Can You Bring Wine on a Plane in A Checked Bag or Not?

Packing is not the only thing to worry about when traveling to a certain place, you also need to think about rules and regulations with checked and carry-on baggage. Instances of not knowing what is not a problem to bring along and what is, could be a very common thing to take place. For example, now you are having confusion about carrying wine in your checked bag. What are the rulings to bring wine on a plane in a checked bag, let’s have a solo conversation on that matter today?

So, Can You Bring Wine on a Flight in a Checked Bag?

Carrying alcohol including wine is fine inside a checked bag generally. The TSA would want you to follow a few guidelines regarding carrying any sort of wine inside checked bag. And as long as you do well at following them, there should be no problem with bringing wine inside of it. Now surely you need some idea of what guidelines I am talking about.

Well, the alcohol content cannot be more than 70 percent by volume. Also, TSA limits alcohol between 24 and 70 percent to 5 liters per passenger in checked bags. It must be in unopened retail packaging.

If you are carrying a volume that is less than 24 percent alcohol then, there’s no quantity limitation generally. And this includes mostly wine as well as beer. Because typically a bottle of wine means no more than 10 to 15 percent alcohol content. So, TSA sets no quantity limit for wine in a checked bag, though your airline’s weight limits and fees for heavy bags still apply.

In a carry-on, wine is limited to containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less that fit in your quart-size liquids bag. And FAA rules don’t let you drink your own alcohol on board; only a flight attendant can serve it.

Country Based Regulations on Carrying Wine.

As I have already told you, there’s basically no problem with quantity limits on wine carrying with TSA regulations. But airlines can have their own set of rules on bringing alcohol including wine.

Also depending on which country, you are traveling to, the duty-free alcohol allowance is a thing to be aware of. This permissible alcohol will not to face any taxes, duties, or tariffs. But with additional quantity, there can be tax and duty to consider. Allowances differ a lot from country to country, and they change, so check the customs website of your destination before you buy.

Coming home to the U.S.? Returning residents 21 or older can include no more than 1 liter of alcohol in their duty-free exemption. You may owe duty and tax on anything above that.

Within the EU, wine you buy for your own use already includes local taxes. The EU’s guideline value for wine is 90 liters, of which only 60 liters can be sparkling; carry more and customs may ask you to prove it isn’t for resale.

Packing Wine in Checked Luggage – Very Important!

Packing the wine bottle inside your checked baggage is a very important task you must pay extra attention to. Because as soon as the wine bottles shatter, not only will it destroy every other content inside bag but also there’s a chance of that suitcase getting a no call by airport authorities.

You can use a few socks, t-shirts, and scarves to give the neck of each wine bottle good wrapping. This way there will be cushioning effect available in the bottle’s vulnerable area and help to prevent shattering.

Also, you should take it a step further by wrapping each wine bottle with bulky clothing pieces of yours. Sweater and sweatshirts are perfect nominees for this job. To grab some extra security, you can put them inside watertight plastic bags too. Bubble wraps are also really useful for wrapping wine bottles if clothing is not something you want to use

Then make sure you are placing the bottles with proper wrapping nicely right in the middle of your suitcase. This way the bottles will remain the farthest from each wall of your suitcase or hand baggage. Also, it helps to avoid movement and vibration during transport.

Instead of this, you can also ask for a local wine shop to make the bottle ready for shipping. Also, while buying wine, you should try to opt for the ones that use other stuff instead of glass bottles for packaging.

There are many renowned winemakers who recently use cans and boxes for packing wine. These are definitely way better at being break-resistance if you compare to the glass-packed ones.

Also, if you think budget is not a big issue, then invest in proper protective wine carriers that come with proper cushion for carrying vulnerable bottles inside.

Wrap up

And that was my thoughts on bringing wine on a plane in a checked bag. Clearly, you can do that, but just make sure you’re attentive to the regulation of destination country, airline and pay extra care with packing those bottles. As long as you ensure to keep these notes checked, there should be least trouble chances with carrying wine bottles. Have a nice flight.

Sources

• Wine Bottle, Transportation Security Administration
• Alcoholic Beverages, Transportation Security Administration
• 19 CFR 148.33, Articles acquired abroad, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
• Rules for carrying alcohol and tobacco in the EU, Your Europe, European Union