I just came across the following on http://www.ifly.com/airline-security

"A couple of rules of thumb for packing checked baggage: you may pack sporting equipment, even swords and knives, but make sure nothing is flammable or explosive. Flammable items also include alcohol, so think twice about bringing that bottle of wine back from France."

My friends and I are planning to take a few styrofoam boxes in order to bring back several bottles of wine from France. The above would seem to indicate that this might not be allowed.

Have the rules changed recently or is this website giving out bad information?

I think you would be hard pressed to set a bottle of wine OR gin on fire. Give it a try.

Hi Betty,

We have had not trouble bringing wine in checked baggage.

The TSA site says it is permitted in checked baggage.

You may even bring it in carryon if you purchase it at the duty free shop after clearing security.

I was also concerned about this & needed to know the answer prior to selecting an airline.
When I was speaking with Delta, the representative couldn't speak for Alitalia...but, was nice enough to call a rep at Alitalia who confirmed that wine can be in your checked luggage.
It is confusing because there are contradictory postings...I suggest calling your airline directly.

WARNING!

If that "duty free" wine is going to another city with you or if you are flying to someplace like ATL where you have to go BACK through secuirty to exit the airport, you will need to pack it in your checked baggage before you recheck after customs. The TSA gets a lot of "free wine" and "free perfume" collected at that check point that was bought duty free.

My method is LOTS of plastic and padding and so far so good!

Hi,
I've never asked an airline about it, but we have recently brought back a few bottles of wine in our checked bags on Lufthansa and Air France. We put the bottles in plastic bags, wrap them in our "need to be laundered" clothes (also in bags), and place them in the center of our luggage.

Paul

So if I'm a terrorist, all I have to do is to put the gasoline in a thin-walled bottle and stash it in my checked luggage?

God is Great!

Absolutely. I keep saying it and everybody keeps ignoring me, but absolutely every security measure being used is just to 'flatter public opinion'. You can still gouge out eyes with your ballpoint pen, shove your keys down somebody's throat, break any number of items on the plane and use them as daggers. So who cares what is allowed and what isn't? It's just a matter of how desperate or how insane somebody might become some day while on a plane. All of the security issues are ridiculous.

Anyway, regarding bottles in checked luggage, my brother found bubble wrap to be thoroughly effective for protecting all of his checked bottles.

Judging from the number of wine-soaked bags I've seen and smelled coming down the luggage carousel, you won't be the only one who's tried it.

Hi CarolA
Date: 05/13/2007, 01:32 pm

WARNING!

>....if you are flying to someplace like ATL where you have to go BACK through secuirty to exit the airport, you will need to pack it in your checked baggage before you recheck after customs. <

We will be coming into ATL.

Assume that I have some wine from the Duty Free shop that I am carrying in my carryon.

I am not going to another city.

Do I have to put the wine in my checked luggage after I retrieve it from the carousel and before I go through Customs?

"Do I have to put the wine in my checked luggage after I retrieve it from the carousel and before I go through Customs?"

Depends.

In ATL you do since there is NO way from the International Terminal to the exit without entering the main terminal area. If your airport has a direct route out where you don't have to go back through security then you can just carry your wine out. If you must be "rescreened" and go thru security you have to put your liquids in your checked baggage which is then put on some type of system and delivered to you at baggage claim. (ATL)

As for the comment about a terrorist using checking gas. I don't think they are going to bother. It would be easier just to ship the cargo where you could put the whole bomb. WHy "hope" your gas explodes?

Ira,
I responded without really understanding you were were coming into ATL.

YES your wine or other liquids purchased at the CDG duty free must be put in your checked luggage. Your airline will take your checked luggage and SLOWLY (VERY SLOWLY) transport it to baggage claim (I am always convinced they lost mine between point A & B it takes so long)

Terrorism is about scaring people. A freight liner disappearing over the Pacific wouldn't be anywhere near as dramatic as an Airbus with 300 passengers aboard.

Most passenger jets carry some freight.

I brought home two bottles last time, wrapped in lots of clothes...had no problems at all.

Jules

Hi Carol,

Thanks.

Just to make sure I understand; even though I am flying nonstop to ATL, and it is my final destination, wines have to be in my checked luggage, even if bought from the Duty Free shop in Europe.

can some kind person explain why some US airports [yes i know this is the europe forum, but Ira raised it here] make you collect your checked luggage, [eg orlando, Fl] then give it back again, and re-collect it?

really puzzled me then, and now!

regards, ann

"Most passenger jets carry some freight."

The vast majority of freight isn't carried on passenger jets, which typically max out with baggage. Your odds of inflicting mass casualties by randomly freighting bombs aren't very good.

When we came back from Paris in March, US customs didn't bother with the wine but the Salmon Roe (my Wife called it Red Caviar, she's Ex-Russian), they had a moment of excitement (me frustration, gotta luv her!).

Packing duty free items in checked baggage at CDG, no possibe! Your checked baggage is done before you enter the duty free/security zone.
Our wine was winked at in both CDG/DFW, American Airlines could have cared less at either.

The Duty Free Shops (within the seccurity zone) packed our purchases in SEALED plastic bags, sometimes with Aluminum foil wrapped around the item, don't break the seal, if USA Custom's Officer does, get a follow-on statement (that is what I think its called), if you are transferring within the same airport.
By the way you have to clear both checked and carry-on at your re-enter point.
To clear the point if your coming back from another country TSA doesn't know what is checked or carry-on, that is determined by the national agents at the point of embarkation/boarding, that is per the TSA.
WHAT IS LOADED INTO AN INBOUND AIRCRAFT IN ANOTHER COUNTRY BELONGS TO THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT CARGO AND/OR PASSENGER(S) REMAINS WITH THAT COUNTRY UNTIL IT LANDS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
Cumbersome statement, which boils down to "If France (for example) allows you to load 14 cases of wine, USA customs doesn't care until you have to pay the Duty Tax".
We have had no problems with wine/liquors/whiskey in either checked or carry-on, what is taxed on your re-enter?

I'm curious about that, too, ann, but can I bring it back to my original question for a moment? If I'm understanding what you all are saying the answer is "B" i.e. that information on ifly is just wrong. So we don't need to worry about our styrofoam cases as long as they are checked?

Three of us will be traveling CDG to EWR to CLT; one will return via Houston and ATL. Do we need to be concerned about state (NJ, NC, TX or GA) laws about "importing" wine for personal use? Each person may have up to a dozen bottles.

Thanks again.