Taking beer on a plane as a checked bag

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by KingHenry, May 22, 2012.

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  1. Moutstainz

    Moutstainz Aspirant (221) Mar 5, 2011 Illinois

    We do this all the time as well. We always bring beer out to trade/give away as well. Socks and extra t-shirts are your friends. I have also found that Pliny's fit nicely into high top sneakers.
     
  2. JulianB

    JulianB Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2012 South Carolina

    I put a note on top of the inside of my bag politely explaining the contents and asking the TSA agents to be careful searching it, and thank them in advance. Even the times where my bag has been searched everything has been in perfectly good order and nothing has ever broken.

    Packing at the Seattle airport:

    [​IMG]

    Everything back safe and sound:

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. CurtFromHershey

    CurtFromHershey Initiate (0) Oct 4, 2012 Minnesota

    12 bottle wine shipper ended up at around 45, my suitcase with my clothes for a week and all but 2 of the 12oz'ers (wife's bag) ended up at 49 lbs. Brought a luggage scale along for the occasion :slight_smile:
     
  4. RockAZ

    RockAZ Pundit (983) Jan 6, 2009 Arizona

    Every time packing bottles my bag was searched, and only a growler sprung a leak during one trip, so I don't try to carry full growlers anymore. FedEx is not a bad way to go if you have enough valuable beers to make it worth it.
     
  5. Douberd

    Douberd Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 Netherlands

    I travelled from Mexico to Europe with a stop to the US, having in my bag a couple of cans, a six pack of Bohemia Chocolate Stout and some other south american beers. When I finally got home, I found a TSA note saying my bag was searched. Everything was fine except for one broken bottle ( I don't remember what it was, but I didn't cry, so it was not something I didn't have already :rolling_eyes: ). If dirty clothes don't do their job as cushion, they work as sponge too.
    Also annoyed that my bag was searched without me present, and by the fact the note mentions that they have the right to even break any locks on the suitcase without even bother telling you.
     
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  6. kmello69

    kmello69 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2011 Texas

    The other option is to check a box. I fly Southwest a lot, so this option comes in handy with them, since 2 bags are free. On my last trip to Portland, I picked up a 12 bottle styro shipper there, filled it up, and checked it in as luggage.

    Apparently TSA went through it, but they did a nice job taping it up (with their special TSA "Inspected" tape) and everyone made it home just fine.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. ESeab

    ESeab Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2013 New Jersey

    How about carry on?
     
  8. Steimie

    Steimie Maven (1,404) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    Sure, if it's no more than 3oz and put into a ziplock bag.
     
  9. JulianB

    JulianB Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2012 South Carolina

    No because of the stupid 3-1-1 liquid rule. Unless, of course, there's a shop inside the secure zone that sells beer. Last time I was at the Eugene airport you could buy bombers of Deschutes Black Butte porter and carry them on, so I scooped a couple up.
     
    ColdOne likes this.
  10. ESeab

    ESeab Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2013 New Jersey

    Thats pretty awesome.
     
  11. UnderJoath

    UnderJoath Initiate (0) Jul 29, 2010 Illinois

    No carry on. 3 ounces or less for liquid.

    Also, just had an issue with southwest airlines. They pulled my bags and told me I needed to have the bottles bubble wrapped. I had 8 bottles needing bubble wrap that I didn't wrap myself and they charged me $20 for the lot and did it themselves.

    The bag that they didn't check had 2 bottles wrapped in towels. Unfortunately, my Victory at Sea popped its cap and 90% of it leaked into the one towel. My Palette Wrecker lost it's seal and was leaking CO2 so I just drank that as soon as I unpacked. This was the first time that bottles I wrapped in clothing myself didn't make the trip. J
     
  12. CurtisMcArthur

    CurtisMcArthur Initiate (0) Dec 31, 2009 Tennessee
    In Memoriam

    only if you wanna bring back bottles 3oz and below
     
  13. DaveAnderson

    DaveAnderson Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2011 Minnesota

    And still, that was cheaper than the $25-50 other airlines charge per bag.
     
  14. UnderJoath

    UnderJoath Initiate (0) Jul 29, 2010 Illinois

    Not knocking SWA at all. I was happy to pay the $20 to ensure my bottles arrived safely and in a timely manner since this happened while the final flight to Chicago was boarding.
     
  15. shaunt0000

    shaunt0000 Initiate (0) May 16, 2009 California
    Trader

    of the 500 or so bottles i've checked in over the years, i've only had two bottles break...

    my packing isn't too vigorous either. i just use some bubble wrap and throw bottles between clothes or towels.
     
  16. Duffman929

    Duffman929 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2010 Illinois
    Trader

    Two 6-shippers. Filled with 750's is roughly 37 lbs. Add in clothes to your several pound bag and prepare for awesomeness.
     
  17. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,206) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Society

    If you find some unexpected 12oz bottles on a trip, I've found they fit nearly into shoes for some extra padding.
     
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  18. DaveLikesAle

    DaveLikesAle Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2006 Ohio

    Check airline policies. American requires that alcohol be packed in styrofoam containers. I almost had a really bad experience when my bag checked in at 49 pounds and I said something like "yeah, I get to take all the beer home". The gate agent told me it had to be in styrofoam. I assured her that it was well packed, but it would have sucked to not get to keep it.
     
  19. EvoJoe

    EvoJoe Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2013 North Carolina

    The cabin is pressurized not the underbelly where cargo is stored. Just saying
     
  20. mecummins

    mecummins Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2012 Illinois

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