Airline question

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by PSUDREW, Mar 24, 2012.

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  1. Slamminson

    Slamminson Devotee (399) Mar 24, 2012 Washington

    I've had no problems flying between DTW and SEA. I bring beer from Michigan to share with friends, which also serves as reminder to not over pack on the return flight and cause the baggage fees to rise. In addition to clothes as padding, koozies serve as an additional safety measure. As long as you don't have bottles knocking each other you should be good. If you hear that clinking sound, repack. Cans of any kind are bad news. Aluminum cans fold and wrinkle when not in a packaging carrier which creates a small pinhole leak.
     
  2. TheBrewo

    TheBrewo Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2010 New York

    We bring about 50 beers back each time we travel home to the states. Lots of bubble wrap, and making sure no two are loose next to each other. Put clothes in between them, but as someone said above, you may be at risk with random bag searches. They have opened our bag once and unwrapped three bottles to inspect, and all three broke, while everything else was okay. I guess it is kind of hard to prep for that one.
     
  3. OneBeertoRTA

    OneBeertoRTA Initiate (0) Jan 2, 2010 California

    As previously stated you must check in bags with beer. I travel about 125K miles per year and when I'm heading to places like FL and IL where I don't get distribution I will bring a spare carry on filled with bubble wrap, newspaper and tape. The fuller you stuff your bag the less likely any single bottle is to break. Just last week I checked in my carry on and was able to fit about 5 bombers and 6 regulars in between my clothes without and additional protection other than my normal garments.
     
  4. Torontoblue

    Torontoblue Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2005 Canada (AB)

    As mentioned in the Haul thread elsewhere, I recently brought back 35 bottles & cans from SF to Edmonton, Canada. Not one breakage. I used good hard sided suitcases, a load of newspapers stuffed on the bottom and around the bottles, and for the large bottles I used Wine Safeguard & Wine Sac (this link is for the wine skin, the wine sac has a zipper closure). My work colleague sells the wine sac's, cath@thewinesac.com. If you wanna buy some tell her I gave you her name and you should get a discount. I also packed every small bottle in a zip food bag, and then just wrapped clothes and more paper around them. Nothing moved in the suitcases at all!! A 12 pack of 650/750ml bottles weight roughly 45lbs, so real close to the baggage limit. Just make sure nothing moves around, and no bottles touch and everything should make it back in one piece.
     
  5. sammy806

    sammy806 Pundit (780) Feb 29, 2008 Maryland

    I ordered a beer shipping carton (http://www.mrboxonline.com/styrofoam-beer-shippers-c-21_476.html) to be delivered to the hotel where I was going to be staying. Called the hotel to give them a heads up and it was sent up to my room when it arrived. Got 15 bottles of beer in it and, since I was flying Southwest, I got to check it for free on the return trip home. No problems. Although next time, I either have to check it both ways or send it out ahead via UPS/FedEx.
     
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  6. Torontoblue

    Torontoblue Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2005 Canada (AB)

    Got one of those boxes myself; I'm lucky that I work for an wine import agency, so get them all the time. Airlines usually tag them as fragile and they get proper treatment too.
     
  7. elshaggy

    elshaggy Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2009 Minnesota

    Bump, I absolutely planned on stuffing my checked bag with beer since in out here in SD from Minn. but after opening out bags and seeing toiletries splattered all over baggies and even a solid stick of deodorant cracked up I don't know how I feel about these baggage handlers.

    I'll probably still try it and be extra careful with ziplocks and shit. I just don't know if I should tell the airline checkin attendant II have glass containing liquids when I check to see if they will be a little more courteous with my bag.
     
  8. HarrySTruman

    HarrySTruman Initiate (0) May 16, 2012 Michigan

    Real men of genius. Getting bottles and bringing them on as carry on sounds like the best idea ever. Can you drink them on the plane? I'd assume no, but there's nothing stopping me from taking a 15 minute rest in the bathroom!

