Is there any advantage to buying wine duty free?

[JamieBahrain]

Just one question, what is secondary security? I am not familiar with the term.



By the way I am not trying to be difficult, just helpful to posters who are about to travel and their very real concerns.

If you don't know what secondary security screening why have you butted in to answer the question on the confiscation of liquids ( 100 ml is irrelevant here btw) at Hong Kong airport? Do you really think you are helpful? Or just a know it all?

The question was answered.

Your outburst on MENA politics avoids the cultural and religious problems that drive the continual savagery. It's a savage part of the world. Anyways, not a political forum and we'd be diametrically opposed as I'm a firm supporter of Israel.

Be interested in Sam's view though? Sitting up in First Class of an Emirate government owned airliner with their appalling human rights standards. With Mossad and their dirty business in Lebanon providing security tip offs on terrorist threats.

The Middle East. There's no sense to it.

[JamieBahrain]

Secondary security screening takes place in the aerobridge after the boarding gate. It is independent of the airline and undertaken by security personnel. Liquids which are usually purchased within the airport are confiscated. In addition to protocols for liquid carry-ons earlier at security.

This was a requirement for Australian and USA bound flights out of some Asian airports. It was not required elsewhere ( trans-Atlantic for example ).

Secondary security screening was put in place about a year after carry-on liquids restrictions introduced in 2006 due fresh intelligence relating to an earlier threat or combination of : Operation Bolinka. After the thwarting of the trans-Atlantic plot in 2006, high value ring-leaders of Bolinka were in custody. Some of the content of confessional material classified.

The threat has moved on.

[Diddy]

This was a requirement for Australian and USA bound flights out of some Asian airports. It was not required elsewhere ( trans-Atlantic for example ).

Manila is one such example. Duty free purchases not allowed on Australian bound Qantas flights.

[asajoseph]

Not much use to most of us, but Reykjavik airport is very keenly priced, and has a very good selection (unlike the rest of Iceland!). Visited a few years ago, and found Castelgiocondo Brunello & Tignanello at less than the UK IB price (FX rates have moved around a bit since then, though). Picked up all my booze at the airport, and even brought some home. All the locals seem to stock up there in a big way whenever they fly.

Otherwise, I rarely see booze well priced in airports anywhere any more - scotch can be ok, but there are so many exclusive 'airport' bottlings that it makes it hard to compare like for like (which is deliberate).

Also, storage is appalling - they put the priciest bottles on the top shelves, which also happen to be directly underneath the spotlights - I'd be amazed if most of the bottles aren't cooked.

[Mike Hawkins]

Not much use to most of us, but Reykjavik airport is very keenly priced, and has a very good selection (unlike the rest of Iceland!). Visited a few years ago, and found Castelgiocondo Brunello & Tignanello at less than the UK IB price (FX rates have moved around a bit since then, though). Picked up all my booze at the airport, and even brought some home. All the locals seem to stock up there in a big way whenever they fly.

Otherwise, I rarely see booze well priced in airports anywhere any more - scotch can be ok, but there are so many exclusive 'airport' bottlings that it makes it hard to compare like for like (which is deliberate).

Also, storage is appalling - they put the priciest bottles on the top shelves, which also happen to be directly underneath the spotlights - I'd be amazed if most of the bottles aren't cooked.

It must have changed. I was there some months ago and it was pretty exxy...

[asajoseph]

That’s a bit of a shame. I think it was 3-4 years ago, so things clearly no longer what they were. The guys working there knew their stuff too (at least they knew their critics, and their way around the big name bottles), so someone was clearly having a good time buying. It was famous Advocate / Spectator wines mostly, rather than anything particularly rare or esoteric, but they had some nice bottles.

Oh well, unlikely I’ll be heading through there any time soon!

[JamieBahrain]

This was a requirement for Australian and USA bound flights out of some Asian airports. It was not required elsewhere ( trans-Atlantic for example ).

Manila is one such example. Duty free purchases not allowed on Australian bound Qantas flights.

Wouldn't be surprised if secondary screening still in force or reintroduced in MNL, CRK, CEB. The reasons being are in the public domain. DVO doesn't have direct flights, though for a city that's had direct attacks on its airport and being not far from the epicentre of the insurgency, security is surprisingly not as visible as say a troubled African nation.

