Duty free failed to arrive
#46
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#47
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Forgot to close this one off, so for anybody stumbling across it...
When my daughter got back to the US she called the number on the back of the receipt, navigated some awful menu system and was then asked to read out the two long numbers on the receipt. Having done this the robot announced that the amount would be refunded to her card within 2 weeks. It was.
What you do if you've paid cash or are a foreign resident not wanting to make in international call, I've no idea! I'd certainly recommend that you don't use up those remaining dollar bills, on the basis of this experience
Thanks to respondents
Bob
When my daughter got back to the US she called the number on the back of the receipt, navigated some awful menu system and was then asked to read out the two long numbers on the receipt. Having done this the robot announced that the amount would be refunded to her card within 2 weeks. It was.
What you do if you've paid cash or are a foreign resident not wanting to make in international call, I've no idea! I'd certainly recommend that you don't use up those remaining dollar bills, on the basis of this experience
Thanks to respondents
Bob
#49
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I don't usually buy duty free purchase, so someone please correct me if I am wrong.
From what I understand, the US requires delivery at the gate because many US airports mix international flights with domestic flights. So, the only way to be relatively sure that the traveler will be flying out of the US will be to deliver the purchases at their international flight gates.
From what I understand, the US requires delivery at the gate because many US airports mix international flights with domestic flights. So, the only way to be relatively sure that the traveler will be flying out of the US will be to deliver the purchases at their international flight gates.
#50
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I too wondered why just showing you International ticket at the register would not suffice in a mixed-use terminal. They do that in Singapore Df (which is odd because every flight out of Changi is Int'l , lol)
Local liquor store sell .75th, 1 liter, and 1.5 liter sizes for most of the common brands, so it is not a "free 33%" in duty free here. Ounce for ounce, the duty free might be a couple of dollars cheaper. You could in theory do the refundable Int'l fare, and then sneak back out and enjoy your complicated scheme to save 5%, but keep in mind that you had to endure TSA to get to that point.
A better example would be cigs. Those are half the street price (in Newark, anyway), so it would depend on how many cartons you could buy at a time. Possible cash maker, but you won't get rich from it. I imagine the airlines would notice habitual ticket cancellations and raise a flag.
Local liquor store sell .75th, 1 liter, and 1.5 liter sizes for most of the common brands, so it is not a "free 33%" in duty free here. Ounce for ounce, the duty free might be a couple of dollars cheaper. You could in theory do the refundable Int'l fare, and then sneak back out and enjoy your complicated scheme to save 5%, but keep in mind that you had to endure TSA to get to that point.
A better example would be cigs. Those are half the street price (in Newark, anyway), so it would depend on how many cartons you could buy at a time. Possible cash maker, but you won't get rich from it. I imagine the airlines would notice habitual ticket cancellations and raise a flag.
#51
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I must be missing something. I've never noticed duty free prices to be particularly good compared to just going to the local store. I understand other countries might be worthwhile, but if I can buy Absolut for $18 in duty free or $21 in my ABC store it seems like a lot of work to save $3.
A pack of Marlboro in either city after tax is close to or over $10, that means it is $100 a carton at a local store.
A carton of Marlboro in China's duty free in PEK or PVG is $20, even if one buy it on the plane's duty free, it is still only cost $35-$40.
So think about how much one can save !
#52
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#53
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#54
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That was the point of my post. Please read it in the context that it was posted, as an answer to rbrenton88's question.
#55
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I was on a US Airways PHX -> YVR flight today and was pleased to see the FAs selling duty free onboard, like you might see on a TATL flight. I realize the logistics are challenging, but it's a pity more carriers don't offer this onboard their transborder flights between the US and Canada. They certainly were moving product - Guy across the aisle from me actually bought a watch!
#56
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