Will Immigration take my bottle of duty-free away?

[pollyog]

Hi   My daughter will be flying London Gatwick - Swampy - Phuket in April.   She wants to bring her dad a bottle of duty free whisky purchased at Gatwick, but is worried that the Thai authorities might take it away from her at Bangkok where she has to change planes.    Does anyone know where I can find out about the chances of this happening?

[PJ71]

Why would they take it away?

[Ralf001]

Immigration wont care.

 

Duty free purchase, customs wont care either.

[Puccini]

I believe Thailand still enforces the limit of liquids allowed in hand-carried baggage and security check when boarding the flight to Phuket will have the right to forbid it.

[ukrules]

Unless you can get it into your checked baggage then all liquids are subject to the normal security rules and regulations in force at the point where you leave the 'specially segregated secure arrival zone' and enter into the departure zone.

So yes, when you do a transit stop they will normally take everything off you - consider a general rule of thumb as if you were walking in off the street because that's the same standard that will usually be applied - everywhere.

 

The one caveat here being that it's a domestic flight but I doubt that matters as it likely departs from the same secure zone in the airport. It's all about controlling the flow of materials into this secure zone.

[dinsdale]

1 litre and 1 carton (200) of cigs limit. Australia which has the most expensive cigs in the world has a 1 packet limit.

[Puccini]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

1 litre and 1 carton (200) of cigs limit. Australia which has the most expensive cigs in the world has a 1 packet limit.

 

You are talking about duty-free quotas, aren't you?

 

Everyone else is taking about the limit of liquids allowed when passing through the security check on departure.

[Maestro]

Removed an off-topic post about visa/extension.

[UWEB]

5 hours ago, pollyog said:

Hi   My daughter will be flying London Gatwick - Swampy - Phuket in April.   She wants to bring her dad a bottle of duty free whisky purchased at Gatwick, but is worried that the Thai authorities might take it away from her at Bangkok where she has to change planes.    Does anyone know where I can find out about the chances of this happening?

The Shop must pack it into a sealed Plastic Bag, than it is accepted to take it on board.

[Maestro]

8 minutes ago, UWEB said:

The Shop must pack it into a sealed Plastic Bag, than it is accepted to take it on board.

 

Then it is accepted to take on board at Gatwick.

 

The OP is talking about Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, where his daughter will change to a flight to Phuket. Has anyone reading this had a personal experience with this type of situation?

[MangoKorat]

Her tickets are separate yes?  So she will collect her bags at Bangkok and check them in for the flight to Phuket? As far as I know, provided she puts it in her suitcase in Bangkok and that is checked in as hold luggage, I can't see the problem. 

 

She definitely won't be allowed to hand carry that amount of liquid.

[Tropicalevo]

7 hours ago, pollyog said:

Hi   My daughter will be flying London Gatwick - Swampy - Phuket in April.   She wants to bring her dad a bottle of duty free whisky purchased at Gatwick, but is worried that the Thai authorities might take it away from her at Bangkok where she has to change planes.    Does anyone know where I can find out about the chances of this happening?

Make sure that it is in an official, sealed 'Duty Free plastic bag with the receipt inside. Should be no problem.

The only times that I had whisky 'confiscated' was because the Duty free bag was not sealed.

Sellers assumed that Bangkok was my final destination. They did not realise that I was only in transit there for another flight.

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, MangoKorat said:

She definitely won't be allowed to hand carry that amount of liquid.

She will be OK to carry on if the duty free bag is sealed.

I have done it many times.

[still kicking]

5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

1 litre and 1 carton (200) of cigs limit. Australia which has the most expensive cigs in the world has a 1 packet limit.

I buy my duty free on arrival in Australia but don't smoke anymore 

[still kicking]

I bought 2 bottles of whiskey (1 liter each ) 0n arrival in Perth. 

[impulse]

15 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

She will be OK to carry on if the duty free bag is sealed.

I have done it many times.

 

I can't even carry on a bottle of drinking water.  I find it hard to believe they'd allow booze as carry on.  In her checked luggage, sure.  If, as you say, it's properly packaged.  It won't be immigration or customs issue.  It'll be an airport security issue.

[MangoKorat]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

She will be OK to carry on if the duty free bag is sealed.

I have done it many times.

Are you sure about that?  I think it depends if she is staying airside.  I had some aftershave confiscated on a similar journey.  As I say, I believe it will depend on her staying airside and that is doubtful.

[daveAustin]

Have done this recently with a sealed duty free bag from Heathrow, but was still advised at check in Suvarnabhumi to switch it to suitcase for interval Thai flight. 

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Have done this recently with a sealed duty free bag from Heathrow, but was still advised at check in Suvarnabhumi to switch it to suitcase for interval Thai flight. 

But if your bags are checked through to the final destination???

I fly often from other countries back home. The last leg is always a domestic flight.

If I have check in baggage, it is checked in through to the final airport and I am in transit at Bangkok.

I buy the duty free at the start of my journey and carry it with my carry-on backpack.

The only time that I had a problem was when the shop put the whisky in an 'open' duty free bag.

It was confiscated by security in Bangkok as I was going to the gate for the domestic leg.

Sealed duty free bag works every time.

[UWEB]

30 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

But if your bags are checked through to the final destination???

I fly often from other countries back home. The last leg is always a domestic flight.

If I have check in baggage, it is checked in through to the final airport and I am in transit at Bangkok.

I buy the duty free at the start of my journey and carry it with my carry-on backpack.

The only time that I had a problem was when the shop put the whisky in an 'open' duty free bag.