    I wonder if Detroit Airport has this... Certainly going to check next time I am there.
     
  9. Steimie

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

    DTW doesn't have this.
     
  10. HuskyinPDX

    HuskyinPDX Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2011 Washington

    I just checked two growlers last week. TSA did search it, but everything was fine. Have your friends buy a 12 bottle shipper. That way they are secure and if searched it is easy to repackage.
     
  11. TheRealDBCooper

    TheRealDBCooper Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2010 Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands

    Not true.

    I returned from an Asia trip last month with a card board box packed with 10 bombers wrapped in news paper and a glass that got beat to hell and came off the belt wet. (Only one broken bottle. They are sturdier than most people think.) Usually though I pack in luggage wrapped in cloths and never had an issue. This box was delivered (booze delivery service which is cheaper than the store for craft beer) to the airport on a stop over and I didn't have time or the means to repack.
     
  12. jzeilinger

    jzeilinger Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,213) Dec 4, 2004 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Lots of really good suggestions. I always put 12 oz bottles in my shoes within my luggage and have never lost one yet. Rolling bottles in pants and shirts has always worked well and have never lost a bottle in 10 years of flying on business. BTW, Jerry Sandusky tainted your avatar for the time being and I'm sure they'll bounce back. The whole issue makes me sick to my stomach, especially when it comes to the legacy JoPa built and it ended this way. (Sorry, don't mean to bring current events into this forum.) I really apologize, seriously. I live in PA, not a PSU fan, but I apologize. I expect my post to be struck at some point.
     
  13. FiddleTilDeath

    FiddleTilDeath Initiate (0) Apr 8, 2006 Massachusetts

    I've had success with the clothes / separation / good packing method..
     
  14. fuzzylogic

    fuzzylogic Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2008 Pennsylvania

    Nice avatar
     
  15. troeglodyte

    troeglodyte Initiate (0) Mar 10, 2009 Pennsylvania

    I just got back from my 5th trip to Aruba. I really try to dink non-IPAs and this last trip even went through a week long de-hop, drinking Keystone Light (gasp) as my swill stand-in til I got to Aruba. I made it through my first two cases of Heinekin with some issue, but could go no further. There are no IPAs to be found on the island and it is my mission to figure out how to get two cases of IPAs (cans if I can find a good one) into one piece of luggage and be able to check as my $40 second bag. Since most all beer in Aruba is $48, the additional cost will not be to bad. Thoughts?
     
  16. bernie

    bernie Initiate (0) May 8, 2008 California

    I have found this type box best for air travel with bombers. 12 bottle there, 12 bottle back! Just recently I was asked to have secondary containment, so be sure to line the box with a plastic bag. Arrive to the airport with it open for inspection and they will tape it shut. I have never lost a bottle. For cans I just fill a suitcase.

    And last, but not least fly Southwest Airlines when possible so you don't pay additional baggage fees!

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. MarkIntihar

    MarkIntihar Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2010 Michigan

    Question: If I use a shipper like the one pictured below, are they going to have a problem with it?

    [​IMG]
     
  18. JM03

    JM03 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2010 Ohio

    I don't think they'll have a problem with it, but I am not sure it offers as much protection as the styro one does. If you used that one safely with trades/shipments, I don't see why it wouldn't safely make it on your trip
     
  19. omnigrits

    omnigrits Initiate (0) Jun 1, 2006 Texas

    Fact is that millions of cases of beer and wine get shipped from breweries and wineries every year in cases like that and most make it to their destination in one piece , but I wouldn't trust it on a flight. I just carried bottles from TX to CA and back on Southwest with a six-bottle styrofoam/cardboard carrier plus bottles in my luggage without any problems.
     
  20. MarkIntihar

    MarkIntihar Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2010 Michigan

    There seems to be some confusion. This isn't just a regular box with a liner, it's one of these:

    http://www.spiritedshipper.com/

    Each of the individual slots is thick-walled, and they are propped off the bottom of the box.
     
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