If you are traveling internationally, and you wish to make a
duty-free purchase of liquor, perfume, cosmetics, or any other item that
may contain liquids, gels, or aerosols, you should take extra
precautions to ensure that your items will not be confiscated by
security in the US or elsewhere. These suggestions apply only to those
items in containers that are larger than 100ml (3.4 fluid ounces)
because only larger containers are subject to many of the common
restrictions on liquids and gels. Categories of duty-free items that
fall under these restrictions include the following:
- Liquor
- Wine
- Perfume and body sprays
- Facial cleansers and creams
- Body or hand lotions
- Liquid make-up
Member countries of the European Union; as well as Iceland, Norway,
Japan, Singapore, Australia, and others; have restrictions on liquid and
gel products that are similar to the US restrictions regarding liquids
and gels in carry-on bags. As a result, there are potential implications
for passengers who purchase liquid duty-free items (e.g. perfume and
liquor) while traveling to and from international destinations.
Because many duty-free shops in other countries are located before
the security checkpoint, all liquid duty-free items purchased in those
airports will be placed in special sealed tamper-evident bags in order
to be permitted through those countries’ security checkpoints. Note that
the tamper-evident bag is not currently accepted through US
checkpoints, but there are other options listed described below that may
help you.
To avoid getting your liquid duty-free items taken by airport security, please follow the guidelines below.
Traveling from the United States
Duty-free purchases of liquids of any size from shops in the US are
permitted if you have a nonstop flight to an international destination.
If you have a connecting flight in Europe, Japan or another
international destination, US duty-free liquid purchases in containers
larger than three ounces will not be permitted through security
checkpoints because they will not be in the an ICAO approved
tamper-evident bag. However, many duty-free stores in US airports offer
the approved tamper-resistant. If this is the case, make sure that the
duty-free shop places your items it in the bag in the store.
While using tamper-evident bags may work for you in most situations,
perhaps the best way to make sure to avoid any problems at the
checkpoint is to wait until you reach your destination to purchase your
duty-free items containing liquids, gels, or aerosols. Keep in mind that
this option may not exist for every airport, so check ahead of time.
When traveling to an international destination with a connection, it
is best to buy your duty-free items on the last leg of your trip when
you do not need to pass through any more security checkpoints.
Note on Japan: Japan does not use or accept the ICAO
tamper-evident duty-free bag, so travelers changing planes in Japan for
other international destinations should wait to purchase any liquid,
aerosol or gel duty-free items in excess of 3.4 ounces (100ml) after
arriving in Japan. Passengers who have liquid duty-free items in
containers larger than 3.4 ounces will not be allowed to take them
through the checkpoint during the security re-check process in Japan.
Returning to the United States from Overseas
On nonstop flights bound for the US, passengers carrying duty-free
liquids purchased at an international airport will not have any
problems.
On nonstop flights bound for the US, duty-free liquids purchased in
an international airport will be permitted through the checkpoint only
if they meet US requirements for the use of tamper-evident bags.
Duty-free delivered to the aircraft for passenger pick-up, bought on the
plane or purchased after the security checkpoint are allowed.
If you are flying to the US and have a connecting domestic flight,
you will be required to reclaim your checked bags prior to passing
through customs inspection, so use this opportunity to place your
duty-free liquids, aerosols, and gels in your checked bags before
rechecking them for your connecting flight.
Other Duty Free Advice
When traveling to an international destination with a connection, buy your duty-free liquid items on the last leg of your trip.
In Europe and other countries that use the tamper-evident bag,
passengers should not open the bag before the security checkpoint, or
else the duty-free contents may be seized.
When returning from an international destination on a connecting
flight in the US, use your time in customs to place any duty-free liquid
items in your checked bags.
