Can I carry unopened bottles of wine on domestic flights?

[Flaxbee]

I'm flying to see family soon, and I'd like to bring them some wine from my state but don't know if there are any regs prohibiting carrying wine bottles in check-on luggage.

Anyone know? Not sure if I want to do this because I like to travel light, but if I decide to do so, I don't want my wine confiscated by security!

[Suich]

1. Excellent question!

I have no idea...I know you can't have it in checked baggage.

Check with the airline?

Good luck!

[EstimatedProphet]

2. You can't?

I can't tell you how many times I have flown with liquor in my checked baggage.

[Flaxbee]

5. yeah, probalby the best idea to check with the airline...

thanks.

Will report what I find so other DUers know what's allowed.

[GirlinContempt]

3. I've never had a problem with it in luggage

but I don't know about carry on

[Suich]

4. I watch "Airline" on A & E and I thought I saw it there.

Supposedly, if it's in checked baggage, it can break and get all over the other bags. :shrug:

[riderinthestorm]

6. Have the local winery ship it for you

The chances of it breaking (or being stolen) during transit should make you think twice about putting it in your suitcase.

Shipping would be what? $10 max? And the burden is on the winery to get it there intact?

Ship it!

[lakemonster11]

12. That can actually be problematic because of all of

the weird wine laws in this country.

Wineries in certain states can only send wine to certain types of addresses in certain other states (all of this dependent on local laws and basically impossible to predict). Also, a lot of the time a winery can ship wine to the customer's house, but not to another person's house. A way to get around it is to have it shipped to your name at your friend's address, but that starts to get complicated.

[Sgent]

7. I think your ok

in the airport -- but if your not coming from an international destination, there could be a question of bootlegging once you arrive.

[Haole Girl]

8. This will help you with questions regarding what you can and

can't carry on board:

http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=175

[Flaxbee]

9. hmm.. not on the prohibited items list.

and shipping it (earlier poster's idea) is a good idea, but I live in a total back-woods area and the local wines I buy I get from the wine store, not the wineries, though I guess that wouldn't stop me from calling the wineries.

[Haole Girl]

10. Most airlines let you take a small quantity, in your carry on

for domestic flights (1 or 2 bottles), but not in checked baggage (because it cannot withstand normal baggage handling, and could break). But, as they said above, it's always best to check with the airline you are flying on. Also, keep in mind, TSA could confiscate it (basically, if they feel like it). Bottom line: it's always better to ship something like that.

But, just to confuse you further, I bring back wine regularly in my carry on from Hawaii and have never had a problem with just 1 or 2 bottles in a carry on.

[lakemonster11]

11. This website says you can, as long as it's legal to

transport wine from where you're coming from to where you're going to.

http://www.wineintro.com/wineries/airplane.html

I think I might have carried a bottle of wine in my carry-on on a domestic flight once, but I'm not sure. I know I've carried them on international flights within Europe, and I've packed wine in my checked bag coming back to the US from Europe. The only limits were set by customs---I could bring back up to two regular-sized bottles without specifically declaring them.

[murielm99]

13. I've brought wine back from California as carry-ons.

I visited Napa Valley a couple of times and brought wine from there. There was never a problem with it.

If it had been more than a couple of bottles, I would have had the winery ship them home for me.

[dry99]

14. I just flew back from Napa to Orlando on Thursday

with 6 bottles of wine as my carry on. No one said a thing to me. I was on United but my only original concern was the TSA but they didn't say a word. Make sure, though, that you have something suited to carrying it.

[radwriter0555]

15. Yes. You can put it in your luggage or carry it on, which ever is easiest

for you.

No regulations whatsoever.

And returning from Europe you can bring back up to 5 bottles.

[Cannikin]

16. I flew a bottle of Grand Marnier back from St. Maarten with no problem....

Except they lost the bag and I didnt get it for days....bottle still intact.

[Ravenseye]

17. You'll be fine

I think it's legal. It's not against federal regulations so it'd be up to the airlines, and even then, they're not searching your bags.

Still best to check first. Before our wedding my wife and I were flying and bringing her wedding dress down to Pittsburgh from Boston where we were living, and even though we had an OK from the airline, the TSA security checkpoint people were being dicks and not letting us through security saying that it would have to be checked. We told them we weren't checking her wedding dress, and had an ok from the airline to bring it on board. We had to wait while they contacted the airline.

They were really dicks about it for no reason so be sure you're in the right before you do something you have questions about.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

18. It's not a problem.

I've transported alcohol on flights, even while underaged and never had a problem with security. So, I really doubt you'd have any issues. I think there's a two bottle limit, but I've brought far more than that.

Edited to say: My carry-on was clanking. :)

[seemunkee]

19. I brought back a magnum of beer from europe recently

It was a corked bottle tha looked like a champagne bottle and no one made me take it out of the carryon bag.

[Flaxbee]

20. thanks for all the replies, everyone.

I think I'll buy the bottles, and when it's time to head out the door see how crammed my luggage is before I decide.

I appreciate the input!