Duty free alcohol SYD-LHR via SIN

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brisbull

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I am having a bit of trouble deciphering the new rules on limts to liquids over 100mL when flying to London via Singapore.

From what I can see, flying directly to London with duty free grog is allowed, as long as it is in clear plastic bag with its receipt.

However, it would seem that if you are transiting through Singapore (never leaving airside), then they will not allow you through the secutiry checkpoints with any liquids over 100mL, meaning I would loose my bundy. The alternative is to purchase duty free once in SIN, and then re-board with it.

Is this right?

Furthermore, as the flight is the same metal right through form SYD-LHR, could I just leave my liquids on the plane, and not have to go through and security screenings in SIN? Or do they do a sweep of the plane and stock up the in-flight bar by confiscating any liquids left?

Help appreciated, thanks.
 
brisbull said:
... Is this right?
Yes!

brisbull said:
...Furthermore, as the flight is the same metal right through form SYD-LHR, could I just leave my liquids on the plane, and not have to go through and security screenings in SIN? Or do they do a sweep of the plane and stock up the in-flight bar by confiscating any liquids left? ...
You can generally leave them on the plane; in fact YOU MUST do so if you wish to keep your D/F. The CSM normally advised prior to landing the you must place any items you wish to leave on the aircraft in the overhead lockers.

FWIW, There have been reports that you can buy D/F at SIN and have it delivered to your gate.
 
serfty said:
Yes!

You can generally leave them on the plane; in fact YOU MUST do so if you wish to keep your D/F. The CSM normally advised prior to landing the you must place any items you wish to leave on the aircraft in the overhead lockers.

FWIW, There have been reports that you can buy D/F at SIN and have it delivered to your gate.

Ah but you have to be careful. Last week (on QF 32 LHR SYD) all overhead baggage was removed from the aircraft in SIN and had to be checked through security. Gives you a scare when you return to the plane and your laptop is gone. There was certainly no clear warning this was about to happen.

You are correct that you can buy grog at SIN which the shop must seal for you.
 
dragonman said:
Ah but you have to be careful. Last week (on QF 32 LHR SYD) all overhead baggage was removed from the aircraft in SIN and had to be checked through security. Gives you a scare when you return to the plane and your laptop is gone. There was certainly no clear warning this was about to happen.

Ok, and so what happened? I take it that your laptop was returned to you? What about peoples duty free grog?


dragonman said:
You are correct that you can buy grog at SIN which the shop must seal for you.

Maybe this is the all-important question - can you buy Bundy Rum at SIN?
 
Liquids purchased at SINGAPORE are bagged and delivered to the gate for collection. Cannot remember if they have bundy when I was there a few weeks ago!
 
Best shot is to purchase in SIN just to be sure. And the strong A$ means prices in SIN are generally pretty good.
 
Why buy duty free alcohol in Australia, when you can get it much cheaper at SIN airport??? :shock:

When you pay for it at SIN, the cashier will ask your destination and they will seal/deliver accordingly. Infact, now travelling from SIN to Aus, it is much easier since they deliver it to the gate for you! :D

Last time i was there in April, JW black label was 2 x 1.1L for $72 SGD, which at the time was around $60 AUD. The same JW black in Australia was $40 per bottle duty free ($80 AUD total).

You can also get 1L of JW blue in SIN for $220 SGD. Get 2 bottles and make sure you ask if they have any promotions on. They usually give you another 250ml bottle of JW blue free.
 
Bundy isn't available in SIN airport as far as I'm aware.

I've only ever seen it in Australian and New Zealand airports.
 
Chucksta said:
Last time i was there in April, JW black label was 2 x 1.1L for $72 SGD, which at the time was around $60 AUD. The same JW black in Australia was $40 per bottle duty free ($80 AUD total).

Johnny Black 1L or 1.1L? I rarely see 1.1L bottles in duty free outside of Australia/NZ.

Yeah SIN is a touch cheaper, but not always. Additionally, if you get freebies with your spirits, you have to consider whether this affects your duty free limit (eg 1L x2 +250Ml is 50Ml over the 2.2L limit in Australia. If you declare this, then customs could potentially charge you full duty on the entire 2.25L. Then again, they could just tell you to go! Not declaring could also have the same risk)
 
General rule of thumb - unless you know for sure (without a doubt) - do not buy duty free if you are not leaving the airport you are landing at next.

I bought duty free on an LAX - SYD flight, transiting to DRW. Had the goods taken in SYD, as I was transiting to Darwin and did not (could not) clear immigration (so could not put in the hold). As they re-clear transit passengers through security, I had no hope. SYD - DRW was QF123, international flight.

I read the rules after and they are quite right - so don't bother, unless you can pack in your suitcase.

Aparently the domestic liquid restrictions are imminent - by the end of the year, I was informed (by Sydney Customs).

As for leaving puchases on the aircraft - I wonder how long that will last. I would think that was a security risk.

