Bringing in Duty Free from bangkok to Mebourne

[sammm]

Hi i have a 10 hour stop over in bangkok, and wanting int know 2 things.

1. can i buy duty alcohol in the shops at the airport and take it on the plane?

2. what can i do in bangkok for 5-7 hours?

 

[NM]

re: Binging in Duty Free from bangkok to Mebourne

You cannot purchase Duty Free Alcohol (>100ml) in BKK and carry onto an aircraft destined for Australia. You will undergo a gate check of all carry-on bags and any non-compliant LAGS will be confiscated.

 

[KLN]

re: Binging in Duty Free from bangkok to Mebourne

Hi i have a 10 hour stop over in bangkok, and wanting int know 2 things.

1. can i buy duty alcohol in the shops at the airport and take it on the plane?

2. what can i do in bangkok for 5-7 hours?

Not sure about Bangkok, but have flown out of Tokyo/Sing/KL/Shanghai over the last few years reguarly, and have never been able to bring duty free alcohol onto the plane. always had to buy it in Sydney when arriving. i was able to buy makeup including lotions and potions but in sealed bags at KL a couple of weeks ago.

 

[serfty]

Who are you flying with?

If Qantas, see here: http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/country-specific-carry-on-baggage/global/en#jump0 (look for Bangkok references)

Passengers Travelling from London to Australia via Bangkok or Hong Kong

Passengers travelling on a flight which transits Bangkok or Hong Kong will be required to disembark and remove all liquids, aerosols and gels exceeding 100ml during the transit. All liquids, aerosols and gels exceeding 100ml taken through the transit screening point will have to be surrendered and will not be returned.

 

[shaddy]

Re: Binging in Duty Free from bangkok to Mebourne

I can't be fussed buying duty-free outside Oz when flying back into Oz, much more convenient to buy at airport. have done so at Melb & Syd. Think same applies elswhere!

 

[NM]

Re: Binging in Duty Free from bangkok to Mebourne

I can't be fussed buying duty-free outside Oz when flying back into Oz, much more convenient to buy at airport. have done so at Melb & Syd. Think same applies elswhere!

Its a shame the Aus inbound DF shops know people take this approach and charge accordingly. Some things can be MUCH cheaper in other countries.

 

[drron]

Re: Binging in Duty Free from bangkok to Mebourne

In Bangkok your carryons will be searched as you enter the gate lounge and so duty free liquor confiscated.
However you are not frisked and i have seen one gentleman(in J too:shockwho once on board removed a bottle of duty free from his ? underpants and stow it in the overhead bin.

 

[joeymelb]

Re: Binging in Duty Free from bangkok to Mebourne

Hi i have a 10 hour stop over in bangkok, and wanting int know 2 things.

1. can i buy duty alcohol in the shops at the airport and take it on the plane?

2. what can i do in bangkok for 5-7 hours?

1. You can buy alcohol @ BKK Airport after you disembarked and cleared security. The security checks has moved, it is no longer before the boarding gate. (Provided it is sealed properly with "King Power Duty Free" clear plastic bags.)

2. Go and get a massage at the airport that should get rid of 1 to 2 hours. Go to CoffeeWorld use their Free WiFi. Go down to transit hotel and take a long hot shower before boarding your flight. Or if you dare, clear immigration and go to Bangkok city join the Red Shirts for a rowdy party.

Personally, I much prefer to transit at SIN for 10 hours than BKK... there's very little to do there.

 

[sammm]

So who is right?

one guy wrote this

You cannot purchase Duty Free Alcohol (>100ml) in BKK and carry onto an aircraft destined for Australia. You will undergo a gate check of all carry-on bags and any non-compliant LAGS will be confiscated.

another wrote this

1. You can buy alcohol @ BKK Airport after you disembarked and cleared security. The security checks has moved, it is no longer before the boarding gate. (Provided it is sealed properly with "King Power Duty Free" clear plastic bags.)

2. Go and get a massage at the airport that should get rid of 1 to 2 hours. Go to CoffeeWorld use their Free WiFi. Go down to transit hotel and take a long hot shower before boarding your flight. Or if you dare, clear immigration and go to Bangkok city join the Red Shirts for a rowdy party.

Personally, I much prefer to transit at SIN for 10 hours than BKK... there's very little to do there.

so i still do not know for sure.

 

[joeymelb]

If you bought your alcohol in LHR or another port and transit at BKK, your duty free will be confiscated.

If you transit at BKK and purchased alcohol at BKK Airport using authorised shop + necessary security seals... etc your duty free purchase will be allowed on board for your flight back to MEL. Provided that MEL is your last port of call.

Liquid, gel and spray bought from duty free shops at the airport shall be placed in the sealed zipped plastic bag and shall have evidence stating the date of the purchase, which shall be the travel date, However, each country has it’s own rules in taking liquid on board. Information can be obtained from the airline, with which you are travelling, before buying the goods.

Source: :: Suvarnabhumi Airport :: Gateway to Asia

Hope that clears the air. I had no problem buying a couple of bottles of Bailey's and brought them onboard my TG flight to MEL last time I traveled.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Binging in Duty Free from bangkok to Mebourne

Returning back to SYD from BKK airport in early January 2010 and was asked for my destination and when I mentioned Australia they refused to sell me duty free alcohol.

