Alcohol in delayed luggage

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Wannabee

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I had the pleasure of my luggage not arriving after my SEA-LAX-SYD flight yesterday. Reported it missing and got the report number for the online form which now says it should be arriving in SYD this morning.

Dies anyone know what the customs process is for the baggage? I'm curious as it has (hopefully) two bottles of bourbon in it.

Obviously this is within my allowance. Do I now pay duty on it as it is now not accompanying a passenger technically?
 
When I've had bags arrive on a later flight from international, I wasn't questioned about the contents, or whether I had anything to declare. It was just accepted by Qantas staff ex customs and delivered to my house. Whether or not the bags were opened and inspected by Customs, I don't know. YMMV.

I don't think you will need to pay duty as its unaccompanied.

BTW, don't be surprised if the bags don't arrive when promised. When this happened to me once, and there was some consequences on it, I ended up asking the Tas State manager to investigate why, over a number of days, I was given incorrect info as to where the bags actually were, and when they might clear customs. He got the word from senior baggage guy in MEL (IIRC) and they said that although they (MEL) can be advised by LAX (say) that the bags ore on a certain flight, MEL doesn't actually know that the bag will be here until it comes out land side of customs. Late bags are the first to be offloaded from a flight for weight or any other reason. the 'system' can say anything - that doesn't mean the bag is where it says it is.
 
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Luggage has an accompanying pax, just on a slightly different time scale.

You didn't know bags weren't there when you presented your arrival card to Customs so you have declared it.

If within allowance no more duty is required.

Question is whether anyone would have noticed if you had 2 bottles with you and 2 more in the delayed bags?

Perhaps that's why you buy duty free before going through the customs gates ... makes it hard to go back and get DF if your bags are delayed.
 
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You didn't know bags weren't there when you presented your arrival card to Customs so you have declared it. ...
not quite ... On arrival into Oz you do immigration, collect bags (if they show up) and then proceed to customs.

So you would know your bags had not arrived before customs
 
Got a SMS and a call saying bag is in Sydney and with Qantas. Will be couriered today.

As disappointing as it isn't having bags arrive, I can't fault the whole handling of it really. Well so far anyway.

Although it does surprise me that when I reported it missing they didn't know where it even was. I thought they would be able to tell if it had made it to LAX etc.
 
not quite ... On arrival into Oz you do immigration, collect bags (if they show up) and then proceed to customs.

So you would know your bags had not arrived before customs

Yep, that is right. I meant that you would have completed and signed the declaration before arriving at the immigration check (which is a customs officer).

But you are correct in that by the time you clear the customs hall you would have bags or know they are missing. However, by then your card has essentially been processed at the first checkpoint... unless you tell someone, and/or amend your card, they may not know or care about your bags/duty free.
 
Bag arrived. Not even opened by TSA or Australian customs. Was delivered by courier which would have been expensive given I live 2 hours away from the airport.

Big thumbs up to Qantas but boo to Alaskan. Turns out if didn't make it out of Seattle
 
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