Duty Free - Hong Kong/Singapore

[Austman]

So is it that the BKK airport does not want to make the appropriate arrangements, or is the DF stores, or is it the OZ Guvment that does not regard this final security check as adequate???

And the whole charade does not seem to apply out of NOU or AKL.

The Australian Govenment seems to point the finger at the DF stores. The rule is they must deliver the DF to the gate. Exemptions seem to be made for airports that centrally screen and ban all LAGs (even ones in tamper-proof bags) before the departure area. That's the case in AKL. Is it the case in NOU?

 

[whughes3]

Where is the LAG check done at MNL? Is it at the gate or centrally (with no exceptions for tamper-proof bags)? And if you bought a >100ml of perfume, that would be banned for flights to Brunei too I suspect.

(according to CX, tamper-proof bags are allowed though MNL security. If so, that would be the problem and aslso a reason for a secondary gate check)

The primary carry-on checks at MNL are done immediately after immigration, well prior to the D/F stores and the gate (a secondary manual search is usually done at the gate also). I fact, I recall that the primary check was actually moved to be before the D/F outlets in the wake of the initial liquid scare; it used to be after them.

I can only repeat: what is so special about Australia?

 

[Austman]

Did a bit more research.

In the carry-on LAG rules for flights to Australia, there exists exempt LAG items that can only be purchased in an 'exempt' country and exempt duty free items that can be purchased elsewhere.

Summary: If your flight is from NZ or USA you can buy carry-on duty free in the departure area and immediately take it with you. If your flight is from any other country it must be delivered to the boarding gate (and meet some other points) or purchased on board.

It is the airline operator who will be fined if the rules are broken.

And the details:

From Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005, amended to 21 November 2011:

Exempt LAG items:
A LAG product (including a duty free item or an item supplied by the aircraft operator) is an exempt LAG item, if:
(a) the LAG product is in the possession of a passenger travelling on an aircraft that is operating an inbound international air service to Australia from an airport in an exempt country; and
(b) the passenger passed through a screening point for international passengers at the airport in the exempt country before boarding the aircraft; and
(c) the passenger obtained the LAG product after he or she passed through the screening point and before he or she boarded the aircraft; and
(d) the passenger did not disembark and reboard the aircraft in a non-exempt country during the international air service, unless the passenger did so as the result of an unscheduled stop.

An exempt country means: New Zealand or the United States of America.

Exempt duty free items:
An exempt duty free item, in relation to a passenger who will arrive in Australia on an aircraft operating an inbound international air service, means a duty free item that:
(aa) is acquired at an airport retail outlet at the point of origin of the flight, or a port of call before reaching Australia, at which all goods for sale:
(i) undergo security screening at the point of entry to the airport; and
(ii) are protected from unlawful interference by a process of supply chain security from the time they are delivered to the airport; and
(a) is collected by the passenger at the boarding gate before boarding the aircraft for departure from the airport where the item was acquired; and
(b) is in a sealed plastic bag with proof of purchase by the passenger affixed to the bag, or enclosed in the bag, so that proof of purchase is visible.

 

[serfty]

...
And the details:

... Exempt duty free items: ...
(a) is collected by the passenger at the boarding gate before boarding the aircraft for departure from the airport where the item was acquired; and
(b) is in a sealed plastic bag with proof of purchase by the passenger affixed to the bag, or enclosed in the bag, so that proof of purchase is visible.

That's what they do at SIN.

 

[whughes3]

Did a bit more research.

In the carry-on LAG rules for flights to Australia, there exists exempt LAG items that can only be purchased in an 'exempt' country and exempt duty free items that can be purchased elsewhere.

Summary: If your flight is from NZ or USA you can buy carry-on duty free in the departure area and immediately take it with you. If your flight is from any other country it must be delivered to the boarding gate (and meet some other points) or purchased on board.

It is the airline operator who will be fined if the rules are broken.

And the details:

This does explain what I experienced; but out of curiousity, just how and at what point would such a breach of the rules be detected?

 

[Austman]

For those who claim that the processes for flights to Australia do not apply to flights to the US (photo taken last night at SIN). Sorry about the reflections, it says "For US or Australia direct flights" :

 

[ethernet]

Well, the only conclusion is that .au .gov thinks un-screened products may be sold from the DF shop somehow, and the screening before the DF shop may be somehow bypassed at particular airports.

Unfortunately Australian DF is now >10% dearer, and I make sure I tell them they lost a sale as my arrival airport just sms'ed me the price there and show the Dubai list. Match or loose the sale. They look miserable and dark when I walk.

