Taking Wine on Airplanes

We're heading out to California next week, and it just occurred to me that we won't be able to bring back wine bottles on the plane (as we usually do) because of the liquids rule. We go to great lengths not to check bags, so my latest thought is that we should plan to ship them back. However, not being oenophiles, we're probably not going to buy a case at each vineyard; rather, we usually buy one or two bottles at each one. Should I try packing the bottles myself in bubble wrap at the end of the trip and shipping them? What's the most secure and cost-effective way of doing this? I'm sure someone else has encountered this problem since the rule went into effect; any thoughts are appreciated.

We're heading out to California next week, and it just occurred to me that we won't be able to bring back wine bottles on the plane (as we usually do) because of the liquids rule. We go to great lengths not to check bags, so my latest thought is that we should plan to ship them back. However, not being oenophiles, we're probably not going to buy a case at each vineyard; rather, we usually buy one or two bottles at each one. Should I try packing the bottles myself in bubble wrap at the end of the trip and shipping them? What's the most secure and cost-effective way of doing this? I'm sure someone else has encountered this problem since the rule went into effect; any thoughts are appreciated.

A friend of mine recently went to California and wanted to bring back a bunch of 750ml bottles of beer (yes beer). He asked at a liquor store, and the guy was able to sell him a shippable/checkable styrofoam container that was designed to hold a case of wine. He said it worked out great, although of course he ended up buying more than a case worth and he had to give some stuff away before going to the airport. Eyes bigger than [checkable luggage].

A friend of mine recently went to California and wanted to bring back a bunch of 750ml bottles of beer (yes beer). He asked at a liquor store, and the guy was able to sell him a shippable/checkable styrofoam container that was designed to hold a case of wine. He said it worked out great, although of course he ended up buying more than a case worth and he had to give some stuff away before going to the airport. Eyes bigger than [checkable luggage].

Shipping is going to be a lot more expensive than you anticipate. Bring an extra suitcase, bubble wrap and foam pellets. Whatever you would have carried on throw in this bag, up to a limit of about 50 pounds.

Mnay of the inweries you visit will ahve the styrofoam shippers on hand. Buy them and check your wine. Just leave the boxes open until check in and bring some strapping tape to seal them at the airport.

Thanks guys!!

I am heading to Atlanta next weekend for my friends' New Year's Eve party - also housewarming as I think this is their first party since they bought it this past summer.

I know I can't carry on.

I hate checking anything (just plain ol' luggage!) but I guess I gotta. tips?

otherwise, which is the safest/surest way to get this to them? My other option I guess is to scout out a good wine place there and buy when I get there but I will be with them all wkd and won't have a car.

thanks all.

also - any thoughts on the above wine?

I hate checking anything (just plain ol' luggage!) but I guess I gotta. tips?

Click if you are bringing multiple bottles with you. Otherwise, you'll probably have to check a bag....just wrap the bottle(s?) in a towel and pack them in the middle of your bag.

The aforementioned styrofoam shipper worked just fine for our trip back from California (which included a layover too; I was convinced that that would do us in). One winery gave us one fitting six bottles with the purchase of a single bottle (as we got closer to the Sideways-tourist madness in Santa Inez, they were available for purchase for about $5 or so). Don't bother taping it up because TSA will just undo it for inspection and tape it up again themselves. (However, we were told that the airline does not bear any responsibility for breakage, only actual loss of the box.)

On our way back from Providence in October, I put three bottles of wine in my luggage, wrapped in bubblewrap and dirty clothes. Of course, being one of those small airports where they scan the luggage in front of you, it was opened and the TSA guy looked at me, asked if the wine was any good, and then carefully repacked it including making sure the bubble wrap was well taped. He then slapped a tag on the bag to tell the handlers to take extra care with it. Just goes to show you not all the TSA folks are careless and uncaring.

Anybody flown with wine lately? The most recent thread I could find was from 2006. I am flying domestically on Virgin America with a mixed case of New Year's eve goodies the day after tomorrow. I figured I would put it in a suitcase, pack it with bubble wrap and a towel or two and hope for the best.

What are the airlines/TSA up to these days with checked liquids?

Thanks,

Justin

Anybody flown with wine lately? The most recent thread I could find was from 2006. I am flying domestically on Virgin America with a mixed case of New Year's eve goodies the day after tomorrow. I figured I would put it in a suitcase, pack it with bubble wrap and a towel or two and hope for the best.

What are the airlines/TSA up to these days with checked liquids?

Thanks,

Justin

Anybody flown with wine lately? The most recent thread I could find was from 2006. I am flying domestically on Virgin America with a mixed case of New Year's eve goodies the day after tomorrow. I figured I would put it in a suitcase, pack it with bubble wrap and a towel or two and hope for the best.

What are the airlines/TSA up to these days with checked liquids?

Thanks,

Justin

I recently flew back from Argentina with 2 cases checked. No problems at all, but I had mine packed in some Styrofoam boxes. As for putting it in a suitcase, I hope they are not soft-sided bags.

As an aside the foam boxes would probably be rather easy to make. Just get a block of foam and bore out 12 cylinders for the bottles. But the foam block inside a regular box, tape it up and it is ready to check for the flight.

Anybody flown with wine lately? The most recent thread I could find was from 2006. I am flying domestically on Virgin America with a mixed case of New Year's eve goodies the day after tomorrow. I figured I would put it in a suitcase, pack it with bubble wrap and a towel or two and hope for the best.

What are the airlines/TSA up to these days with checked liquids?

Thanks,

Justin

My wife and I just wrapped a couple bottles in clothes and shoved them in checked luggage. Didn't seem to draw any undue attention.

But Charles, no one would give a second glance if you had a suitcase full of stained undies!

Wine checked in styro boxes is acceptable on all of the major airlines I know of.

My wife and I just wrapped a couple bottles in clothes and shoved them in checked luggage.

Last time I did that I ended up with an clothes drenched in two bottles of 2005 Aubert Lauren and a bottle of Willett 15. Bourbon is a bitch to get out of your clothes.

I picked up a few VinniBags in Sonoma. You can also find single use bags that are made of bubble wrap, however, I preferred the heavy vinyl used in the the VinniBag and that if a bottle does break they are designed to capture the liquids.

My trip with wine was quite easy. I used a suitcase with hard sides. I used the suitcase instead of a box because suitcases have handles and wheels. I used a combination of cardboard inserts from wine boxes - the kind that are in the shape of bottles - and bubble wrap to pack a mixed case of wine. It was just a regular checked bag. When I opened the bag there was one of those form letters from the TSA saying that the bag was inspected.

My trip with wine was quite easy. I used a suitcase with hard sides. I used the suitcase instead of a box because suitcases have handles and wheels. I used a combination of cardboard inserts from wine boxes - the kind that are in the shape of bottles - and bubble wrap to pack a mixed case of wine. It was just a regular checked bag. When I opened the bag there was one of those form letters from the TSA saying that the bag was inspected.

Most airlines require that the bottle be in Styrofoam packing that covers the bottles completely. If you bag had been inspected in an area with access by airlines personnel, the wine could have been confiscated and destroyed {or drunk} by the airline. It has happened so think about getting the Styrofoam inserts to be safe.