Taking beer on a plane as a checked bag

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by KingHenry, May 22, 2012.

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  1. KingHenry

    KingHenry Zealot (588) Nov 25, 2009 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I did a search and couldn't find anything, its not really beer trading but figured that would be where the info would reside. Im Really interested in bringing/trading beers on a future trip. Is anyone familiar with the rules regarding taking brews with you on a plane, if it makes a difference between airline it would be delta. I have read posts about this in the past but can't seem to find a central location for specifics. Any info or reccomendations would be appreciated,
    Thanks
    Nick.
     
  2. NWer

    NWer Pooh-Bah (2,145) Mar 10, 2009 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I've checked a lot of booze in a lot of luggage and never had a problem.
    I never asked them if it was OK & I've never heard of anyone else having a problem.
     
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  3. mhenson42

    mhenson42 Maven (1,409) Nov 20, 2011 Texas
    Trader

    I just brought about 8 22oz bottles home from a recent trip. I just bought bubble wrap and wrapped them up good that way I didn't have to worry about TSA moving them around if they inspected. It didn't appear that they did. One time when my kid was a baby, I checked a suitcase full of beer and diapers. Diapers made great padding and if a bottle broke, no leaks.
     
  4. LambicKing

    LambicKing Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Germany

    I flew Delta from Belgium on my last trip from there...and I brought 4 bags. 3 of them were large, plastic, wheeled boxes...each weighing 70 lbs, chock full of beer and packing material. 48 750s in total. No problems whatsoever.

    mhenson42 - man, diapers is a great idea! I'll have to give that a shot if I can't find enough bubblewrap this next trip.
     
  5. Ronnie_Lemaster

    Ronnie_Lemaster Initiate (0) May 10, 2012 Michigan

    So how much did the luggage fees and customs charges cost you?
     
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  6. WillCarrera

    WillCarrera Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2010 Ohio

    that is awesome
     
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  7. LambicKing

    LambicKing Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Germany

    Each box cost me 100 Euros (I believe)...initially some sticker shock, but considering the contents it would have been much more if I ordered 48 bottles of my favorites online. Customs charges were zero...I assume since I declared on paper and verbally, for personal consumption.
     
  8. Ronnie_Lemaster

    Ronnie_Lemaster Initiate (0) May 10, 2012 Michigan

    I have included bottles in a checked suitcase many times in the past. Normally it's just a bomber or two. I usually seal them in plastic and then wrap them in t-shirt and then try to make sure they're isolated from anything hard. More recently I brought home two bottles of Pliny from a golf trip to California using these: http://vinnibag.com/. I packed them with my golf clubs in a soft-sided golf travel bag and they came through fine. The Vinni Bags may be a bit of overkill, particularly if your packing a bunch of small bottles. There are some cheaper options along the same lines available on amazon.
     
  9. TheRealDBCooper

    TheRealDBCooper Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2010 Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands

    The only issue I've ever heard of is out of San Francisco due to the wine crowd failing to pack properly, though I never had a problem going through there.
     
  10. BruceBruce

    BruceBruce Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2011 Texas

    I brought back a box weighing 49 lbs (over 50 is charged with southwest) and then my suitcase full of beer wrapped in my clothes and literally had to carry on a bunch of hanger clothes so it was underweight, no problems. Done it every time I have flown the last few years. You will be fine.
     
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  11. leprakhan

    leprakhan Zealot (731) Dec 28, 2009 California

    I flew out of Oakland n asked if I could fly with some "goods." They said as long as it is properly wrapped and not just wrapped in my clothes. (Well they were just wrapped in my clothes) So I fessed up and admitted so. The employee then offered some of the best bubble bottle bags I have ever used for 2$ a piece. They hold 2 22ozs or 3 12ozs. I was happy to wrap them with these bubble packs. It's alot cheaper than buying all new clothes and suitcase
     
  12. strohme2

    strohme2 Pooh-Bah (1,927) Nov 3, 2007 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Done it a few times flying back from San Diego. Last trip I checked a 14x14x14 cardboard box (on Delta) securely taped up on the outside and plenty of bubble wrap on the inside with name and address clearly written. I was a little worried at how the box wold arrive but had no problem and the box was not damaged in the least bit.

    Other times just for my peace of mind I pack my beers in a drybag and stuff it well in a suitcase. In case of leakage at least it won't get any of my clothes soaked in beer. I've never had a problem.
     
  13. kscaldef

    kscaldef Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2010 Oregon

    I've sent styro shippers as my checked luggage many times, never had any problems. Only once (flying home from SF) got asked what it was ("wine") and if it was packed by a winery ("yes").
     
  14. Agold

    Agold Maven (1,251) Mar 13, 2010 Pennsylvania

    God willing this will be me on my way back from belgium at the end of june.
     
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  15. Steimie

    Steimie Maven (1,404) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    Strongly advise using ziplock bags in addition to whatever bubble wrap or other packaging materials you use. But yeah, it's doable and not really that much of a hassle.
     
  16. Brew33

    Brew33 Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2007 Ohio

    Let me ask a related question. I'm headed out on a weekend trip soon and my checked bag will be my golf bag. I'm planning on squeezing a few bombers into my golf bag. Anyone heard of any issues doing that?
     
  17. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,061) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Do the pressure changes affect the beer at all?
     
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  18. Steimie

    Steimie Maven (1,404) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    Baggage compartment is pressurized just like the cabin, from what I understand. Remember, sometimes Fido flies in the baggage compartment and his eyes would pop out if it wasn't pressurized.
     
  19. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,275) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I think this is a very good idea (wrapping the bottles in bubble wrap). I pack wine and beer in my suitcase all the time and even have a suitcase that is specifically designated as the wine/beer suit case. I have cardboard wine bottle partitions that I fit into the suitcase, and then I also pack bubble wrap on the bottom and over the top. As long as TSA doesn't actually inspect the suitcase, there's never been a problem. However, the times they have inspected it, invariably the suitcase was not packed back up the way it was before. Those are the only times I've had any breakage, and on those rare occassions I probably would have been OK if each bottle had been wrapped individually in bubble wrap.

    So I would just keep in mind that TSA doesn't always employ the best and the brightest, and often times they're just not very careful about repacking any suitcase they inspect. Plan accordingly and you should be OK.
     
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  20. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,061) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Sometimes after a flight you open your bag and your toiletry items have sucked in on themselves quite a bit, something like a shampoo bottle. So it seems there is a certain amount of pressure change going on. But I guess if people have flown with beer and no ill effects, that's all the evidence I need.
     
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