Ok I will be flying back from the UK to Phuket next week & have bought a lot of baby stuff. How best to bring back without getting hammered on taxes??

I was thinking to bring all the new stuff, less the labels, with me & send my personal clothes via excess luggage?

Thoughts or better options appreciated

what sort of baby stuff are you bringing back? if it is simply clothes then I wouldn't think it would be too much of a problem to take the labels off and put it in your checked in luggage. If the baby is coming back at the same time then I think you will get smiles all round and maybe a cuddle from Customs (Thais love babies as you know)

It does really depend on the volume . Excess luggage is rather expensive. have you thought about a paid upgrade giving you an extra luggage allowance?

Anything you bring here that is for personal use in your checked luggage, especially if you remove it from the original packaging so it doesn't look like it's for resale should be fine as long as you're within the weight limits. I think it is still cheaper to pay a bit of excess baggage rather than ship it. But then I never tried shipping from the UK. Shipping here from the US is ridiculous!

Have you considered sending it as unaccompanied luggage . It will be put onto either your flight or maybe another flight but will arrive within a couple of days. Google some local companies who do this and you may be surprised how reasonable the costs are. I think it may be worth investigating.

Have you considered sending it as unaccompanied luggage . It will be put onto either your flight or maybe another flight but will arrive within a couple of days. Google some local companies who do this and you may be surprised how reasonable the costs are. I think it may be worth investigating.

Do that and chances are you will be hit with import duties.

Take it with you, remove the packaging but I would not even bother removing the labels.

No baby, just me!

DId think about unaccompanied luggage, in fact thats my idea. To send my old clothes and for me to bring the baby stuff with me, we have bought a puch chair etc.....

No baby, just me!

DId think about unaccompanied luggage, in fact thats my idea. To send my old clothes and for me to bring the baby stuff with me, we have bought a puch chair etc.....

Air freight will likely cost more the 'old clothes' are worth. Just saying ...

No baby, just me!

DId think about unaccompanied luggage, in fact thats my idea. To send my old clothes and for me to bring the baby stuff with me, we have bought a puch chair etc.....

Air freight will likely cost more the 'old clothes' are worth. Just saying ...

Unaccompanied luggage much cheaper, but the point is not one thats escaped me also!

Am definately looking into the upgrade options.....

\Unaccompanied luggage much cheaper, but the point is not one thats escaped me also!

Am definately looking into the upgrade options.....

Over the years of air travel I have often had way over the weight limit checked baggage. Excess bagage is very expensive per kilo, even upgrade to business or 1st class is even more expensive. Unaccompanied is the way to go, and take the slowest/cheapest option available.

This is looking like my best option, will send the least valuable & lleast needed stuff!

I'll be doing the same next week. I'm not worried about excess baggage charges (Etihad provide enough allowance).

However, a pushchair, basinette, infant car seat and an isofix base, plus a handful of other miscellaneous baby related items... I have considered that customs eyes might light up at all the new boxes.

To do my best to avoid import duty I will remove packaging and labels and wrap in plastic...

I am also on Etihad, with the same plans!!! BUt only 30 kg budy isnt too much

I am also on Etihad, with the same plans!!! BUt only 30 kg budy isnt too much

Both Wife and I travelling... We get about 80 kgs in total...

I think that simply de-packaging & de-labelling the items will keep customs off our tails.

No baby, just me!

DId think about unaccompanied luggage, in fact thats my idea. To send my old clothes and for me to bring the baby stuff with me, we have bought a puch chair etc.....

A friends husband tried the unaccompanied baggage trick (it was dirty work clothes - and I mean well used and scuffed with some items unwashed), Customs asked for duty and after 6 months of haggling and discussion the luggage was handed over with a nominal sum of money. Best option, replace your clothes with the baby clothes (bring only your stuff that is essential and get relatives to bring the rest next visit). Clothes are dutiable, not sure about push chairs, the Thais Customs website is actually quite informative about these things.

Update - Sailed through no worries & the Etihad lady didnt even weigh my stuff once she saw the pushchair!

Update - Sailed through no worries & the Etihad lady didnt even weigh my stuff once she saw the pushchair!

And I'm just about to do the same thing... I just checked and my Wife and I each have 55 kgs luggage allowance (Frequent Flyers) so I'm not worried about that the weight allowance.

I have the pram in a 'Pram Carry Case' along with all the other attachments and fittings inside, including an Isofix car seat base which is quite heavy - Total between about 25 to 30 kgs (with a few other items thrown in for good measure ! - I'm hoping its not over the permissible limit for an individual bag of 32 kgs).

The Car-seat has been packed in a cardboard box - rather deliberately haphazardly taped together (so that it looks home packed, rather than professionally packaged) - The only other option is to use the 'Wrap' at the airport, but I feel that won't prevent the seat from getting scratched etc.

My concern is Customs on the BKK side spotting a 'box' and seeing possible $...

As always, its wise to consider these things, and as always nothing is likely to happen and my Wife and I will I'll sail through without so much as a raised eyebrow (thats it, I've tempted fate now !).

You should be fine, I never even bothered to pack the car seat! Just walked through/)

All was fine.. No issues from customs.

Car Seat in a brown cardboard box.

Pushchair etc and Bassinet in a travel case.

Plus our own baggage (80 kgs in total).

Well done mate!

Funny I'm about to do the same thing from the US - flying into Phuket on Monday. We have 1 extra bag which we're paying for ($200 extra) full of baby stuff. No stroller yet (my parents are bringing that in December) but lots of clothes (sans labels and packaging) and a few other baby items and pregnancy clothes. I didn't even think about the duty - my (Thai) wife and I will be walking through with 5 bags not to mention a few carry-ons. I've never been stopped before - last time we sailed through with 4 bags so I'm hoping that it's the same story this time.

If they do, just get your wife to explain that she is peregnant, - they wont say a word I bet & good luck man!