Tuxy mentioned Brisbane duty free which I've used before to top up a Henschke tasting ( Hill of Roses cheaper than restricted cellar door sales ) Looks pretty viable the pick-up on return option. There's also a price matching offer and take a further 5% off. Wines on sale can be of better value than retail.

Interestingly, with the current exchange rate, Dom Perignon is cheaper in BNE by 10% than Hong Kong ( and certainly vague scanning of the shelves elsewhere in Asia )

So if you're coming back from Manila or the beaches of Asia, DF might just be worthwhile?

[Ddavew]

I’m just curious , for people that buys wine in duty free airport, does it bother you if the bottles are standing up when they are a cork bottle? Do you still buy them or would you ask the staff to see if there’s any more stock at the back room that are not standing up?

[Ian S]

Hi Dave
The only wine in recent years I recall buying in duty free was a Barolo Chinato (about a decade ago) and that bought with the specific thought in mind that those wines are about as bullet proof as you can get wrt heat exposure.Apart from that, none, so yes you can fairly read in to that a strong concern about heat/light (in addition to the prices being rubbish, plus for European travel we don't have true 'duty free'). Any of those reasons is enough on its own - together it means I'll just look to kill some time and have a chuckle at the sh*t range and elevated prices.
Regards
Ian

[Mahmoud Ali]

With regard to flights to Australian and confiscation prior to boarding I wrote:

Duty free items properly sealed are allowed through the boarding gate security prior to boarding.

You chose to weigh in with:

There is no security at the boarding gate .

And subsequently:

Secondary security screening takes place in the aerobridge after the boarding gate ... Liquids which are usually purchased within the airport are confiscated. In addition to protocols for liquid carry-ons earlier at security.

So, according to you, there is indeed security prior to boarding. Were you trying to be pedantic by saying no to security but yes to secondary security? In any case you have made my point, that prior to boarding flights to Australia, security (sorry, sorry, sorry, secondary security) may confiscate duty free purchases. Thank you.

Secondary security screening was put in place about a year after carry-on liquids restrictions introduced in 2006 due fresh intelligence relating to an earlier threat or combination of : Operation Bolinka. After the thwarting of the trans-Atlantic plot in 2006, high value ring-leaders of Bolinka were in custody. Some of the content of confessional material classified.

Once again, security screening for liquids over 100ml was introduced after the British Police raids in 2006 that uncovered a plot to target planes heading to the United States using liquid explosives. It had nothing to do with the Bojinka plots of 1996 that, among other things, targeted planes heading from Asian airports over the pacific to the United States.

Your outburst on MENA politics avoids the cultural and religious problems that drive the continual savagery. It's a savage part of the world. Anyways, not a political forum and we'd be diametrically opposed as I'm a firm supporter of Israel.

The Middle East. There's no sense to it.

I didn't mention Israel, rather western assault and savagery in the Middle East. Perhaps the cultural and religious problems you cite refers to the mass migration of Europeans into Palestine and the concomitant introduction of a foreign culture and the creation of a theocratic state as part of the assault. Good point.

The Middle East, it makes sense if you understand the underlying issues. Superficially, to the less informed, or to the one-eyed, it most likely doesn't.

Mahmoud.

[JamieBahrain]

Mahmoud

You are a know it all but you've come undone through your obsession with the veracity of the internet. I work at this airport.You don't know what you are talking about.

You are banging on about sealed DF items. It's not required. Perhaps your google detective work says differently. But it's not the case.The other day I was tempted to video the staff and their explanations so we could put an end to your obsessive weirdness at being right

There were two layers of security. There was NO security at the boarding gate! Airline staff checked your passport and boarding pass and inside the aerobridge passengers were screened, many unexpectedly, like Dave who lost his wine. That was the question. I answered. But you put your two bobs worth in with inaccurate internet research. And you do know wikpedia ain't always terribly solid?

How many times do I have to point out? The secondary screening was an additional protocol to the 2006 threat. It was put in place in Asia as a result of a combination of threat profiles. And it had everything to do with aspects of an earlier threat combined with the UK plot.

Yep, from time working, living and traveling the Middle East, the slaughter wherever you were, was the fault of the Zionists. I'm still shocked, at Middle Eastern conspiracism. Supposably educated people and the bigoted crap they'd sprout.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Jamie,

I never knew that trying to be right could be called weird, but I'll happily wear the badge.