It was confiscated by security in Bangkok as I was going to the gate for the domestic leg.

Sealed duty free bag works every time.

That's my experience as well.

[daveAustin]

37 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

But if your bags are checked through to the final destination???

I fly often from other countries back home. The last leg is always a domestic flight.

If I have check in baggage, it is checked in through to the final airport and I am in transit at Bangkok.

I buy the duty free at the start of my journey and carry it with my carry-on backpack.

The only time that I had a problem was when the shop put the whisky in an 'open' duty free bag.

It was confiscated by security in Bangkok as I was going to the gate for the domestic leg.

Sealed duty free bag works every time.

Indeed, then you have to do it if bags are right through. Even though Heathrow (and logic) said it would be fine, knowing the whims of Thai officialdom and that Thai Airways domestic check-in said not to risk it, I transferred to suitcase  as it was a bit of a vintage.

[MangoKorat]

10 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

But if your bags are checked through to the final destination???

I believe that is very rare in Thailand. Very few of the long haul carriers have any sort of agreement with domestic airlines.  I think most people book the two flights separately which means collecting your bags on arrival at Suvarnabhumi and checking them in for the domestic flight.

 

That being the case, I wouldn't risk having a bottle confiscated by security in the domestic terminal - when its too late to put it in your bag. Remember, security is after check in.

[Tropicalevo]

41 minutes ago, MangoKorat said:

I believe that is very rare in Thailand. Very few of the long haul carriers have any sort of agreement with domestic airlines.  I think most people book the two flights separately which means collecting your bags on arrival at Suvarnabhumi and checking them in for the domestic flight.

 

That being the case, I wouldn't risk having a bottle confiscated by security in the domestic terminal - when its too late to put it in your bag. Remember, security is after check in.

Sorry but I disagree.

I have lived on the island for more than 20 years and have always been able to check through.

Although, I do sometimes have to tell the originating airport check in desk the code for the airport here. They originally say 'no can do' if you name the place but when I tell them USM - Oh yes.....

I always book one ticket - source to destination. Two, sometimes three flights.

We have many guests flying here on codeshare with the major airlines - they always get their luggage checked through.

Thai (domestic) also do a lot of codeshares.

Over the years, I have flown with Thai, British Airways, KLM, Eva Air, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines etc etc.

 

I suspect that the problem is the 'bucket seat airlines'. Air Asia, Nok Air etc but I rarely fly with them. I have flown with cheaper airlines twice this year - Big mistake. I now have claims with both Viet Jet and Batik Air. They changed flight times meaning that I missed connections both times.

 

To be fair to your comment, my destination is always USM. I never fly to Nakhon Sri Nowhere or wherever.

 

[treetops]

On 12/24/2024 at 5:23 AM, pollyog said:

Does anyone know where I can find out about the chances of this happening?

 

The airport's website?

 

https://suvarnabhumi.airportthai.co.th/service/airport-guide/detail/Liquid_BKK

 

[mikeymike100]

On 12/24/2024 at 12:23 PM, pollyog said:

Hi   My daughter will be flying London Gatwick - Swampy - Phuket in April.   She wants to bring her dad a bottle of duty free whisky purchased at Gatwick, but is worried that the Thai authorities might take it away from her at Bangkok where she has to change planes.    Does anyone know where I can find out about the chances of this happening?

If it is the secure package that that duty free put it in and its not opened, they will check, then no problem!

[newbee2022]

On 12/24/2024 at 1:11 PM, PJ71 said:

Why would they take it away?

Why? To empty by themselves?

[PJUK88]

When purchasing in the UK it MUST be put in a SEALED bag or security in Bangkok will confiscate it.

A major perk for them.

[TTSIssues]

Ok, having just flown from LGW to BKK and on to KBV, I can answer this one for sure.

 

BA do NOT have onward agreements with other airlines in thailand to check baggage through to final destination, even if the onward journey is sold as. BA ticket. 

 

so what you need to do is clear immigration and collect your luggage at BKK, go up to Departures and check it in again with the next airline, even if you already have your boarding pass. 

 

you will NOT be able to hand carry a bottle of whiskey through to your onward flight, so when you collect your case at BKK you can put the bottle inside checked baggage and then check it in.

 

this is 100% certain, as we had to go through this just last week.

 

have a great trip with your family ! 

 

 

[TTSIssues]

16 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Sorry but I disagree.

I have lived on the island for more than 20 years and have always been able to check through.

Although, I do sometimes have to tell the originating airport check in desk the code for the airport here. They originally say 'no can do' if you name the place but when I tell them USM - Oh yes.....

I always book one ticket - source to destination. Two, sometimes three flights.

We have many guests flying here on codeshare with the major airlines - they always get their luggage checked through.

Thai (domestic) also do a lot of codeshares.

Over the years, I have flown with Thai, British Airways, KLM, Eva Air, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines etc etc.

 

I suspect that the problem is the 'bucket seat airlines'. Air Asia, Nok Air etc but I rarely fly with them. I have flown with cheaper airlines twice this year - Big mistake. I now have claims with both Viet Jet and Batik Air. They changed flight times meaning that I missed connections both times.

 

To be fair to your comment, my destination is always USM. I never fly to Nakhon Sri Nowhere or wherever.

 

this is NOT true for BA on the LGW to BKK flight as BA have no agreement with airlines in thailand to send luggage to final destination, even if you book the flights via BA and you have a BA flight number and boarding pass.

 

You MUST collect your luggage in BKK and check it in again.

 

 

[PJ71]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Why? To empty by themselves?

eh?!!!