UA rule against checking wine at LAX
Dec 27, 2006, 4:58 pm
#61
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NYC/SFO
Programs: UA 1K*MM, AA PP
Posts: 1,097
- if I pack the wine in my suitcase and tell them this, they don't like it. They have sent it through, so far, but reluctantly. So I believe that doing it this way is a big risk and depends on who you'll get at the counter. So if you have to put it in your luggage, don't tell them.
I think the reluctance is towards people's claims that they pack things well. I've never had them refuse or heard of them refusing bottles packed however you packed them.
Dec 27, 2006, 5:16 pm
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
I have been shipping wine in luggage between the U.S. and Europe & vv. for over 10 years. I always pack it in single bottle styrofoam boxes as used for post office bottle parcel mail in Europe. Those boxes then go into my semi-soft TravelPro and/or Swiss Army Brand suitcase. I never ever had any glass breakage whatsover.
Dec 27, 2006, 7:07 pm
#63
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Alameda, CA, USA
Posts: 799
I flew to GIG three weeks ago and checked in a case of wine at SFO without a problem. The check-in agent did ask me what was in the box and when I told her it was a case of wine, I was told to sign a waiver, in case of breakage. The agent also gave me enough "Fragile" stickers to place one on each side, including the top and bottom. The case arrived safely with no damage.
Dec 27, 2006, 7:25 pm
#64
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Front Range Colorado
Programs: UA 1MM and constantly changing status in a bunch of Hotel programs
Posts: 323
If you read the other posting linked above, you'll see that is exactly what happened to someone. The suggestions I made were about how to avoid being the maybe 1 case out of 100 where you do have to give up your bottles.
Dec 27, 2006, 7:39 pm
#65
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SFO, EZE
Programs: UA 1K 2.32 MM
Posts: 2,425
John
Dec 27, 2006, 8:58 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UGS
Posts: 7
Shipping Wine? Not Me . . .
Ditto the previous poster. I've never had a problem checking cases of wine with UA at SFO. I also use the boxes with the styrofoam inserts.
Note that package carriers (e.g., FedEx) will *not* generally accept wine (if you declare that that's what it is) from individual shippers, although that may eventually change now that interstate wine shipments have been largely legalized. But properly packed wine has never been a problem for checked airline luggage (and is permitted according to the rules of every airline with which I'm familiar).
Note that package carriers (e.g., FedEx) will *not* generally accept wine (if you declare that that's what it is) from individual shippers, although that may eventually change now that interstate wine shipments have been largely legalized. But properly packed wine has never been a problem for checked airline luggage (and is permitted according to the rules of every airline with which I'm familiar).
Dec 27, 2006, 9:19 pm
#67
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: UA Premier Executive, SPG Gold
Posts: 42
I just flew on a United Itinerary and had major problems with the ticket counter when checking in. Seems the employees do not read their own rules and I had to fight big time just to be able to check in a plastic bottle of water. I recommend you print the rules from the United Website, sorry I do not remember where it is located, but the bottom line is that you can check anything so long as it is packed properly. As the previous posts state I would not advertise that you are checking wine. In fact I would not even bring up the fact you are checking any liquid whatsoever unless they specifically ask.
Dec 28, 2006, 4:14 am
#68
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA 1K MM, United Club, AA EP, BR, CI, CX, WN, SPG, HH, Marriott Gold, LeClub Accor PLAT
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Dec 28, 2006, 7:50 am
#69
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P, Omni Gold, Hilton Gold, *Wood Gold
Posts: 1,208
Check at the winery about their shipping charges. We live in DEN, and found that at almost every winery, it is cheaper for us to ship the wine home then to take it and bring it ourselves. When they ship it for you, you don't pay sales tax, which for us was either more expensive or about the same as the shipping charges. Plus, you don't have to lug cases of wine around the airport!
Dec 28, 2006, 8:38 am
#70
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: UA 2P
Posts: 129
Shipping directly from the winery can be an attractive option if you're buying in volume from a single source. However, state laws vary and there are many states (sadly, including mine) that bar interstate wine shipment... Some wineries may look the other way or ask you to sign a waiver accepting responsibility for the legality of the shipment, but many won't ship at all to states that are known to prohibit interstate wine shipping.
That said, I've put cases of wine through the UA baggage system many times, from as far away as SYD to the East Coast, and with one exception they have arrived at my destination intact. I did once have a wine box ripped open and a bottle pilfered during a transfer at SFO. At that time SFO had been having some big problems with pilferage behind the lines. Even though I had signed the damage waiver at check-in, UA promptly reimbursed me since it was a theft and not a damage issue. I have had no other problems since that incident and have continued to check wine on UA flights...