The topic I have been addressing has been the problems faced by passengers when transiting with duty free purchases and, more specifically, passengers travelling to Australia. Cutting to the chase duty free problems occur when transiting at a second airport. Passengers are often screened entering the departure area or when boarding their flight. When boarding there are one of two types of screening encountered, either an x-ray screening of carry-ons prior to handing over boarding card and passport to the airline staff, or the secondary screening you are referring to when you pass by the counter but before you board the plane. Any way you want to look at it is security prior to boarding and it all starts when the flight is called and it is time to board. Only in your universe do you want to make a fuss over the exact location where any confiscation of duty free takes place. By any stretch of the imagination it is all the same thing, passengers encounter the screening when it comes time to board.

Nobody, myself included, ever suggested that airline staff at boarding are responsible for carry on contents and duty free. Airline staff only ensure administrative security in that they ensure the identity of the passenger. Even when checking in to the flight airline staff only ensures that the baggage is not overweight, the contents of the luggage and the carry on are left to airport security. If a passenger loses their duty free purchase it matters not one whit whether it takes place before or after they show their boarding card to the airline, they are still losing their purchase prior to boarding.

Now, with regard to duty free purchases being sealed, I would be surprised if Hong Kong duty free does not seal liquor and wine purchases as that would make it almost impossible to transit any other airport. However, as I am not on the ground I am prepared to be corrected. As for transiting through Hong Kong with a prior duty free purchase, those who don't have friends working at the airport would be advised to heed the latest update from the Civil Aviation Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The web page was last reviewed on July 19th this year. It states that these purchases be "packed in a sealed plastic bag that is both tamper-evident and display satisfactory proof of purchase on the day(s) of the journey". Regardless of lax or lenient security staff, what harm is there in obeying the regulation when most duty free shops routinely seal these purchases.

One more thing, what conspiracy? You mentioned Israel together with cultural and religious problems. Now you bring up Zionism and conspiracy theories. It seems you have no ability to remained focused, with a marked tendency to obfuscate, move goal posts, and to repeat the same statements as if proof by assertion works.

A word of advise, unless you have a library at hand, the internet is a useful tool to check facts and learn things. You should try it sometime.

Mahmoud.

[JamieBahrain]

You have to be right. I understand this. And when your not you try to bludgeon with your verbosity and wikpedia detective work.

I answered the simple question of a forumite whose wine was confiscated via secondary security screening at HKG airport. I work at the airport. You weighed in and looking back its obvious you were not aware of this process and corrected me as follows.

Again, nothing to do with Guantanamo or the interrogations there. The threat was discovered by British Police in 2006. The plot was directed at planes heading to the United States. The liquid bans stemmed directly from the police raids that led to the arrest of 24 people. According to Wikipedia:

The question was not about the 2006 liquid security protocols put into place after the UK. But of the additional secondary security screening put into place that had a forumites wine confiscated just before the aircraft door, due to fresh intelligence on a combination of regional threats and regional tactics in combination with earlier plots.

And really, no duty free items, purchased at the departing airport is confiscated. Neither are duty free items purchased at other airports provided it is in your check-in luggage. Only duty free items purchased in another airport is confiscated if hand carried through transit.

QED

This was the scenario of the forumite having his wine confiscated and that of many others. In plane language, their wine was confiscated yet you say it wasn't.

This paragraph again clearly shows you are not at all familiar with secondary security screening at certain stages of this thread. Yes, like before, your knowledge builds through wikpedia, and your verbosity is your defence.

You did not know what you were talking about here but was happy to tell somebody who works at the airport and in the industry they were wrong.

Your second paragraph is misleading. Confiscation is not the policy per se but rather it stems from a breach of allowable limits. You may not take over 100ml amounts through airport security nor aircraft security prior to boarding. However, you may take much more if it is purchased in a duty free store within the departure area. Most airport duty free stores seal the items in a clear plastic bag.

Again wrong ! 100ml of water or coke or whatever was CONFISCATED. It was separate protocols. I could have gone into SSS rules but it was not RELEVANT.

And then you quote the HK civil aviation authority but you've gone up the wrong path. Because fundamentally, you don't know what you are talking about and started confused about the topic. Very clearly as indicated from above not being aware of two separate liquid security protocols in Asia.

