Finding new tastes of liquors from all around the world is always rather interesting. But at some time during these trips, you have certainly wondered, “How much liquor can I carry in international flight?”
Still, don’t worry! Here is the inside knowledge on carrying alcohol so you never have to part with a pricey bottle of wine.
Here’s your primer on the dos and don’ts of carrying your liquor on a flight.
How much liquor can I carry in international flight?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) limits how much alcohol you may transport in carry-on bags to containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less. [01] About carrying alcohol on the airline, the allowances may differ depending on numerous relevant regulations.
Larger quantities of duty-free alcohol bought outside security checkpoints can be carried inside tamper-evident, lockable bags. Usually, with limits, you can bring alcohol in your checked bags when flying.
Alcohol Reattainments
- Alcohol As a Carry-on
The TSA’s liquids rule restricts alcohol carrying to small bottles, no more than 100ml, in a clear zip-top bag. There is one exemption, though: if you bought your carry-on bag from a Duty-Free store, you may pack more liquor. - Liquor Within Your Checked Bag
If your alcohol percentage is less than 24%, pack as much wine and beer as you want in your checked bags. As long as the bottles are sealed, 24% to 70% ABV spirits can be packed up to 5 litres (1.3 gallons). You cannot bring alcohol with greater than 70% ABV. But do you know how much an ordinary American consumes of alcohol? - Duty-Free Alcohol Buys
A duty-free store will let you buy alcohol, which you can carry on the airline. If you have a connecting trip with a security checkpoint, spirits beyond the limit must be within your checked bags. To avoid passing another security checkpoint, buy alcohol at the last airport before your intended arrival.
The liquid limit for domestic flights
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says you can only bring alcohol on a domestic trip as a carry-on if you buy it at the airport counter. The alcohol bottle must also be sealed in a clear bag no bigger than one liter.
The container needs to fit inside the bag without any problems. When you check your bags, you can bring up to five liters of liquor with an alcohol level of 24 to 70%. IndiGo says you can bring as many bottles as you want if the amount is less than 24. It is important to remember that regional airports’ rules may differ slightly. Before buying something, it is a good idea to read the rules or ask someone in charge.
How much alcohol a passenger can bring on board a flight varies depending on their route. There are different rules about borders when you are inside or outside the European Union.
Inside the European Union
Only those who travel within the European Union are subject to restrictions on the quantity of alcohol allowed inside those borders.
One person can have checked baggage and hand luggage totalling:
- 10 litres of spirits (vodka)
- 20 litres of strengthened wine (port, sherry)
- 90 litres of wine (or a maximum of 60 litres of sparkling wine)
- 110 litres of beer
Outside of the European Union
The restrictions are far less when your flight crosses two nations outside the European Union or when one nation is in the EU but the other is not.
One person could have checked bags and hand baggage totaling:
- 1 litre of spirits (vodka)
- 4 litres of wine
- 16 litres of beer
Important!
One who is less than seventeen years old cannot carry alcohol.
Notable!
Recall that hand luggage safety regulations limit you to carrying a maximum of one litre of liquids in bottles that are not more than 100 ml each. This does not apply to liquids purchased following a security check in the departure hall. In this instance, the items you purchase must suit your hand luggage. Your airline’s Travel class and policies will determine the hand luggage’s weight and size.
Key!
The material mentioned above mostly addresses customs rules. Every airline has its maximum weight and checked luggage size restrictions. One bag usually cannot weigh more than thirty-two kilograms. Additional fees paid for each piece of luggage depend on the airline, route, and travel class.
Can I bring liquor on the flight? I buy it in a duty-free shop at the airport.
If you buy alcohol in a duty-free shop, you can usually bring it on the flight with you. But that doesn’t mean you can bring it all the way home. Travelers going through a TSA security stop for a connecting flight must follow the same carry-on bag rules. Any items weighing over 3.4 ounces must be put in their checked bags.
It can be very annoying to find out this during a delay since you might not be able to get to your checked bags to check your alcohol. However, if you’re returning to the US with a connecting domestic flight, you may have to get your bags and re-check them. If you don’t want to lose your duty-free alcohol at a security checkpoint, buy it at the last airport you visit before getting to your final location.
Can I drink on the flight?
We get it. Sometimes, a stiff drink is the only thing that helps you get through a 12-hour redeye flight with a snorer who sleeps on your shoulder and a chatty Cathy who can’t stop talking about her trip to Thailand. They may serve liquor because of that, but they are the only ones who can do that on the flight.