I normally buy one liter of Aust DF booze, and transfer it to a softdrink bottle, and toss the 1kg glass container.
On arrival OS I buy 1 or 2 litres. At a certain airport that does not allow DF back to Australia, never been a problem
on the way out. In all honesty, this ensures the OS duty free gets all my money and profits, and SFA for Australian DF, who on a global basis, deserve it for being retarded. 2nd bottle usually drunk, and 3rd bottle gets the softdrink container treatment too and into checked in luggage. In a woeful fit, Australian Arrival DF offer a 2 bottle DF price, always cheaper than departure, but I have saved time and walk past them. http://www.dubaidutyfree.com/Listings-10.pdf is updated often.

If the .au .gov thinks these rules are protecting their mates at who own the DF shopping centers, they are 100% wrong.

 

[Austman]

If the .au .gov thinks these rules are protecting their mates at who own the DF shopping centers, they are 100% wrong.

If you could give one shred of factual evidence that this is true, it would be good. Or even quote a newspaper or a TV show or a reporter or the like that agrees.

It might be more interesting to look at the airport owners/operators.

 

[ShaneN]

I find your post quite bizarre. Are you aware that liquor in a soft drink bottle in checked baggage still counts in the duty free allowance.

 

[ethernet]

Yes, and PET containers don't leak or get broken in the suitcase (and believe me , baggage gets rough treatment) , and the 1kg saved means I can bring more shopping back. The malt Scotch goes into a glass decanter when I get back , and does not suffer in plastic.

I always make truthful declarations - and to date the customs guys just wave me through - its not worth their bother.
Yes, and at the end of the day will only carry my legal entitlement in - or a tad more. I also believe opening the bottle, or transferring it to the wrong container - this process marks the contents as 'condemned' and has a zero duty rating , but still liable for excise on alcohol content. (plus GST). If this amount is less than $50 or some magic value that they don't tell, 99% of the time , they just wave you on. I have also declared a handful of miniatures over the limit, and also waved on.

I suspect customs officers are looking for the ones who are in on the resell racket, or attempting to deprive the local DF shops - busting Britons with 6 weeks worth of smokes from Dubai seems common, while the others would rather catch a drug mule, or someone with undeclared food.

As for the Airport DF Shops - believe me they are suffering big - the rent is killing them, the GFC has made a little dent,
but now the price of so many goodies is under $1000 - direct online shopping is also cutting into Camera lines and the like.
I suspect their buy price is higher than their American counterparts. Volume static, rents up, costs up, price of electronic gizmos down. I suspect they are preying for the liquids rule to change, or SACL to show mercy on the rent side.

The Australian DF Shops have now earned a reputation for being expensive (and HK) , Changi and BKK are happy to
take the money, if even only slightly cheaper. Personally I think their range is coughpy and limited - not a patch on Dubai.
Combined with first impressions (at the airport) , I am not sure if Australia 'gets' the tourism experience.
Moving from 40th place to 20th? The World's Top 20 Airports in 2012
is a start.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hoping for some help to settle an argument.
Is it possible to purchase perfume under 100ml at duty-free in LHR, unwrap and put into personal LAG clear bag and take on CX flight to SYD via HKG?

 

[serfty]

Hoping for some help to settle an argument.
Is it possible to purchase perfume under 100ml at duty-free in LHR, unwrap and put into personal LAG clear bag and take on CX flight to SYD via HKG?

Should not be a problem (as long as your 'litre'/'quart' clear baggy has room).

FWIW, I have so carried 2 or 3 50ml minitures of spirit in my baggy one or thrice ...

 

[Princess Fiona]

Should not be a problem (as long as your 'litre'/'quart' clear baggy has room).

FWIW, I have done place 2 or 3 50ml minitures of spirit in my baggy one or thrice ...

Thankyou !
I think I won the argument

 

[ethernet]

I saw 6 metres of bottled water waiting to go through a scanner at Sydney Airport. The security goons gave 100% priority to the 100's in the line, and the hapless delivery boy/man waited and waited and waited.

This proves three things.
1) That WATER is clearly identified on the scanners, but refused to create a demand and market on the other side.
2) Aust. gov. suspects HK and Thailand delivery boys to the DF shops routinely bypass the scanners.
3) The attractive girl I know who delivers flowers and roses to Syd Airport - well she waits and waits - no special treatment, ever! As she has been vetted and has a pass, I presume the risk profile is ignored and the policy of blindly scan everything (except the PM) and DFAT bags is in force. (note in USA embassy addressed look-alike bags WERE loaded with cocaine).