That said, I've put cases of wine through the UA baggage system many times, from as far away as SYD to the East Coast, and with one exception they have arrived at my destination intact. I did once have a wine box ripped open and a bottle pilfered during a transfer at SFO. At that time SFO had been having some big problems with pilferage behind the lines. Even though I had signed the damage waiver at check-in, UA promptly reimbursed me since it was a theft and not a damage issue. I have had no other problems since that incident and have continued to check wine on UA flights...
Dec 28, 2006, 8:41 am
#71
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
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Depends on the state
Interstate shipping is not "legalized" ... unfortunately.
The Supreme Court decisions basically said that if a state allows INTRASTATE shipments of wine (today, all 50 states have at least one winery ... even Alaska and Hawaii!), that they can't prevent INTERSTATE shipping because it would unfairly benefit the in-state wineries.
However, it left it up to the states about whether they allow it or not. Many states simply decided to refuse both intra and inter state wines, penalizing the in-state wineries equally.
To date there are 33 states that allow, but 17 that disallow. The following list tells you which states don't allow shipping. Those with an asterisk actaully make it a FELONY to ship wine: AL, AR, DE, GA* (very limited shipping allowed if a winery has no wholesaler), IN, KS, KY*, ME, MD*, MS, MT, NJ, OK, PA, SD, TN*, UT*, VT (list as of August 2006, sourced from:
http://www.freethegrapes.org/research.html). Hopefully the list continues to dwindle, although this area is contested vigorously by a motley contingent of liquor wholesalers (who want to protect their no-value added monopoly in a scenario where consumers have more choice and lower prices through disintermediation) and anti-alcohol Nazis.
As a result of the Supreme Court decision, it became easier for wineries to ship directly to you (if you're in the lucky 33) but if you're in Stalag 17, then tough noogies (NB if you live in a non-felony state, you might be able to ship the wine PRIVATELY by visiting FedEx-Kinko's).
The Supreme Court decisions basically said that if a state allows INTRASTATE shipments of wine (today, all 50 states have at least one winery ... even Alaska and Hawaii!), that they can't prevent INTERSTATE shipping because it would unfairly benefit the in-state wineries.
However, it left it up to the states about whether they allow it or not. Many states simply decided to refuse both intra and inter state wines, penalizing the in-state wineries equally.
To date there are 33 states that allow, but 17 that disallow. The following list tells you which states don't allow shipping. Those with an asterisk actaully make it a FELONY to ship wine: AL, AR, DE, GA* (very limited shipping allowed if a winery has no wholesaler), IN, KS, KY*, ME, MD*, MS, MT, NJ, OK, PA, SD, TN*, UT*, VT (list as of August 2006, sourced from:
http://www.freethegrapes.org/research.html). Hopefully the list continues to dwindle, although this area is contested vigorously by a motley contingent of liquor wholesalers (who want to protect their no-value added monopoly in a scenario where consumers have more choice and lower prices through disintermediation) and anti-alcohol Nazis.
As a result of the Supreme Court decision, it became easier for wineries to ship directly to you (if you're in the lucky 33) but if you're in Stalag 17, then tough noogies (NB if you live in a non-felony state, you might be able to ship the wine PRIVATELY by visiting FedEx-Kinko's).
Dec 28, 2006, 8:26 pm
#72
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Alameda, CA, USA
Posts: 799
It seems that the agents at SFO are very accomodating to passengers with bottles or cases of wine. Maybe it is because SFO is so near to the Napa Valley Wineries, so many passengers have wine as check-in luggage?
Dec 29, 2006, 8:21 am
#73
In memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Originally Posted by vsevolod4
To date there are 33 states that allow, but 17 that disallow.
as VA where you can ship - but only if you have a license, and only a pretty
small amount; and states such as MA, where interstate shipping is forbidden,
but why it's not on the list is anyone's guess.
I went to the freethegrapes site, and I find that it's not exceptionally
well researched (as well as being quite polemical!).
Dec 30, 2006, 7:35 pm
#74
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 81
EZE let out checked wine
I was in BA in September and they let me check a case of wine as baggage no problem. They asked what it was, marked it as Fragile and checked it through to SFO.
Dec 30, 2006, 7:47 pm
#75
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SFO, EZE
Programs: UA 1K 2.32 MM
Posts: 2,425
I last travelled from EZE at the end of November, and that was the rule at that time for flights to the US. It's also been confirmed by others on the Argentina forum. Also no liquids in carry on even if acquired in the sterile area.