Every time I try to check a case of wine with Delta at Buenos Aires, I have problems.

This is despite no prohibition from Delta or TSA on 12 bottles of wine in a box.

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-informat...olic-beverages

This time I even have The Wine Check, which is "FAA Approved" to carry a 12-bottle styrofoam shipper.

http://www.thewinecheck.com/Home_Page.html

The usual deal: "Is there wine in that box?"
"Yes sir."
"How many bottles?"
"12"
"You may not check a box with 12 bottles."
"There is nothing in Delta or TSA rules that says we cannot."
"I will have to speak with my supervisor."
wait
wait
wait
"You will have to sign a waiver that the airport is not responsible."
"Gladly."
Sign waiver.
Run to gate and barely make flight.

I'm to a point where I'm going to take an extra empty suitcase, just in case they make me split the wine among bags, but it's so inconvenient and stressful to go through this process. And the wine would be far safer and better protected if they would just let me keep it in the styrofoam shipper.

Maybe if it's in a nylon bag and shrink wrapped there will be less drama. But I doubt it.

Is there any way to make the local DL counter more responsive to their customers?

I few out of EZE about 10 years ago before the TSA liquid ban. I was flying United. I had about 12 bottles and had to remove them from my checked luggage and carry all of them onto the flight. I never could figure out why.

Once I tried to research what the limitation on wine importation is, and I found that there is no federal limit, but each state my impose it's own. I doubt that someone would think to check with the state where they are first arriving!

Needless to say, I've only brought 2-3 bottles at a time (from EZE or wherever), and just pack them nicely in some clothes.

DL specifically calls out wine as an example of a fragile item that may require you to sign a liability waiver if not packed in the original mfg shipping container.

Though I agree with you that your shipping container is fine, not clear if a baggage check guy would know this.

Seams best just to plan on some extra time.

If you always have problems, why don't you always arrive early?

We check cases of wine from all over the world without issue. Interesting to note that there may be a pushback there. You would think that in a place where wine is a tourist industry, they would be used to it. Thanks for the heads up.

I definitely will.

But that's no reason not to find a way to try to improve a service company's services to customers, and to improve their communications. I'm PM and flying BE and try to follow the rules as I can find them.

What's unfair to customers who haven't been through this before, as I have, is that the rules are not clearly stated.

What is unclearly stated?

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...ial-items.html
This can be found easily either via a search or following the obvious links on dl.com

I wonder if it would be helpful to check an unopened case of one kind of wine direct from the winery. I may try to find a Delta agent when I land in EZE and ask for their best advice on how to shop for and pack wine in a way that will cause least hassles.