Bottle limit in checked bags?

[bontrager]

Can someone remind me how many bottles of booze you're allowed to pack in your checked bags on a plane?

Is it 5 per suitcase or 5 per person?

[Restaurant man]

Up to 50 pounds where I'm from

[Conquistador]

Depends on the airline. Southwest Airlines allows 5 liters per person for hard liquor, although even that limit can be bent/stretched (I packed a total of 6.5 liters of bourbon in a hard-sided suitcase when I flew back from KY this past spring, and had no problems with Southwest or TSA. No limit on wine (except for overall baggage limits); I once checked an entire 12-bottle case of wine as my 2nd checked bag with no problems.

[HighInTheMtns]

5 liters is a TSA limit, not an airline limit, although airlines may have their own rules. Note that 6 750ml bottles is below 5L. I believe that it's a per suitcase rule.

[HighInTheMtns]

Nope, I'm incorrect. Per person: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/alcoholic-beverages

[Bourbon Boiler]

Here is a list of individual airline's pilicies when they are more restrictive:

http://www.alcademics.com/2012/03/packing-booze-airline-liquor-regulations.html

[bigtoys]

wonder if you could get Stagg or Abe Bowman through or if they'd notice the proof.

note these are, in general, domestic rules.

clearing customs (at the airport where you enter the US) varies by state as to how much alcohol you can bring in; I got lucky once and got 4-5 bottles of tequila through Dallas; Texas can limit you to one liter.

We have also checked 12 bottles of wine as our second "suitcase" coming home from Napa (2 cases-one for me, one for my wife).

[c2walker]

wonder if you could get Stagg or Abe Bowman through or if they'd notice the proof.

note these are, in general, domestic rules.

clearing customs (at the airport where you enter the US) varies by state as to how much alcohol you can bring in; I got lucky once and got 4-5 bottles of tequila through Dallas; Texas can limit you to one liter.

We have also checked 12 bottles of wine as our second "suitcase" coming home from Napa (2 cases-one for me, one for my wife).

My experience is that they don't check closely, often, or at all. I've traveled with Stagg a few times and haven't had any problems.

[mark fleetwood]

Here is a list of individual airline's pilicies when they are more restrictive:

http://www.alcademics.com/2012/03/packing-booze-airline-liquor-regulations.html

This is good info. We just got back from roundtrip to Cincy on Frontier, who quoted the 5 liter per person limit. Took 7 bottles which were over 5 liters total, so I don't suspect there's a ton of arithmetic being done by TSA.

[WhiskyRI]

Coming back from Scotland in 2012 I came home with 7 liters total packed in a box as my 2nd checked bag. I also had another 3 200ml bottles in my 1st checked bag. I had no problem from the airline (American Airlines) or customs. I declared everything expecting to have to pay a duty but the customs person just waived me through.

[sailor22]

wonder if you could get Stagg or Abe Bowman through or if they'd notice the proof.

We need to get Randy to chime in here with the HazMat story.

[SmoothAmbler]

When I fly these days, I put a note in there addressed to the TSA with a copy of their regulations. I also explain how much I'm carrying and how it fits into their guidelines. I haven't had a single issue since I began doing that.

[balassit]

I flew back last year from a business trip with 12 bottles in one box. Luckally most were BTAC which look a lot like wine bottles, so I assume that is the only reason I made it through. Needless to say I was anxiously waiting for that box in the baggage claim.

[toddinjax]

Before 9-11, I flew from Boston to Jax with 6 bottles of Dalmore 12yr as my 2 carry on bags. My former neighborhood merchant had it for $25 a bottle (instead of $45 to $60).