I didn't get around to answering Wiz's questions in detail. I'm sure he's appreciative of your google work- you saved him a few minutes. Though flying the routes, with my colleagues selling duty free onboard my aircraft, I could have contributed with up to date info' and pragmatic advice. But I'm too busy defending myself from your confusion and verbosity.

Politics I'm happy disengage from. I stand by my comments the the savagery of the Middle East is inflicted by neighbour upon neighbour ( often a long way from western interests ). Grows from there.

[Ian S]

Gentlemen
Please take your arguments to PM. I strongly doubt anyone here gives a shit about your respective debating skills, so take it up directly with each other if you wish to continue. You are derailing this thread for everyone else and the OP.

Regards
Ian

[Wizz]

Gentlemen
Please take your arguments to PM. I strongly doubt anyone here gives a shit about your respective debating skills, so take it up directly with each other if you wish to continue. You are derailing this thread for everyone else and the OP.

Regards
Ian

Hear hear.

This kind of shit is exactly the reason I don't post here much any more, I have better things to do.

[BHCC1]

Thank you Ian and Wizz for your attempts to bring some sanity to this thread. As a casual poster I have thought it inappropriate for me to comment before other more active participants “weigh in”, but I am heartily sick and tired of the incessant and petty exchanges between Jamie and Mahmoud, surely there are more constructive things to discuss!

[Lincoln]

Hear hear.

This kind of shit is exactly the reason I don't post here much any more, I have better things to do.

Second this.... I have enough of this kind of stuff at work.... why would I visit here every day for another serving or three?

[Mahmoud Ali]

Thank you Ian and Wizz for your attempts to bring some sanity to this thread. As a casual poster I have thought it inappropriate for me to comment before other more active participants “weigh in”, but I am heartily sick and tired of the incessant and petty exchanges between Jamie and Mahmoud, surely there are more constructive things to discuss!

I agree, and am duly chastened. I will in future try to bite my tongue.

Cheers ................... Mahmoud.

[JamieBahrain]

No, not wearing it fellas.

I've asked we ignore each others posts. It's the same pattern over and over again. See below. It's weird trolling.

Yes, I should have ignored his post on this thread. But the you're wrong I'm right when you know there isn't comprehension of the question or issue, is frustrating when its your workplace.

So Mahmoud, again, it's best we ignore each others posts for the greater good of the forum. You did not do it last time, try harder please.

However I find it a vey different thing to say "don't trust the Europeans" or "don't trust those Asians".

"I'm a big customer of his olive oils. I order a case every six months and bring them home to HKG- don't trust the Europeans and its nice to support agriculture in Australia. I'm no olive oil expert but they're pretty nice oils!"

There's clear inference I'm referring to the scandal ridden European olive industry and not Europeans- even from the most oblique PC considerations. Best we ignore each others posts.

[Scotty vino]

I travel OS perhaps once every year to 18 months . Partly for Family reasons and sometimes pleasure.
The only thing the boss and I find worth picking up is Gin when we pass thru Sydney to/from LA or wherever.
There are usually some good deals, 2 for 1 and bigger formats etc etc

The wine never really appeals to me. The pricing doesn't seem that great and the storage/provenance is questionable.
When you're a Pilot or similar (hi Jamie) and you are constantly in said environment it's clearly a different ball game in terms of frequency and knowledge. But when i see that bottle of pennies baking in that little incubator under the down lights I'm thinking of some shitty balsamic vinegar.

As for arm wrestling and debatng who knows what? Careful lads. This forum is really relaxed and almost moderation free.
We're Lucky Gavin lets us play any which way we want.
Be a bit of a bummer if folks started gettting their accounts suspended or shut down completely 'cause some of you have an astounding amount of knowledge to share when you're not playing a game of 'I told you so'....

[phillisc]

I travel OS perhaps once every year to 18 months . Partly for Family reasons and sometimes pleasure.
The only thing the boss and I find worth picking up is Gin when we pass thru Sydney to/from LA or wherever.
There are usually some good deals, 2 for 1 and bigger formats etc etc

The wine never really appeals to me. The pricing doesn't seem that great and the storage/provenance is questionable.
When you're a Pilot or similar (hi Jamie) and you are constantly in said environment it's clearly a different ball game in terms of frequency and knowledge. But when i see that bottle of pennies baking in that little incubator under the down lights I'm thinking of some shitty balsamic vinegar.

