Airside shopping at LAX
 

Hi all,

Were arriving @ LAX T2 on Air New Zealand from London and then have to get over to T5 to take a Delta flight to Las Vegas.

We would like to bring a couple of bottles of nice wine/champagne but due to the restrictions on liquids, it looks like buying duty free at Heathrow won't work for us.

Are there any stores at LAX T5 airside/after security that sell wines/liquor to enable us to purchase and carry them onto our onward flight to Las Vegas.

Also from reading the previous threads, I understand that walking from T2 to T5 is possible and 3 hours between flights is sufficient time to clear immigration/customs and get across to T5 to check in with Delta.

Please re-assure us that this is right.

Many thanks...

Hi Simon Stingray,

As I understand it you can buy anything at Duty Free at LHR to carry on board.

If you are travelling with checked luggage, you will need to collect it at LAX before rechecking with DL for the flight to LAS. If this is the case then you could buy the wind duty free at LHR then once at LAX and clearing customs, put the wine into your checked luggage for LAX-LAX ( this will not work if you are only travelling with handluggage)

3 hours should be plent of time to connect. I have always found that T2 customs and Imigration is quick.

Walking form T2 to T 5 is possible by turning right after exiting T2 , then passing T3, follow the path round the bend, past Tom Bradley Intl Terminal, round another bend , past T4 ( American Airlines) and then T5 ( probably a 10min walk maximum)

Regards

TBS

PS I do not think the shopping at T5 will be that great based on the shopping experiences at the other Terminals.

This is a good suggestion. Also, keep in mind that Vegas has a ton of bottle shops...although there's something novel about consuming a wine/spirit that was purchased elsewhere. :)

Thanks for the replies.

I think we'll pick something up at LHR as suggested.

Lets just hope that its still in the luggage when we get to LAS:)

I've never understood
 

why anyone would risk carrying glass bottles of wine (or anything else) in their luggage. Not just the risk to yourself, but everyone else's bag that happens to be nearby.

I assure you, there is no shortage of liquor in Las Vegas. They happen to specialize in it. You'll travel lighter and more comfortably without booze in your bags.

I love certain Spanish wines and liquers that you can't get in the US and therefore buy many bottles - generally outside the airport. So I have to check it in.

Just be sure to wrap the bottles in several plastic bags and pad them with your clothes or bubble wrap to prevent any breakage. The plastic bags will help stop any liquids from getting out if the bottle does break (:() - several layers of bags helps protect if one bag is cut by broken glass

BTW - airside shopping at LAX sucks