Duty Free - Hong Kong/Singapore

[Chrisd26]

Bought duty free on board QF to Sydney - thought prices OK??

Also re HK - plastic knives in the lounge!!! Metal ones on board in J!!

 

[NM]

Note that the QF web site suggests its possible to have DF liquids delivered to the boarding gate at HKG. I have never seen this done in practice. I will try to remember to ask the DF staff on Tuesday and report back. Need something to celebrate my return to Emeraldness after that flight,

While the rule may exist allowing gate delivery of airport-purchased DF liquids at HKG (per QF's web site), I was unable to find a duty-free retail shop at HKG that provides such a service to customers departing to Australia.

So I purchased a bottle of Glenmorangie Original onboard by CX flight (HKD270), which was better value than purchasing on arrival into BNE.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Bought duty free on board QF to Sydney - thought prices OK??Also re HK - plastic knives in the lounge!!! Metal ones on board in J!!

Yes agree, either incompetence or paranoia !

 

[awilcockson]

Well that sucks, I was planning on picking up some cheap duty free booze on the way back from HKG tomorrow. Stupid rules. Now I'm seriously considering taking a small checked back purely so I can buy in HKG and check it in on the way back to Australia ...

 

[yohy?!]

Had a problem transitting ZRH with forgetting to check in some moisturiser bought duty free (75% cheaper than Oz rrp). Fortunately they let me go back through immigration, check in my roller board (at no charge, thanks LX!) then reclear to go to my flight.

Almost worth trying something similar in HK - buy duty free on arrival, clear immigration, check bag in, re-clear immigration and board flight - up yours LAG regulations!

Couple of months back they were selling Russian Standard 1l for $120HKD ($16AUD)!

 

[awilcockson]

Almost worth trying something similar in HK - buy duty free on arrival, clear immigration, check bag in, re-clear immigration and board flight - up yours LAG regulations!

That should work, right?

Buy duty free grog on arrival in HKG, then throw it in a small case and check that in for the flight home?

 

[Mal]

That should work, right?

Buy duty free grog on arrival in HKG, then throw it in a small case and check that in for the flight home?

Yep will work, subject to the duty free rules in hkg. I didn't think the arrivals range was extensive though.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[awilcockson]

Yep will work, subject to the duty free rules in hkg. I didn't think the arrivals range was extensive though.

Thanks mate, I'll give it a go. Got to be cheaper than the ripoff duty free prices in Brisbane (and they don't even give you QF FF points any more!)

 

[perthflyer]

I was in HKG in May and was shocked not to be able to purchase Alcohol, as the week before I had purchased Alcohol in DXB on my way back through to PER. I think it has something to do with the security screening. From memory they don't screen your bags again in DXB at the gate?

 

[scsto]

Before you go anywhere, check the price at Dan Murphy's or First Choice. Frequently they are cheaper than DF. This is especially true for more expensive wines and champagne. Dom, La Grand Dame, etc are frequently less expensive than in the DF.
On a trip two years back I spoke with a staff member at the DF, - turned our she was actually a rep for one of the champagne houses - they are now blending specival cuvee's (is that the right word?) for the DF channel, as they recognise the problem. In 2007 a bottlr of La Grand Dame at HK was $320 AUD, you can pick them up at under $200 now and again. I got a mailer that had Dom at $199 - i thnink it was Vintage Cellars.

So, rather than support the DF, support your local duoply!
T.

 

[rothesaylass]

I had the same problem last month flying HK to Perth.
Was just advised that liquids could not be taken on board flights to AUS
(no problems in Singapore in June)
I asked QF crew and they didn't understand either.
Sounds as though someone in HK has got the wrong end of the stick.
If our govt was in fact protecting our DF outlets, the rules would apply to all departure ports I would have thought.

 

[Musongman]

QF/BA from BKK will not allow DF to be brought on board, and cannot be sent ahead to your aircraft in any other way either. In fact BKK DF are prohibited from even selling it to SYD bound pax.This is definitely about protecting Sydney DF, as 2 for 1 prices are sooo cheap in BKK! I am guessing that other carriers such as TH etc give SYD DF the finger?

 

[Bunty]

How about KUL, JNB, MNL?,

As I recall, KUL, does allow Duty Free on MAS and deliver to the Gate. Prices are not bad.

 

[vetrade]

I came back from Heathrow via HK at the end of October and people had grog confiscated at HK during screening for the HK - Melb leg.
That was still fresh in my memory when I read not long after that (can't remember where) that the rules governing this were to be scrapped in the new year.

Grog is significantly more expensive on arrival at Melb than at Heathrow but we were also surprised that prices in HK were well above Heathrow as well.
I have found I can save myself the trouble of buying duty free by stocking up on my Chivas for much the same price when it's on special at the local supermarket - and they will deliver it for me.

 

[lagerbay]

I find it is much cheaper to buy alcohol in normal retail outlets in HKG and I just pack it very carefuly in my checked luggage...

 

[luxon]

Returned from Bangkok last July and was advised I could not purchase duty free in Bangkok to take on a flight to Sydney - Thai Airways.

 

[roadsn1]

Australia talks about free trade when it suits the government. Duty Free Alcohol in Australia is a rip off. Airfares for international travel ex Australia is a rip off. Compare USA to Australia with Australia to USA. Try the UK route as well. Cruise prices are much more in Australia.
Our Government enforces rules when it suits its friends not the travelling public. Boycott the monopoly Airport Duty Free Stores of Australia. They seem to have the highest prices with add ons like $1 a bag, Credit Card surcharge.

 

[blaz]

every airport has different rules re movement and security of liquids (over 100ml) so you need to check with that airport and the minimum time between purchase and delivery (in sealed bags with receipts) to the gate at departure. It also depends on the rules of the country that you are travelling to (in this case australia )....however australia will soon be relaxing the rule on liquids as they now have the technology to detect fluids used for explosives....yahhh!

 

[Onepoppa]

I have found it impossible to buy duty free liquor at BKK. It is said that this is due to Australian Regulations which is a load of bull***t. I don't believe that there is any such regulation - and remember that this country is almost unique insofar as our prohibition on more than 100ml of liquids was enshrined in statutory regulations, not just a policy. Anyway it is about to be lifted.

What has been a problem for many passengers is where they have bought duty free liquor only to find it confiscated when they board another flight in Australia. This is more than an occasional annoyance with so many passengers routed to the destinations by transferring flights in Sydney, but these days also with Jetstar flights where the first Australian landfall is CNS or OOL. Unless your initial Australian landfall is also your destination forget the duty free - it will be confiscated.

 

[serfty]

... Unless your initial Australian landfall is also your destination forget the duty free - it will be confiscated.

To avoid doubt; this is ONLY true if your ongoing flight departs from an "international" terminal.

QF9 SIN-MEL followed by QF420 MEL-SYD would be fine as the are no LAG restrictions for "Domestic" flights.