Taking Duty Free from HKG to Australia

[RTWtraveler]

We regularly purchase alcohol at AKL Duty Free and carry it onto the flight to SYD, and not sealed in a customs bag. We just returned from Zurich, through Hong Kong. In Zurich Duty Free I purchased a nice scotch, they sealed it in a customs bag. In Hong Kong we passed through the first screening, but had it confiscated at the check as we boarded the flight to SYD. At that point why can't the article be taken back to the gate and checked as baggage? I have check Smart Traveler and could not find a warning about this.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We regularly purchase alcohol at ALK Duty Free and carry it onto the flight to SYD, and not sealed in a customs bag. We just returned from Zurich, through Hong Kong. In Zurich Duty Free I purchased a nice scotch, they sealed it in a customs bag. In Hong Kong we passed through the first screening, but had it confiscated at the check as we boarded the flight to SYD. At that point why can't the article be taken back to the gate and checked as baggage? I have check Smart Traveler and could not find a warning about this.

I'm not sure if HKG is equipped for the gate checking of bags? I guess they must have some system, for example strollers, or for people who have too much baggage for the cabin, but this would be the exception rather than the rule.

Further complication would present themselves with the storage of bottles of alcohol in the hold, and how to get those bottles back to passengers (what do they sit in while being delivered to the baggage reclaim on arrival in Australia?).

Flights to Australia are required to have the gate check for liquids. This also affects many (but not all) flights to the USA. Many passengers get caught out by it, not only at HKG, but places like BKK as well. Expensive lesson, but you only do it once.

 

[serfty]

NZ and USA are among the countries exempt from regulation re bringing liquid volumes in bottles > 100ml in Australia.

Departures from many other countries require a bag search on boarding.

 

[mannej]

This isn’t new.

Some airports will ask you if your final stop is australia, and if so won’t sell you LAGs over 100mls due to this.

 

[Dr Ralph]

This isn’t new.

Some airports will ask you if your final stop is australia, and if so won’t sell you LAGs over 100mls due to this.

Agree not new at all.

Had my bag searched at the gate for liquid for every trip I took to the US via Hong Kong this year. Many people, though, caught out.