As for arm wrestling and debatng who knows what? Careful lads. This forum is really relaxed and almost moderation free.
We're Lucky Gavin lets us play any which way we want.
Be a bit of a bummer if folks started gettting their accounts suspended or shut down completely 'cause some of you have an astounding amount of knowledge to share when you're not playing a game of 'I told you so'....

And that's a huge +1 from me
Cheers craig

[Wizz]

So rather than leave - as that's giving in to this kind of dumbfuckery, I've just blocked a few people. See ya.

[Mahmoud Ali]

So rather than leave - as that's giving in to this kind of dumbfuckery, I've just blocked a few people. See ya.

Sorry to hear that Wizz, but please keep in mind that one of us apologized for the shit show. Just saying. Please reconsider.

Cheers ................. Mahmoud.

[Ian S]

No, not wearing it fellas.

The cap fits - wear it

I've reported the thread to Gavin. This petty squabbling has gone on too far. Both of you are at fault and that's a f*cking lame excuse to try and argue against it.

This ends now.

[GraemeG]

I wouldn't buy duty free at any airport that wasn't the last stop before Australia, since I'd have no confidence in being allowed to keep my purchase. But there seem few pricing bargains anyway. And that's ignoring the storage risk.
Buy somewhere else and and put it in your checked-in luggage.
Graeme

[Ian S]

I wouldn't buy duty free at any airport that wasn't the last stop before Australia, since I'd have no confidence in being allowed to keep my purchase. But there seem few pricing bargains anyway. And that's ignoring the storage risk.
Buy somewhere else and and put it in your checked-in luggage.
Graeme

Hi Graeme
I'd add to that the limited choice, and in many airports the choice is limited to some of the most commercial wineries, whose wine could easily be called 'industrial'.
Definitely better for us wine geeks to buy outside the airport, or with the concerns you describe, not at all and simply buy from Gavin (or elsewhere) back home.

Regards
Ian

[Gavin Trott]

No, not wearing it fellas.

I've asked we ignore each others posts. It's the same pattern over and over again. See below. It's weird trolling.

Yes, I should have ignored his post on this thread. But the you're wrong I'm right when you know there isn't comprehension of the question or issue, is frustrating when its your workplace.

So Mahmoud, again, it's best we ignore each others posts for the greater good of the forum. You did not do it last time, try harder please.

However I find it a vey different thing to say "don't trust the Europeans" or "don't trust those Asians".

"I'm a big customer of his olive oils. I order a case every six months and bring them home to HKG- don't trust the Europeans and its nice to support agriculture in Australia. I'm no olive oil expert but they're pretty nice oils!"

There's clear inference I'm referring to the scandal ridden European olive industry and not Europeans- even from the most oblique PC considerations. Best we ignore each others posts.

Can I suggest, and hope, that you both can ignore each other's Posts, and end this, well, whatever it actually is each time.

I will, of course, pm you both, but this forum is to discuss wine, share views, get ideas etc, we stay 'non personal' at all times, and please stop online arguments on this forum.

Everyone please, keep the 'persona'l and your arguments off line or elsewhere.

[Mahmoud Ali]

I wouldn't buy duty free at any airport that wasn't the last stop before Australia, since I'd have no confidence in being allowed to keep my purchase. But there seem few pricing bargains anyway. And that's ignoring the storage risk.
Buy somewhere else and and put it in your checked-in luggage.

That's what I've been doing, to the point of ignoring duty free clerks attempts to assure me that there should be no problem because they seal it in transparent bags with the receipt. On one trip, through Shanghai Airport, I had an overnight stay courtesy of China Eastern, and the next day I checked in my carry-on (with the two bottles of duty free Scotch bought at the previous airport) for the onward flight to Vancouver. I could do this because international flights to North America allowed two pieced of luggage and I had only checked in one so the carryon was gratis.

Mahmoud.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Hi Gavin,

I have already apologised to the posters who have chastised us and also promised to bite my tongue.

All I want to add is that it is a shame that it had to come to this. From my perspective it is not so much having to ignore something that another poster writes but rather to reply or offer a different opinion in a polite and gentle fashion. That is what I have strived to do and have never used pejorative words but I guess it is all in the eyes of the beholder. In the absence of this, I guess "ignoring" is the only way out.

Cheers ………………………………… Mahmoud.