I conclude trade protection. and a lack of application of risk analysis. After 10 years, that record is playing thin.

 

[drewbles]

I saw 6 metres of bottled water waiting to go through a scanner at Sydney Airport. The security goons gave 100% priority to the 100's in the line, and the hapless delivery boy/man waited and waited and waited.

This proves three things.
1) That WATER is clearly identified on the scanners, but refused to create a demand and market on the other side.
2) Aust. gov. suspects HK and Thailand delivery boys to the DF shops routinely bypass the scanners.
3) The attractive girl I know who delivers flowers and roses to Syd Airport - well she waits and waits - no special treatment, ever! As she has been vetted and has a pass, I presume the risk profile is ignored and the policy of blindly scan everything (except the PM) and DFAT bags is in force. (note in USA embassy addressed look-alike bags WERE loaded with cocaine).

I conclude trade protection. and a lack of application of risk analysis. After 10 years, that record is playing thin.

Every liquid has to go through security in every airport, regardless of its size. It's also quite possible documentation from the supplier is throughly checked as well.

Also keep in mind that Nuance-Watson effectively has a global monopoly on Duty Free (except in NZ where they tried to muscle out DFSNZ but i still spend every dollar with them over NW where I can).

 

[Danger]

At Singapore airport today, I purchased 1L of Bacardi Mojito for SGD22.30 and 1L of Canadian Club whisky for SGD21.10. At market rates right now, that's a piddly AUD17.53 and AUD16.58. Soon, it may be cheaper to buy alcohol at overseas duty free outlets than it is to buy a bottle of water at an Australian airport.

 

[ethernet]

Good price. At Aussie DF, Canadian Club (lowest) was 2 for $49 same for JW Red. Cointreau $30, Drambuie $48.
Need I say the really high quality stuff, is proportionally overpriced

Yes, the stuff going into the terminal IS scanned, but why bother when FREIGHT and airport traffic is a whole new kettle of fish. The not so secret reports on wharfs being riddled with employees of impure attitude. Why should airport staff be much different? Multiple lots of 50 or 100mls could be accumulated .. Justifiable qualitative and quantitative analysis is absent (took a bikie to reform that a bit). When events approach lottery ticket odds, things need to reviewed to a price point.

 

[sweens]

Just flew back from HK last week and not realising the HK no DF policy on alcohol saleson flights to AU and the USI went to buy a pack of Chivas 2 x1L of 12 yo and 1 x 200mil 18yo...cost in HK HK$550 about $70 AUD.

The sale was refused so I purchased the same pack in SYD when I landed...cost $89 AUD plus 1.5% for Cr card plus another $1 if I wanted a cheap yellow bag to carry it in!

Just another case of Aust DF being totally over the top for pricing.

 

[ethernet]

SYD: 20% off on arrival DF Voucher. (Just one shop only) for everyone (may still be on). May be the best of worst options for 2nd Tier airports that prevent outbound to .au

Around Terminal 24 in Sydney, is a COLLECT ON RETURN ONLY to .AU ONLY DF Shop. If you walk in then start walking out, you may be offered a 20% off voucher on most things like booze. Or you can spot the vouchers, then ask. Looks like it is in a lousy position, with high costs, near where Chinese airlines and Scoot fly out of. Even with 20% off vouchers, still smells morbid and deserted of punters. Anyway I purchased 2 bottles of Drambuie with 20% off, to discover Singapore and Batam both cheaper.

I stirred up the outside DF shops by showing digital photographs of Singapore's prices and demanded price match.
They said they could or would not match, and I replied, too bad, you get nothing - shape up or ship out.
They had the same chintzy 2 for 1 deals

Pickup was a breeze, and quick though, and I saved the lugging. Lesson. Forget about Syd D/F, but this is an unadvertised option. Also looking many 5% off inbound coupons laying about. (I suspect .cn pax get given them, see the inflated prices and drop em, knowing everywhere else is cheaper ).

I may be imagining it, but I though .sg prices were more keenly priced, while .au prices never drop inline with favorable currency movements.

 

[Awesom Andy]

These days, even the duty free shops in SIN aren't that well priced - on a number of occasions, I found the duty free "shop" on the plane to be cheaper than the SIN shops. Having said that, I wouldn't even consider pausing for a look in the SYD store, not without a 30-40% discount anyway. I now know, off by heart, the shortest path through the DF stores in SYD, for both outbound and inbound. Hopefully they won't move the shelves.