My advice - buy it on arrival. You can never go wrong. I got a bottle of Captain Morgan's spiced rum in LHR (very rare in Aus - and a superb rum) for 10 pounds. If you can get it over here it goes for about A$60.
 
justinbrett said:
Aparently the domestic liquid restrictions are imminent - by the end of the year, I was informed (by Sydney Customs).

Nah, not going to happen by then I think.

If anything, the world is getting sick of Liquid restrictions and will reduce the impose on people flying by then.
 
Mal said:
Nah, not going to happen by then I think.

If anything, the world is getting sick of Liquid restrictions and will reduce the impose on people flying by then.

Well, that was from one of the managers in T1 about 4 weeks ago.
 
I flew a couple of weeks ago SYD-LHR.

CSM told me new rules in SIN meant you had to leave the aircraft and take all cabin baggage with you.
 
brisbull said:
Ok, and so what happened? I take it that your laptop was returned to you? What about peoples duty free grog?
Maybe this is the all-important question - can you buy Bundy Rum at SIN?

Had to leave the plane (having waited at security for 20 mins) get laptop and clear security again. I would say there were 10 other laptops in a pile, as well as coats, Bose headphones etc, waiting to be collected. People bringing unsealed grog to the gate were surrendering it.

Can't help you with the Bundy, sorry.
 
Mal said:
Yeah SIN is a touch cheaper, but not always. Additionally, if you get freebies with your spirits, you have to consider whether this affects your duty free limit (eg 1L x2 +250Ml is 50Ml over the 2.2L limit in Australia. If you declare this, then customs could potentially charge you full duty on the entire 2.25L. Then again, they could just tell you to go! Not declaring could also have the same risk)
The limit for DF into Australia is 2.25 litres. This is exactly 3 x 750ml bottles.

Last time I came inbound, I had just that, 3 x 750ml bottle of scotch. The customs agent at the begining of the queue loked at my bag and said something like "Quite a stash you have there" and I replied, "yep, exactly my 2.25 litre limit" and he smiled and waived me through.

It can be difficult to find 700 or 750ml bottles of scotch at some places. I found Talisker 18yo for SG$77 so had two of them in my DF bag. Unfortunately Laphroiag is difficult to find in less than 1 litre bottles.
 
arrow said:
I flew a couple of weeks ago SYD-LHR.

CSM told me new rules in SIN meant you had to leave the aircraft and take all cabin baggage with you.
Hmmm..

That's a shame. :-|

I have little doubt it is financially motivated; i.e. If you're on a 'direct' Kangaroo Route flight, force PAX to buy their duty free grog in SIN rather than Oz/Eur.
 
justinbrett said:
General rule of thumb - unless you know for sure (without a doubt) - do not buy duty free if you are not leaving the airport you are landing at next.

...

My advice - buy it on arrival. You can never go wrong. I got a bottle of Captain Morgan's spiced rum in LHR (very rare in Aus - and a superb rum) for 10 pounds. If you can get it over here it goes for about A$60.
Pretty good advice there. 'ware the international transit and know your airports.

SIN came up with a solution, I wonder if BKK will. Last time I was there it was not an option to purchase any Liquids as you need to go thru x-ray to get to the gates.

Although, conceivably, you could place ½ dozen 100ml miniatures in a plastic baggy. :shock:
 
NM said:
The limit for DF into Australia is 2.25 litres. This is exactly 3 x 750ml bottles.

Aaah, yes. Indeed! 2.25L, not 2.2L :)

But my advice still applies... If Customs wants to get narky, then they will. I believe Border Security showed a guy this week who was 2 packs over the carton of cigarettes and he was being asked to pay the duty. (Cigarette limit is 250 cigs + 1 open pack). He wasn't happy at all!

Of course limits can be shared subject to the various rules, so this can help in certain situations.
 
Mal said:
... I believe Border Security showed a guy this week who was 2 packs over the carton of cigarettes and he was being asked to pay the duty. (Cigarette limit is 250 cigs + 1 open pack). He wasn't happy at all! ...
IIRC, the guy had <overlimit> smokes and was asked to anti up the duty/excise on the whole lot. Cracked it big time - didn't want to pay the duty - didn't want the cigs - didn't want to sign an acknowledgment of his decision. He was eventually escorted out by some burly security guys.
 
Last edited:
Nah, appears to be 5 packs over his carton according to the show summary on the website below:

Border Security - Australia's Front Line: Episode 4: Monday 23 July | Border Security | News | Throng
A passenger loses his cool in Customs. He’s brought with him five packets of cigarettes over the allowable limit. Although he’s declared them, to keep them all he must pay $100 excess duty and he’s not happy about it. Because the man is so obviously upset – he is not giving Customs a chance to explain the procedure. If he can’t afford to pay the excess now, the receipt officers want to give him will allow him to pick the cigarettes up at a later date. The hostile passenger refuses to hand over his passport and tries to leave the airport. His aggressive behaviour could leave officers with no choice but to call airport security. How will the standoff end?
 
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