A liquor question
 

We are flying from U.S. to London via Delta, then switching to British Airways on to Paris. We want to get a bottle of Vodka for our hotel room in Paris. Where should we buy it? Can we buy it at CDG after we get off the plane but before customs? Can we buy it in LHR after security and bring it to Paris? Can we buy it/order it on the BA plane - duty free? Or should we try to find a liquor store in Paris? Thanks

Paris was declared liquor free during the german occupation of the early 40's. since then, there has been no alcohol in Paris. i would advise you consider to remain in London, they have Gin, the improved version of vodka/\.

useless posts aside, if you're coming in from the USA and connecting through LHR you have to go through security and the liquids ban comes into effect i think, so if that's the case, you can't bring the vodka through unless you also grab your bags and re-check them. i'd just buy it when you arrive in paris.

Concurred with 3rd post in thread.

Buy it when you get to Paris. You will probably pay much less for it, and have a much better choice.

duty-free in Paris
 

Thanks all, for the humor and the advice. One question is whether you can buy in the duty-free shop at CDG after you have flown in and before going through CDG customs.

There is no duty-free for flights within the EU -- it is one economic area. So duty free only applies to flights outside the EU. The "duty free" shops will sell you goods, but at a higher EU price, which is generally higher than the street price (hence the advice to buy it in Paris). There is no duty free shopping upon arrival in CDG (at least hasn't been for the terminals that I have used), but you would have to fly DL non-stop to CDG to be eligible to use it, in your example, even if there were.

You can buy duty free in US or on the flight to LHR as long as you check it for the LHR-CDG flight....otherwise LHR security will confiscate it. For vodka it really isn't cost-effective (most US duty free prices are high for vodka).

Ummm, buy it in the US before you leave and pack in your checked bag?

I believe that the US/LHR boarding pass will still let you buy it at duty free prices at LHR since you just got off an INTL flight, and they will allow you to take it on the plane as carryon as long as you buy it inside your departure terminal. I don't think the US/LHR BP will still work at CDG, however, since you're arriving there on a flight from the UK. Buying it on the US/LHR flight won't work since you can't take it through security when you change flights, and your bags will most likely be checked through eliminating the chance to put it in your checked bags. Other than taking it with you from the states in checked baggage, LHR seems your only option other than in Paris at street prices.

But, why waste duty free on Vodka? There's a wonderful Whisky shop at LHR that sells otherwise hard to obtain brands. You can buy some potatoes when you arrive in Paris and make your OWN vodka!

Generally, anywhere where duty-free shops exist, they can only be used by outbound international passengers.

I disagree with that. Many airports have duty free shops you must pass through to even get to customs/immigration. SYD comes to mind. Rio also was advertising their duty free to arriving passengers.

Milepig is correct. Vodka-schmodka. Classified oderless, colorless, and tasteless. It's a commodity. How much could you possibly save ? $5 ? And you've got to drag it around ? A silly question IMHO. wj

Paris.