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Traveling Internationally on a U.S. Airline?

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Old Mar 17th, 2013, 04:14 AM
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Traveling Internationally on a U.S. Airline?

Don't plan on purchasing liquids AFTER security in an airport out of the United States. Most U.S. airlines are hiring "kids" to go through your carry-on stuff. Cans of juice that your purchased for the flights or water will get dumped right before you walk on the plane. This happened to me in Dubai and Hong Kong. I picked up a bottle of water at the United Airlines lounge and it was dumped just before walking on the plane.

Just think, if airlines turn the heat up to 90 degrees on the flight, they may be able to start charging $10 for a glass of water.

As for duty free items, I believe if they are not opened, they will not be dumped, but personally, I won't even give it a try.

I believe Qantas does this on flights to the United States since they are listed as a high security flight.

As far as I know, they are not doing this as you leave the United States or on flights within the United States. Comments would be appreciated.
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Old Mar 17th, 2013, 06:52 AM
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Same happened to us flying out of Costa Rica.

In Copenhagen water was OK to take on the plane.

Depends on the country. Flying to both places we brought our own plastic bottles in carry-on, and filled with water after security.
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Old Mar 18th, 2013, 05:37 PM
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This has been true on international flights on US airlines for several years. When this policy first went into effect, we'd bought an expensive bottle of cognac at duty free in Bangkok, and were carrying it on board. They allowed us to go back to the duty-free store and get a refund. The only other option was to gate check it.
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 01:15 PM
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This is my understanding

It should not matter whether the airline is US or internationally owned. The no liquids in the cabin rule applies for any flight traveling to the US (other than the 3 oz in the baggie thing).

If you buy something in duty free, it needs to be delivered on to the plane and not carried on.

If you are transferring within the US inside the secure area (after TSA screenings), you should be able to carry on liquids that you buy at the airport. However if you have to go thru another screening before you board, expect they may remove it.

Anyone know any different?
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 01:50 PM
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<<<If you buy something in duty free, it needs to be delivered on to the plane and not carried on.>>>

That's not because of the liquids rule, it's because of the tax (duty) rules.

I thought the rule was no liquids more than 3 oz. brought from "pre-security". I'd never heard of the no liquids in the cabin at all rule before.
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 06:48 PM
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This is news to me.

I routinely fill my water bottle after security in Seoul when flying to the US. The trick is to remember to empty it when deplaning in Seoul from Singapore, as you have to go through security again and then re-board the same plane, but there are shops and water fountains after security and no one checking at the door of the plane (yet).

I've had the same experience in Tokyo, Beijing and Singapore on flights inbound to the US on both international and US carriers.

I guess I'll find out next week, as I'm flying from Australia to the US via Singapore and Seoul.
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 07:28 PM
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AFAIK, Only US airlines restrict duty free liquids on their international flights (except for duty-free you buy onboard). Foreign Carriers flying to the US still allow duty-free liquid purchases on board.

In the past, the issue of whether duty-free had to be delivered to the plane or whether you could carry it from the duty-free shop had to do with the set up of each airport. The issue of allowing duty=free liquids on board is not related to this issue.

I don't know how they will treat your carry-on water.
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Old Mar 21st, 2013, 03:10 AM
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I should add that I had filled my "favorite" water bottle with water from the Dubai airport lounge which is located after security. When I arrived at the gate, they had another security screening where I had to remove my shoes, get a pat down, and all liquids (over 3 ounces) were removed from my bag. They wanted to throw out my favorite water bottle. I almost poured the water all over the floor. Glad I didn't, but they should have a way to dump the liquid and return the water bottle.
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Old Mar 21st, 2013, 08:13 AM
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Is this a US government rule or a rule by the foreign airports. In most foreign airports, flights to the US get special screening; some of it just for spite about the idiocies imposed by the paranoia of the US government (for example, Heathrow security is excellent and I am screened very thoroughly before entering the departure lounge. Requiring extra screening on flights to the USA in a way are saying we don't trust you guys, or am I missing something?)



Anyway, just last month I was in the departure lounge and picked up a sandwich waiting for my flight to be called. I then went to another story and they had a special (not so special for peope used to US prices but for Great Britain,,,) ib ,5 kuters if cije,,,3 fir tge oruce if 2, /so I bought 3, drank 1 with my sandwich and took 2 in my carry ons. Nobody asked, nobody checked and I was totally unaware there is any issue with stuff bourght after screening. Or is it just an airport policy and Heathrow doesn't bother? No signs either prohibiting it.
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Old Mar 21st, 2013, 10:08 AM
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Were you already through screening when you bought your items and then did not have to pass another screening?

Obviously if you have already passed all the screenings then you are done. The problem usually happens when you assume that you are done with screenings, and try to carry something you've bought in the terminal through a secondary screening.
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Old Mar 21st, 2013, 11:37 AM
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<i>I believe Qantas does this on flights to the United States since they are listed as a high security flight.</i>

There was no security check at the gate when I flew MEL-LAX on QF last year.
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Old Mar 21st, 2013, 11:59 AM
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Same is true in Mexico. You can't bring liquids (bottled water, soda) on the plane with you even though you bought it after security.
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Old Mar 21st, 2013, 01:23 PM
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I was told that it's because many other countries don't have the 3oz rule. If they don't check for liquids at security, then they have to do the check at the gate for flights going to the US. Thus you lose any liquids you've picked up in the airport since they have no way of knowing if you brought it in from outside or not.

I don't remember security in Buenos Aires caring about liquids so it would make sense that they then have to check for all of the flights to the US.


<<<Were you already through screening when you bought your items and then did not have to pass another screening? >>>

In Buenos Aires it was at the gate that they did another screening and took liquids away.
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Old Mar 21st, 2013, 03:03 PM
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Here is some info I found on the TSA site re duty free and the 3 oz rule. A friend lost an expensive bottle of perfume bought at duty free, but I can't remember if she was coming or going between the UK and the US.

http://blog.tsa.gov/2008/05/duty-free-debunked.html
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Old Mar 21st, 2013, 04:32 PM
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So if my interpretation is right if the departure airport has a liquid rule at its security check pointthen it seems you can purchase whatever you want past that check point and while at the gate for US bound flights there often are random checks (which may not be so random) they don't re-check all carry ons for liquids. I know at Heathrow if you're changing flights, even within the same terminal, as part of the connection process you will go through security again.

Perhaps it is tied in with that? I do know travelers are told upon arrival in the US if they are connecting before handing their luggage over to the airline for transfer to their connecting flight to put all liquids in their checked luggage.
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