Bringing Duty Free Alcohol from Bangkok Airport to Melbourne

tendliya on 29/07/2016 - 20:41

Hello Team,

I tried to research this but there is no definitive answer anywhere. So, was wondering if anyone can share any of their recent experiences or shed some light on this please.

In a weeks time, my friends will be coming back from Europe with a 2 hour transit at Bangkok airport and then a direct flight to Melbourne. They will not be using all of their duty free allowance and so I asked them to get me a couple of bottles of single malt.

  1. Can they buy the single malt bottles at Bangkok airport and take it on the flight to Melbourne or will it be confiscated at the security gate? There is lots of mixed info about this on the web. What is the latest regulation? Are they bringing the sealed duty free bags past the security gate to hand it over to you or you buy at your own risk?

  2. If they allow the bottles to go on the flight, is it much cheaper in Bangkok airport than buying them at Melbourne airport? I am looking to get something along the lines of Lagavulin 16 year old, Laphroaig, Bowmore.

If it is going to be a 50 50 chance, I will probably get them to buy at Melbourne airport to avoid any risk of getting confiscated at Bangkok airport.

Your feedback is much appreciated.

Cheers

Travel

Comments

  • ms_caz on 29/07/2016 - 21:25
    +1

    It won't be any cheaper at Bangkok - just get them at the gate in Melbourne before coming back through customs and immigration.

    Source: came through Bangkok to Melb about a month ago. Didn't specifically look at whiskey, but alcohol prices were cheaper (marginally) in Melbs.

    Sorry can't tell you how duty free worked.

    • tendliya on 29/07/2016 - 23:20

      Thank You. Singapore is definitely cheaper and have an awesome selection than Melbourne but wasn't sure about Bangkok airport.

  • cheapgeek on 29/07/2016 - 21:26
    +1

    I got back from Bangkok 7 days back… I didn't have liquor in my carry-on, but (like some airports) there is an additional security check at the Bangkok gate just as you enter the gate, where they look through your bags again… they didn't seem too fussed about gels etc, so maybe they wouldn't care about bottles?

    if it were me and I couldn't find somebody who'd done it, I'd wait till Melb

    • tendliya on 29/07/2016 - 23:22

      This is what I am not sure. Apparently, some of the duty free shop sales persons don't even tell you that you might not take the bottles on board the flight to Australia. Probably play it safe and buy it in Melbourne. Thanks.

  • Blottski on 29/07/2016 - 21:48
    +1

    definitely wait until Melbourne.

  • JoyVee on 29/07/2016 - 21:54
    +1

    I well remember having a bottle of water being confiscated at the gate entrance to the departure lounge within the airport. I would play it safe and buy alcohol in Melbourne.

    • tendliya on 29/07/2016 - 23:23

      Thanks. Can you please tell me how long ago was this?

  • dasher86 on 30/07/2016 - 00:00

    They usually ferry it in a trolley to the departure gate after security check in.
    At gate security is where they take your water etc. So you collect it after. You show them the receipt at the gate.
    Id you're worried about information changing just ask at the duty free store at the airport when buying. They'll be more than glad to help you and know all the restrictions etc

  • dasher86 on 30/07/2016 - 00:05

    Duty free I find to be price comparable in most countries. I actually bought a bottle of single malt overseas at duty free there and it turned out to be more expensive than in Oz.
    Now Cambodia is where convenient store liquor is cheaper than duty free.

  • coco1458 on 30/07/2016 - 04:04

    The collection for any duty free is after the security gate so no worries there, it won't be confiscated. I do believe that the alcohol limit per adult upon entering Australia is 2.1 Litres or something around that mark.

    Secondly I've noticed that a lot of the prices are cheaper or at least comparable to local bottle stores in Melbourne so do some research on prices

    • tendliya on 01/08/2016 - 18:05

      2.25 litres

      • coco1458 on 01/08/2016 - 18:49

        There we go, cheers for correcting me :)

  • Nicketim on 30/07/2016 - 09:08

    There will be no problem getting the duty free on to the flight. There is a security process in place for duty free products at all major airports, including Bangers, used by thousands of travellers every day.
    Bangkok duty free is comparable in price to Melbourne, but they carry a bigger range of specialist whiskey and cognac. Asians are big into top shelf and premium brands. Buying in Melbourne is less hassle though.

  • ATD on 30/07/2016 - 09:51
    +1

    As of 3 months ago they were doing checks at the gate. First thing is don't trust what the airport duty free stores in BKK say to you, the reason in saying that is too long to explain. They need to deliver any purchased goods to the gate where you collect it before boarding. People get unstuck by getting goods in the security bags (as you need to do anyway) and taking it themselves to the gate where they will be refused to take their purchases through. I always have a small shudder whenever I hear the words "no problem" or "can". No amount of discussion, reasoning or argument is going to change things at the gate.

    They do treat flights to Aus differently reason here. Last Xmas I went via Singapore and while at BKK they had 2 (disinterested) persons at the gate entry, they weren't checking bags and people just walked through down to the gate.

    The reason why you read different reports is because you come across different peoples interpretation of the 'rules' or it just slips through the process - but that is thainess for you.

    I would prefer to buy when you hit Aus if you knew they have the item you are after, but if not, the above is the process to follow and you will need to allow enough time for it to be delivered to the gate.

    • tendliya on 01/08/2016 - 18:08

      Thanks for the details mate. Appreciate it.

  • tendliya on 01/08/2016 - 18:19

    Thanks for all feedback everyone. After a bit more research, the prices at Bangkok airport are not that much more cheaper. Also, some of the bottles are about the same price at Melbourne Airport when compared to www.gooddrop.com.au. So, will wait until Melbourne airport to buy couple of bottles which are better priced at Melbourne Airport and will buy the remaining 2 bottles from Good Drop website.

    Will be travelling through Singapore in a couple of months. Will buy some more bottles there which are definitely cheaper than Aus duty free.

    Thanks again

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