Duty free wine at Surat Airport?

[islandguy]

Yes, I know it sounds far fetched, but the last two years it seems there is a lot more duty free wine being sold at airports besides Swampy. I am going to fly from Surat to Indonesia, and wonder if that would be a better place to pick up a bottle than my other choice, KL (Air Asia terminal). Appreciate comments based on first hand experience buying or seeing what is at those airports.

[Rooo]

Beware if you are changing flights.

[islandguy]

Lost a bottle at Swampy on a connecting flight when I opened the duty free sealed bag to get the air out, but this time I will be checking in again in KL, so figured I should be able to put it into my checked luggage for the second flight.

[angiud]

AFAIK, there is no duty free at Suratthani airport, but I could be wrong. KL Air Asia terminal a very small one.

[cornishcarlos]

No duty free there that I know of !

But then I never have actually looked for it. There is a small coffee shop and a 7-11 type shop in the departure lounge but nothing else. Could be wrong but think you will be lucky to find anything there..

[Briggsy]

Isn't Surat airport part of the Royal Thai Air Force base there? Never seen any duty free but I could easily have missed it. Maybe you can get some on arrival in Indonesia.

[churchill]

Duty Free Wine , never seen it ...even in BK I think the prices are the same as outside..

Samui duty free I think they add tax rather than deduct

If you find a bottle at surat airport it will probably have been there for years and a very old vintage but totally undrinkable ... imo

Edited October 17, 2013 by churchill

[islandguy]

All of the above are reasonable comments and I am not surprised to hear them. However, I think there is a very real savings possible on bottles of wine at both Samui and Phuket airports between Immigration and customs. Small shops but they do have wine.

[PoorSucker]

Surat to Indonesia.....

Tell me more, what airline..

[cornishcarlos]

All of the above are reasonable comments and I am not surprised to hear them. However, I think there is a very real savings possible on bottles of wine at both Samui and Phuket airports between Immigration and customs. Small shops but they do have wine.

But you asked about Surat airport, not Swampy or Phuket !

[islandguy]

Hi Carlos, I was responding to Churchill's comment:

"Duty Free Wine , never seen it ...even in BK I think the prices are the same as outside..

Samui duty free I think they add tax rather than deduct"

When I mentioned the Samui and Phuket airport shops. As far as Surat as a gateway (dare I say 'hub') to Indo, the Air Asia flight to KL gives access to lots of flights from there into Indonesia. More time, more trouble, but a lot cheaper than Bandit Airways to Singapore and then South, and the Air Asia flights out of Don Muang are not that convenient either.

[cornishcarlos]

Hi Carlos, I was responding to Churchill's comment:

"Duty Free Wine , never seen it ...even in BK I think the prices are the same as outside..

Samui duty free I think they add tax rather than deduct"

When I mentioned the Samui and Phuket airport shops. As far as Surat as a gateway (dare I say 'hub') to Indo, the Air Asia flight to KL gives access to lots of flights from there into Indonesia. More time, more trouble, but a lot cheaper than Bandit Airways to Singapore and then South, and the Air Asia flights out of Don Muang are not that convenient either.

Roger, got ya now

I need a visit to Bali, will check options from Surat via KL..

Good luck on the wine hunt.

[oldsailor35]

Isn't Surat airport part of the Royal Thai Air Force base there? Never seen any duty free but I could easily have missed it. Maybe you can get some on arrival in Indonesia.

Yes, Surat airport belongs to the Airforce and there is talk that they are taking it back as they are building another runway.