Flying with bourbon in your luggage.

[RyanL]

What is the policy for this? I assume it is OK in checked bags. Any number on the limit of bottles? Anyone have any issues doing this ever?

[imbibehour]

if this is a domestic flight it is probably doesn't matter.

unless it breaks then your clothing is probably in some trouble

[MJL]

:hot: :hot: I flew out of Dulles with two bottles of bourbon. When I arrived in Berlin I found my laptop had been turned on (and left on) and the two bottles of Pappy Van Winkle 15 year old were gone. In their place was a piece of paper saying my luggage was opened by US TSA.:hot: :hot: :hot: :hot:

[RyanL]

I just found this on TSA's website.

Please note, you can’t take alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol content (140 proof), including 95% grain alcohol and 150 proof rum, in your checked luggage.

You may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70% per person as checked luggage if it’s packaged in a sealable bottle or flask.

Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol content are not subject to hazardous materials regulations.

So I guess what I really want to know at this point is does anyone have any horror stories about flying domestically with wine/bourbon/etc other than it breaking. Stories like having it stolen out of your bag like the above poster.

[camduncan]

I took 4 x 750ml bottles, a 375ml and a 200ml bottle home from Bardstown. We flew from Louisville to New York, New York to LA, LA to Vegas, Vegas to LA and finally LA to Australia with no problems at all.

I packed the bottles in padded bottle bags (2 bottles per bag) and wrapped the bottle bags in plastic shopping bags. We made sure they were spread over 2 suit cases and had HEAPS of clothes packed around them for additional padding.

The only other advise I would give is make sure to pick bottles that are good travelling bottles. I've found that the rounded wine shaped bottles like the Pappy ones travel best. I REALLY wanted a Willett Pot Still bottle, but knew its unusual shape meant it likely wouldn't make the journey, so I din't get one

[silverfish]

Check this thread, specifically the posts from Scoots,

regarding traveling with bottles.

[TomH]

Have traveled many times with alcohol in checked bags with no problems. The biggest issue is if you buy alcohol at duty free and don't have direct flights and have to go thru customs and then recheck bags. When you buy at duty they deliver bottles to your plane and you carry them on. However when you go thru customs and re-check bags any duty free must be placed in checked luggage before you re-check them. This means opening them up in customs and doing your best to securely pack quickly so that you don't miss your next flight. I generally have a partially empty suitcase with packing materials (bubblewrap, shippers, or zip lock bags and towels) right on top. So far no broken or missing bottles.

Tom

[MJL]

When I fly domestically I find some of those poly bottles of Beam or Wild Turkey to take along..

[jfw]

I have flown with many bottles of wine and bourbon in my luggage over the years. The only bottles that I have ever had problems with are blantons. The buggers just don't seem to always stay tightly sealed. If you put it in your luggage, wrap it in clothes or buble wrap or a wineskin (bubble wrap in the shape of a bottle!). Be sure to check the weight of your bags and compare it to the luggage restriction of your airline.

You can check wine/boubon containers. (Leave them untaped until you get to the airport. You often have to show them the bottles in the wine carrier before they will check it.)

If you are planning to make this a regular occurance, there are wine/bourbon carriers available of various sizes in cardboard/styro and permanent. Some of the newer cardboard wine carriers are now certified by various airlines.

I have tried several hard cases designed for wine shipping. The wine cruzer has been the best so far. The gorillas who handle luggage have yet to destroy mine.

http://www.winecruzer.com/8pack-winecarrierwheel.html

Just returned from the land down under with 10 1/2 bottles of wine, two bottles of bourbon and two bottles of olive oil. 8 were in the wine cruizer and the rest in the luggage. Not a record for me, but a good number just the same .

Note: You ARE subject to the laws of various states when importing liquor into those states. Also, if it is international, check the laws for the country you are visiting. For some reason, amount of alcohol is no longer on the customs form for the USA? It used to be there, but they only seem to care about dollar figure now.

Joe

[tmckenzie]

I have traveled many times wth no trouble. But one time on a flight from Wisconsin to Pensacola, Florida, I checked 1 bag with 2 bottles of Stephen Foster rye. Both were unopened when I turned my bags over. When i got my bags I noticed the distinctive smell of rye. Both bottles had been opened and not closed back tightly. I have no problem with a tsa agent who wants a little snort, but damn. Close my bottles back tight so I can have one too.

[G.H.Adams]

I don't fly internationally and when I fly domestic I fly private. The thought of putting up with what I've seen of the TSA makes my blood boil. I spent 27 years in law enforcement and what the TSA gets away with is murder, we had needed a warrant. Wand raping an 87 year old lady in a wheelchair, a full body pat down of a young child, full body scans. Sorry for the rant but I don't remember any of the above hijacking an airliner on 9/11. As for alcohol I don't have any experience other that some whiskeys above a certain proof are no go. :hot:

[White Dog]

I have traveled many times wth no trouble. But one time on a flight from Wisconsin to Pensacola, Florida, I checked 1 bag with 2 bottles of Stephen Foster rye. Both were unopened when I turned my bags over. When i got my bags I noticed the distinctive smell of rye. Both bottles had been opened and not closed back tightly. I have no problem with a tsa agent who wants a little snort, but damn. Close my bottles back tight so I can have one too.

[White Dog]

I don't fly internationally and when I fly domestic I fly private. The thought of putting up with what I've seen of the TSA makes my blood boil. I spent 27 years in law enforcement and what the TSA gets away with is murder, we had needed a warrant. Wand raping an 87 year old lady in a wheelchair, a full body pat down of a young child, full body scans. Sorry for the rant but I don't remember any of the above hijacking an airliner on 9/11. As for alcohol I don't have any experience other that some whiskeys above a certain proof are no go. :hot:

[tmckenzie]

That's a long way to go for Stephen Foster. I only know of one store that carries it in WI.

[MikeK]

I used to check a case or 2 of bourbon when I would fly back home out of Louisville. I would put the case box inside another larger box with packing peanuts in between. In Loiusville they inspect the luggage before it is whisked away so I would sit and watch TSA open and rummage through the boxes. Never had a breakage or an issue. Did get so fed up with flying and the regulations that I now drive to KY instead of fly. From Boston.