Apparently it is a directive from Australia and nothing to do with the liquids and gels rule.

 

[serfty]

I think things are changing at BKK now they have separated arrivals from departures.

If they do bag searches for QF2 (like at HK for all Oz bound flights) then the answer is definitely no. If they do not do bag searches then you may be able to have the stuff delivered to the gate (although I fail to see why this is necessary with arrivals and departures separated, unlike at SIN).

 

[Danger]

I can't comment on BKK specifically. However, I suffered confiscation of duty free alcohol while in transit (I never left the secure area/airside) at HKG in early March this year (coming from PVG, heading to Perth). When I returned I got in touch with the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure who provided this reasoning:

I understand from your explanation, that you were required to surrender his oversized liquid, aerosol and gel (LAG) product at the security screening point at Hong Kong airport.

The restrictions on the carriage of LAGs apply to international flights to and from Australia. This security measure restricts the amount of LAGs that can be taken through the screening point in carry-on baggage for international flights into, out of and through Australia. Passengers are only able to take LAGs, including duty free liquids, through security screening points if they are in containers of 100ml or less and contained in a transparent, resealable plastic bag that has a volume of no more than one litre.

Where an international flight transits at an international airport before arriving in Australia, airlines are expected to inform passengers of the aviation security requirements in Australia, including the LAGs measures. Duty free stores overseas have also been informed of Australian requirements.

At some last ports of call into Australia, the retailer may deliver duty free goods to the boarding gate after the screening point, allowing the passenger to take these goods on board [I think SIN is an example of this]. However, retailers at Hong Kong airport do not provide this service due to the large number of gates.

The National Aviation Policy White Paper, released in December 2009, addresses this issue by proposing an amendment to the regulations primarily affecting oversized duty free liquid purchases. The White Paper state the purpose of the proposed amendment to the Australian regulatory requirements as “to allow some duty free purchases to remain on board aircraft during transitional stops on international flights and as a result avoid the need to rescreen these items”.

The proposed amendment referenced in the White paper concerning restrictions for the carriage of LAGs onboard an aircraft is yet to be included in Australian aviation security legislation.

In June 2009, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government launched a TravelSECURE website to help promote awareness of LAGs requirements. Information for international travellers is available at http://travelsecure.infrastructure.gov.au/international/lags/index.aspx.

I trust that this information is helpful.
​

As for F1rst Duty Free in Australia, I find them to be a rip-off. Departing PER yesterday I purchased a 1L bottle of Canadian Club and a 1L bottle of Bombay Saphire Gin for $52. I arrive at Changi and 1L of Bombay is SGD27. I also checked the price of a couple of men's toiletries and they were significantly cheaper up here. I'm glad I didn't pre-order booze for my arrival back in PER!

 

[JohnK]

This stinks of protection for Australian duty free stores by the Australian government.

I think things are changing at BKK now they have separated arrivals from departures.

From memory there was no gate security when I departed in early January.

 

[bushtuckerman]

Re: Binging in Duty Free from bangkok to Mebourne

Returning back to SYD from BKK airport in early January 2010 and was asked for my destination and when I mentioned Australia they refused to sell me duty free alcohol.

I have had the same experience as JohnK when departing BKK.

Your Baileys or Chivas Regal or whatever will survive in checked luggage, provided its tightly packed in a few layers of fake 96 jeans and knock-off Quiksilver T-shirts.

Of course, rather than bringing it back, you might consider drinking it on your last night in BKK...and then buy more upon your arrival in Australia. That's a strategy that work for me.

Cheers
Bush

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This stinks of protection for Australian duty free stores by the Australian government.


From memory there was no gate security when I departed in early January.

Hmmm... there WAS a secondary check at the gate when I left mid jan. The check was at the top of the stairs before going down to the gate.

This was on a late night TG departure.

 

[JohnK]

Hmmm... there WAS a secondary check at the gate when I left mid jan. The check was at the top of the stairs before going down to the gate.

You may well be right.

My memory is bad with these sort of details but I do not remember a walk thorugh metal detector or x-ray screening before proceeding down to the gates. Do they now do a manual random search and rely on people's honesty?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You may well be right.

My memory is bad with these sort of details but I do not remember a walk thorugh metal detector or x-ray screening before proceeding down to the gates. Do they now do a manual random search and rely on people's honesty?

Yup - that's the one. Couple of tables set up and about 4 -5 staff doing a manual search of cabin baggage.

Same as the secondary screening before flights to the USA.

 

[JohnK]

And again relying on my bad memory but not every bag was thoroughly searched. So it is possible to have duty free "slip" through BKK airport while in transit and if you can somehow get staff to sell you duty free with Australia as your final destination.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I just came back from BKK last week and they woudl not seel me alcohol at teh airport

My trip from KL last year they did sell me soem alcohokl, but it was sealed in bags and they brought it to the gate for me.

It wouldn't suprise me if Macquarie has helped to slow the tide of duty free alcohol into the country - unless they get their cut.

Was rather annoyed as the duty free alcohol in BKK is 30% cheaper than syd, and the cigs are like 20-30% cheaper as well.