Taking duty free onto onward flights

[DLB-GOUROCK]

I took a look at the UK Government web site in the section: What to expect at the airport: Returning to or via the UK.

It appears that it is OK to carry through duty free in approved sealed bag if travelling between EU countries, or Norway, Iceland or Switzerland if travelling on an EU carrier with a receipt showing that they were bought on the day of travel.

Also there are special arrangements if you are travelling from Changi Airport in Singapore or Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Pula, Zadar or Zagreb airports in Croatia where special arrangements are in place - liquids must be in a tamper-proof bag provided by the airport, unopened, and must contain a receipt that shows the item was bought within the last 36 hours.

No mention is made of any other country so travelling to and from the US which is the focus of this forum then you will encounter items being confiscated at the second security check, or have I read this wrong.

I know from my own experience that when transiting through Gatwick coming home, our party was checking in with BA to come up to Glasgow. We were carrying our duty free in the bag from MCO and the BA person at the bag drop tipped us off as they noticed the bag and told us to put it into our bag before we put it through the bag drop.

The other thing to think about is if you enter into any arguments with security officers you run the risk of not being permitted to fly.

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Travel to the US and don't change planes in the UK but in the US. Your first stop in the US you go through Immigration and Customs and then hand your luggage back.[/quote]Blott,
That is not in dispute. My post was about returning from the USA

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:That of course means that your bags don't clear customs at Manchester[/quote]The point I was making(as have the others) was that baggage checked in the USA does not get subjected to any customs check in UK.

i.e. if my checked bags were full of, say, whisky and cigarettes I would arrive at the domestic terminal in Manchester, pick up my bags without having to take them through the Red or Green customs channel.

I was of course wanting to declare all that booze and fags and pay duty on them - but sadly there were no customs officers[msnwink]

[Katys Grandad]

Interesting point - I suppose the answer is to buy your duty free outbund and check it in with your hold bags on the way home. Or do without of course!!![msnwink]

[SDJ]

David, I'm with you on this one and have seen it happen. I think many people are not quite getting what you are trying to say[msnwink]

Sandra

[Pookie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The point I was making(as have the others) was that baggage checked in the USA does not get subjected to any customs check in UK.[/quote]

This was my point and it is an anomaly if international checked baggage is being checked through to a UK domestic airport where customs are not present.

The point I was making was that this should not happen and therefore the duty free could be placed in the checked baggage at the first point of entry into the UK or US.

Re Irish flights, flights from Eire into LHR always have done and still do clear customs but you do not see the customs officers they are behind opaque glass.

Lynne

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:This was my point and it is an anomaly if international checked baggage is being checked through to a UK domestic airport where customs are not present.

The point I was making was that this should not happen and therefore the duty free could be placed in the checked baggage at the first point of entry into the UK[/quote]

With respect that wasn't your point. What you stated was:


<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:When arriving into the UK as an international passenger and continuing on to a domestic flight;
you are required to collect your luggage at the first port of entry to clear customs and immigration.[/quote]

As several people have pointed out, there is no provision in many cases for you to be able to collect your checked bags at the first point of entry and therefore are unable place your duty free in your checked baggage.

Thus the OP's point is valid.

[Pookie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:you are required to collect your luggage at the first port of entry to clear customs and immigration.[/quote]

This was always the case and I was unaware the system had changed and as later stated this is an anomaly and one I would think customs would be very interested in.

Lynne

[msmiff]

Nice lttle earner for the Customs & Excise!!!
Seriously, it's always seemed daft to me that airlines allow glass bottles of volatile chemistry to fly - if you think booze burns, try perfume !!!
Surely it should be possible for duty free shops to issue a voucher re-imbursed at air-side of arrival & product taken through customs ??
Agreed not feasable for the finer wines, but entirely possible for the majority of spirits / perfumes.
Lessened risk of problems either accidental or deliberate & less weight on aircraft....

[Nina A]

Be very wary about putting bottles of booze in your hold luggage. Having worked as both ground staff and cabin crew I've lost count of the times I've seen alcohol leaking out of cases in arrivals halls!!