont work for the airlines, each with their own interpretation of what one is allowed to put in your suitcase. Dont let these guys bully you, you are allowed wine in your suitcase, just ask to speak with a supervisor of the airline.
#26
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The 5 liter "rule" sounds to me like just another of these free interpretations... I mean, whats the difference between 5 and 6 liters of wine?
It would be great if airline employees could point to a part of the website where the rules are spelled out in print, so there is no room for funny interpretations.
It would be great if airline employees could point to a part of the website where the rules are spelled out in print, so there is no room for funny interpretations.
Wrong airline I know but this points to specific limits by alcohol content.
http://www.aa.com/content/travelInfo...horEvent=false
Recognize that individual US states, not Federal law, will set importation limits at point of US re-entry and that Federal Customs staff will be responsible for implementing state law in these circumstances.
#27
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3Cforme-- thank you for providing the link, very good information. Perhaps its relevant to discuss in further detail a few issues that come to mind:
i) as you correctly point out through the provided link, the 5 liter limit per pax is for hard licquor, and is therefore not applicable to wine. There is no set limit as long as its in "retail packaging".
ii) I agree with your point about Federal Customs Agents enforcing the regulations and limits related to what you can bring in to the USA... however, where do the airlines come into play here? If someone wants to bring back X amount of wine and deals with the airline on the issue of bags checked and total weight (all this is done at the airport of departure), it would appear that the issue of customs & duty is something to be settled upon arrival & entry into the USA - and is a separate issue to the actual transportation of the goods.
i) as you correctly point out through the provided link, the 5 liter limit per pax is for hard licquor, and is therefore not applicable to wine. There is no set limit as long as its in "retail packaging".
ii) I agree with your point about Federal Customs Agents enforcing the regulations and limits related to what you can bring in to the USA... however, where do the airlines come into play here? If someone wants to bring back X amount of wine and deals with the airline on the issue of bags checked and total weight (all this is done at the airport of departure), it would appear that the issue of customs & duty is something to be settled upon arrival & entry into the USA - and is a separate issue to the actual transportation of the goods.
Last edited by Gaucho100K; Jan 24, 2007 at 2:42 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Posts: 338
How does wine travel?
Hello everybody, and Gaucho100K in particular...
So I travel to Argentina fairly often (once a year, my family is there) and I always brought a few bottles of wine back to the US, but only on my carry-on.
I was under the impression that wine might not travel so well in the regular luggage compartment, due to the pressure/temperature changes, and that it might be "spoiled" by that. Is this a complete fantasy? Will wine travel OK in my checked luggage?
Thanks for the clarification!
E.
So I travel to Argentina fairly often (once a year, my family is there) and I always brought a few bottles of wine back to the US, but only on my carry-on.
I was under the impression that wine might not travel so well in the regular luggage compartment, due to the pressure/temperature changes, and that it might be "spoiled" by that. Is this a complete fantasy? Will wine travel OK in my checked luggage?
Thanks for the clarification!
E.
#29
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
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So I travel to Argentina fairly often (once a year, my family is there) and I always brought a few bottles of wine back to the US, but only on my carry-on.
I was under the impression that wine might not travel so well in the regular luggage compartment, due to the pressure/temperature changes, and that it might be "spoiled" by that. Is this a complete fantasy? Will wine travel OK in my checked luggage?
I was under the impression that wine might not travel so well in the regular luggage compartment, due to the pressure/temperature changes, and that it might be "spoiled" by that. Is this a complete fantasy? Will wine travel OK in my checked luggage?
Having said that, remember that wine in your suitcase may mean stained clothes... if you must do this I suggest you wrap each bottle with protective material such as bubble wrap, etc. The best solution is to use styrofoam shippers and check these as regular baggage.
#30
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important: 5 liter rule does not apply to wine
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Good news for those wanting to bring back a nice quantity of their favorite Argentine wines to the US. Here is the official rule explained on the TSA website. The 5 liter rule applies to flammable products, but wine is not one of the substances that is regulated because it does not fit into the alcohol content category. Please see below in RED the limitations for hard licquor, and in BLUE the explicit exclusion of liquids such as wine that are below 24% alcohol content:
Carrying Alcohol In Your Checked Baggage
Please note, you cant take alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol content (140 proof), including 95% grain alcohol and 150 proof rum, in your checked luggage.
You may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70% per person as checked luggage if its packaged in a sealable bottle or flask.
Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol content are not subject to hazardous materials regulations.
Link to the TSA website:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1189.shtm
Good news for those wanting to bring back a nice quantity of their favorite Argentine wines to the US. Here is the official rule explained on the TSA website. The 5 liter rule applies to flammable products, but wine is not one of the substances that is regulated because it does not fit into the alcohol content category. Please see below in RED the limitations for hard licquor, and in BLUE the explicit exclusion of liquids such as wine that are below 24% alcohol content:
Carrying Alcohol In Your Checked Baggage
Please note, you cant take alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol content (140 proof), including 95% grain alcohol and 150 proof rum, in your checked luggage.
You may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70% per person as checked luggage if its packaged in a sealable bottle or flask.
Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol content are not subject to hazardous materials regulations.
Link to the TSA website:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1189.shtm