The container needs to fit inside the bag without any problems. When you check your bags, you can bring up to five liters of liquor with an alcohol level of 24 to 70%. IndiGo says you can bring as many bottles as you want if the amount is less than 24. If you’re wondering how much liquor can I carry in international flight, it’s essential to remember that regional airports’ rules may differ slightly. Before buying something, it is a good idea to completely read this article.
How do I pack my alcoholic beverages?
When you open your suitcase, the last thing you want to find is a bunch of stained clothes or glasses that broke during the trip. Whether you’re taking back a pricey bottle of wine, strange spirits, or local beer, how well you pack it will determine whether it gets home safely.
Start with bottles that have never been opened. Then, put the bottle in a plastic bag that you can close. The bag will help keep the alcohol inside in case the bottle breaks, so it doesn’t spill on your other things. Wrap the bottle in something soft before putting it in the bag. This will help it travel better. You could use towels, jackets, pants, or shirts. Also, the fabric will help soak up any alcohol that gets past the plastic bag. This will help keep the bottle safe from bumps and bruises while being transported.
Lastly, try to put the bottle in the middle of your suitcase and pack more clothes around it to ensure it stays safe if it falls off the baggage rack.
If you’d rather buy something, things like the padded JetBag can help you make sure your alcohol gets to your destination safely. When you get to the airport and need to pack something, you can also ask your flight if they offer this service. Southwest Airlines, for instance, charges $5 for wine and spirits boxes.
What do I need to bring back?
If you’re only allowed to bring back a certain amount of liquor, you can’t waste your allowance on bad spirits or bottles that you later find easy to find back home. How much liquor can I carry in international flight depends on the regulations of your destination, but what you bring back ultimately depends on your tastes. Think about drinks that have a taste of the place where you were as a real reminder of your trip. If you’re in East Asia, you might choose the shochu or soju liquor. If you are in British Columbia or some parts of Europe, you should buy a bottle of the local iced wine. A bottle of a local varietal from a small winery in South Africa or Australia might be the right gift for someone back home. Are you going to be in Europe? Get a bottle of Maraschino liquor from the place where it’s made.
- How many alcohol bottles can you bring when travelling abroad?
The amount of alcohol in the bottles, the rules of the country you’re going to, and the airline’s rules all affect how many bottles of spirits you can bring. Generally, there are no limits on the amount if the ABV is less than 24%.
You can usually bring up to 5 litres of liquor between 24% and 70% ABV in your checked luggage.
- How many alcoholic drinks are allowed through customs?
Each country has rules about how many spirits bottles you can bring through customs.
Most of the time, you can bring up to 1 litre (0.26 gallons) of wine into the United States. But travellers who bring alcohol into the country from some other countries might be able to get more.
- How much liquor can I bring back to the US?
Most of the time, travellers coming back to the US from a trip abroad can bring back up to 1 litre (0.26 gallons) of alcohol for their use. This could be beer, wine, or spirits.
- What drink can I most put in my checked luggage?
Most flights allow travellers to bring up to 5 litres of alcoholic drinks with an ABV (alcohol by volume) between 24% and 70% in their checked luggage. However, it is very important to check with the airline to see their rules and limits.
- Can I bring alcohol in my carry-on luggage?
Different airlines and countries may have different rules. Still, passengers can generally bring small amounts of liquor (up to 100 ml per container) in their carry-on luggage as long as the containers are clear, resealable, and don’t exceed the airline’s liquid limits.
- Are there any rules about what kinds of spirits I can bring?
Some airlines may have rules about how much alcohol customers can bring on board. Some countries also have rules about bringing certain kinds of alcohol into the country, so it’s important to find out what those rules are ahead of time.
- Do I have to say that I have alcohol on me?
Passengers usually don’t have to report small amounts of alcohol they plan to drink themselves. But if you drink more than the allowed amount or are going to a country with strict rules about alcohol, you might have to report the alcohol at customs.
Last but not least
Now you know “how much liquor can i carry in international flights” But It’s important to know the rules and limits about bringing alcohol on an international or domestic trip when finding flights to anywhere. You can only bring 3.4 ounces (100 ml) of liquor in your carry-on luggage to any country you’re going to.
Larger amounts of liquor can be brought on a flight if bought at Duty-Free shops and kept sealed.
As a general rule, travellers can check alcohol as long as it has an alcohol content of less than 24%. Travellers can have up to 5 litres of alcohol, between 24% and 70% ABV, in unopened in-store packaging.
Travellers are not always allowed to drink ones with more than 70% ABV. To avoid customs problems, you should declare any alcohol you bring into the United States and follow TSA rules.
Even so, it’s important to know that only flight staff can serve alcohol if you want to drink on a flight. There is no way for you to drink your alcohol.