Whether you want to take a bottle of wine with you on a trip or take some alcohol home as a souvenir, you may be wondering if you can do it. While you can take alcohol on a plane, there are some restrictions you need to be aware of.
Carry-on alcohol limits
In most cases you can take alcohol with you in your hand luggage. However, the same rules apply to alcohol as to other liquids. You cannot go through security with liquids in containers larger than 3.4 ounces.
Of course, all your liquids, including alcohol, water and toiletries, must fit in a liter-sized clear bag. This is a federal requirement, so no matter what airline you fly with or what airport you’re in, there’s no getting around it.
Well, when it comes specifically to alcohol, you can’t just bring any alcohol with you. You must leave behind or throw away alcohol greater than 70% by volume (ABV). This corresponds to an alcohol content of over 140 proof.
Alcohol limits for checked baggage
As with other items, checked bags have fewer restrictions when it comes to the alcohol you want to take with you on your trip. If you’re packing alcohol with less than 48 proof or 24% ABV, you can bring as much as you want as long as it fits in your suitcase.
When traveling with alcohol between 24% and 70% vol. you are only allowed to take up to five liters per passenger. Alcohol may only be brought in in the unopened retail packaging.
So if you have already opened a bottle of wine, you should leave it at home. But if you have a new bottle, it should be safe enough to bring it with you.
Duty free purchases of alcohol
After going through airport security, you may be able to purchase alcohol from a duty-free shop. The same limits apply here as for checked baggage. This means you can buy up to five liters of alcohol on the plane and take it with you.
If you’re buying alcohol outside of the States and traveling to the US, you can’t fiddle with the bottle until you get home. The store should package the alcohol in a clear, tamper evident bag and it must remain there for you to keep.
Even after the purchase, you should have your receipt ready. This allows you to prove to security and customs that you bought the alcohol within the last 48 hours.
How do I pack alcohol in my checked baggage?
If you’re looking to take alcohol in a checked bag, this can be a great way to avoid carry-on baggage allowance. However, you must be careful not to break the alcohol bottle and get the alcohol on your clothes and other items.
Make sure you wrap the alcohol bottle in something like bubble wrap. You can also buy a special case to protect the glass. If none of these options work, you can wrap the alcohol in your clothing so it doesn’t break.
Then you prefer to pack everything in a hard case. This can help protect the outside of your bag in case it gets knocked around as people load it on and off the plane.
Tips for traveling with alcohol
If you must travel with alcohol, you should take some extra precautions. Consider the following tips.
Don’t pack too much
If you are carrying alcohol in your carry-on baggage, do not overfill your liquid bag. If you do, it could break when being pushed around in your larger carry-on or personal item.
Instead, only pack what you need. If you’re also taking a checked bag, you can stow other liquids in there, giving you plenty of room in your carry-on.
Wait to drink duty free shopping
As previously mentioned, there are certain rules you must follow when flying on alcohol duty free. You cannot tamper with the packaging if you want to take it on the plane.
Store the alcohol until you get home or to your next destination. If you open the bottle, you may have to throw the rest away, wasting money and alcohol.
Don’t fight TSA agents
It can be frustrating when a TSA agent tells you to confiscate your alcohol. However, you should be as calm as possible.
Making a scene won’t change anything because taking alcohol away is a safety issue. Also, they might throw you out of line.
To avoid having your alcohol confiscated, read the rules before you pack. This way you can make sure you pack as much alcohol as possible and in the right bag.
Visit the Airport Bar
Maybe you really want some alcohol but don’t want to pay for it on the flight. For safety reasons, you are not allowed to drink your own alcohol on the plane.
However, you can browse the airport terminal and look for a bar. Then you can have a drink long before departure.
You can still satisfy your drink craving. But you can avoid opening your own alcohol and risk a massive fine.
questions for clarification
When you’re at the airport or on a plane, don’t be afraid to ask someone if you have a question about alcohol regulations. You can ask TSA agents, flight attendants, and airport bartenders specific things.
Not everyone will be able to answer every question, so find the best person based on what you want to know. Whatever it is, it’s better to ask for clarification than to accidentally break the rules.
