Flowers on plane
Jun 20, 2019, 7:53 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 969
Cut flowers are fine to bring into Hong Kong. As are fruit and vegetables. Boxes of mangoes used to be a favourite carry-on item for people returning from Australia.
Consider orchids. They last longer (keep stem damp) and are usually packaged in boxes.
Consider orchids. They last longer (keep stem damp) and are usually packaged in boxes.
Jun 20, 2019, 7:54 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,045
Probably:
https://www.customs.gov.hk/en/trade_...nts/index.html
Plants and plants pests
Under the Plant (Importation and Pest Control) Ordinance, Chapter 207, Laws of Hong Kong, it is illegal to import plants, plant pests or soil into Hong Kong without a valid licence / authorization issued in advance by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.However, plants produced in and imported from any place in China outside Hong Kong are exempted from licensing requirement. The exemption also applies to the import of cut flowers, fruits and vegetables for consumption.
Jun 20, 2019, 10:50 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,106
The missus brought back some orchids from BKK.....not the packaged variety you get in the airport, but an open bunch bought at a market which I suspected would be confiscated on our way back to the UK.
We were flying KL and had no issues with customs in AMS or the UK and as they were looking a bit dehydrated and sorry for themselves on the last leg from AMS to NCL, one of the cabin crew took them off us a plonked them into a glass of 7UP which we were reliably informed would refresh the now sad and limp looking blooms.
Surprisingly, by the time we arrived into NCL, the flowers had spruced up and the previously bent stems were rigid.
Sadly, the aforementioned beverage seemingly only works to ‘refresh’ flaccid plant stems.....much to my disappointment!��
We were flying KL and had no issues with customs in AMS or the UK and as they were looking a bit dehydrated and sorry for themselves on the last leg from AMS to NCL, one of the cabin crew took them off us a plonked them into a glass of 7UP which we were reliably informed would refresh the now sad and limp looking blooms.
Surprisingly, by the time we arrived into NCL, the flowers had spruced up and the previously bent stems were rigid.
Sadly, the aforementioned beverage seemingly only works to ‘refresh’ flaccid plant stems.....much to my disappointment!��
Jun 21, 2019, 2:09 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 804
I just wanted to clarify, when they say " The exemption also applies to the import of cut flowers, fruits and vegetables for consumption." I assume "cut flowers" would be the flowers that had the stems removed?
Last edited by AceCobra1; Jun 21, 2019 at 2:53 am
Jun 21, 2019, 3:29 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
On a more serious note It's actually a good question and not one I think I've seen before for travelling outwards. Where are you off to?
It may be that you are not allowed Flowers/Plants in other countries and Australia springs to mind as an example. I'm now curious as to what the official answer may be.
It may be that you are not allowed Flowers/Plants in other countries and Australia springs to mind as an example. I'm now curious as to what the official answer may be.
Jun 21, 2019, 3:51 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 4,160
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cut_flowers
Jun 21, 2019, 4:10 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,112
Surprisingly many countries allow import of cut flowers on a personal basis even if their agriculture requirement are otherwise harsh. For example the USA https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...-united-states
Carrying them onto an aircraft is no problem, other than other passengers crushing them. Do be careful of placing a bunch of flowers on their side if there is any water-retaining material on the end of the stems, even one that claims to be nonsplillable. In my experience they tend to leak if not upright.
You can, on a shorter flight, take a window seat and put flowers by your knee between your leg and the fuselage. They usually survive that.
I bring flowers from Amsterdam to the UK every so often. The Netherlands has more interesting varieties of tulip flowers for sale than the UK does.
Carrying them onto an aircraft is no problem, other than other passengers crushing them. Do be careful of placing a bunch of flowers on their side if there is any water-retaining material on the end of the stems, even one that claims to be nonsplillable. In my experience they tend to leak if not upright.
You can, on a shorter flight, take a window seat and put flowers by your knee between your leg and the fuselage. They usually survive that.
I bring flowers from Amsterdam to the UK every so often. The Netherlands has more interesting varieties of tulip flowers for sale than the UK does.
Jun 21, 2019, 5:19 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Göteborg Sweden
Programs: SPG GOLD / BA GOLD/Club Carlson Gold/AMEX Plat.
Posts: 1,043
Every time I visit SIN and BKK, I always bring back orchids. Normally the florist will package them for travel in the cabin. Just ask. I have never received or been questioned about my orchids.
Jun 21, 2019, 7:14 am
#28
Join Date: May 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 390
Make sure the florist is not doing one of those fancy cellophane wraps/balloons/test tubes at the bottom which they fill with water. Wet hand towels will help. Other than that it is really just a matter of trying not to squash them and hoping they don't wilt. Airports are crowded and there are plenty of people who will bump into you especially when you become a "wide load" because you have a bouquet in hand. It also makes it much harder to juggle your passport, boarding pass and hand luggage especially at security/border control. They're not likely to be in perfect condition by arrival (the same as any traveller) so something less fragile might be a better gesture.
I have taken flowers with me on a business trip before - a present before departure from the then-husband with the insistence that I should take them with me, with no real appreciation of the annoyance factor of having to carry and protect them all the way. I wonder sometimes if that was his real intention...
I have taken flowers with me on a business trip before - a present before departure from the then-husband with the insistence that I should take them with me, with no real appreciation of the annoyance factor of having to carry and protect them all the way. I wonder sometimes if that was his real intention...