Checking Wine
 

My sister has troubled/tasked me with bringing a case of her favorite wine back from Michigan with me.

Now, we are talking cheap wine. $8.00 a bottle or so, but it cannot be had in Texas. Can I just walk up to checkin with a box of wine with magic marker on the box saying "fragile"?

Or should I go through the hassle of wrapping and packing into a suitcase or something?

For a whole case, check it on the plane in a wine SHIPPING box.

A winery who does mail orders likely can give you one if you ask when you buy the wine as they ship them.

Cheap wine from Wal-Mart, you probably have to find your own.

+1

I've checked a wine shipping box without problems. I did, however, only put 8 bottles in the box and padded the four corner impact zones with T-shirts. The other four bottles from the case went inside a suitcase, each inside a sock and then wrapped in a shirt and then all of them inside a garbage bag. I think they would have been fine in the wine shipping box, however.

Excellent advice. Hadn't thought about a shipping box. Found a few online. I'll go that route. I won't be picking it up from a vinyard, but a liquor store. I can always ask them if they have such a thing from when they receive it, I guess.

You definitely need a wine shipping box.
I've probably brought back 20 cases of wine this way from Europe over the years.
Never had an issue.

I live in Michigan, so I can't imagine what Michigan wine she wants you to bring back - we only use it for cooking!

Right? She likes "Witches Brew" from Leelanau Cellers.

I've used the wine shipping boxes (styrofoam inserts) and they have worked great.

I also have gone the traditional way... And wrapped the bottles in a t-shirt.... But, I am always concerned I will find a suitcase, dripping with wine when it arrives at baggage claim.

i brought back about a case from Argentina a few years ago and just wrapped the bottles in my clothes and then plastic bags taped up real tight. No issues.

I check wine with Delta frequently. When travelling with any significant quantities, I use wine shipping boxes available from wineries or brokers in the business of shipping wine. The shippers have styrofoam or cardboard forms that protect the bottles. If I have the opportunity, I will also stop by the package-shipping stands at airports to have the box cellophane wrapped, to ensure it to does pop open (a lot of tape also does that trick, though with less assurance) and to protect the box's outer cardboard from dampness/rain on the ramp. At SFO, for example, I stop by the international terminal for package wrapping before heading to the Delta terminal.

If I'm going to a place from which I plan to bring wine home, I generally bring an empty shipper box with me, fill it up, and check it as described above for the way home. May sound nuts, but it avoids the hassle of finding the shipper box, which can be a problem in some areas.

Never check wine in the cases that you see in liquor stores. The cardboard is just too flimsy, liable to popping open or letting the bottles get knocked together. I was sorry to once see a fellow pax at baggage claim at SFO receive a case of Aussie wine all broken up in the bottom of one of those bins for loose bags (this was a UA flight from SYD). I've seen lots of other pax at ATL receive the shipper boxes without incident at baggage claim from SFO. Once in SFO I even saw another pax collect an empty shipper box at baggage claim inbound from ATL-- proof that I was not alone. ;)

For those who travel with significant quantities of wine, the shipper boxes are essential.

When I'm travelling with somewhat smaller quantities or trying to be more discreet, I generally put the bottles in those neoprene carriers by NY Built, then surround them with gym clothes, put them inside old shoe boxes taped closed to prevent shifting in transit, then put the boxes in the lower part of my stiff-side regular luggage (B&R). This has worked well for me.

Liquid restrictions are a hassle. But workarounds are available for oenophiles. Good luck.

Thewinecheck.com
 

http://www.thewinecheck.com/

My wife and I picked up one of these a couple of years ago for our trips to Napa/Sonoma/Santa Barbara. We have more than gotten our money back vs. shipping and it is very easy to transport (wheels on one end).

Completely agree with what MegatopLover has detailed here. My family lives in wine country and I do this all the time. And definitely note his caution about the wine boxes that are in liquor stores. They may not even survive the trip. Most liquor stores do not have the boxes with hard styrofoam to protect the bottles, so you might want to either check with the place where you are picking up the wine or figure out an alternate arrangement.

MegatopLover, I too have checked in empty wine boxes are luggage, planning to fill it. As an alternative, you can send the empty box via post for about $5 (assuming you have an address to where you can ship). Can save time at baggage claim, and you don't have to carry the (albeit empty) box around.

We also do as many others - check empty cases to CA, then fill and check when returning. This might change if our status changes and we have to pay for checked luggage.
However, the wine you were asked to bring sells at the winery for $5.99/bottle (before case discount) with ground shipping at $30-45 via UPS or FedEx, why incur the hassle?

As always, FlyerTalk is a wealth of great information and insight. UHAUL / UPS / others have shipping boxes with styrofoam inserts for about $15. I think I'll try this route. If this becomes a regular occurence, I'll look at something like www.thewinecheck.com has to offer.

Because my sister doesn't see it as a hassle, since I am the one schlepping it on a rental car bus, to check in, etc. :) I want to say that she inquired about shipping to Texas and was told they would not.

AA/CX/AC usually has a sticker for it. Not sure about DL.