Want to bring some ‘air sodas’ on your next flight? That’s cool with us! Whether you are traveling with craft beer, cougar juice or hard liquor, we’ve got you covered. Don’t be absinthe-minded and make pour choices, follow these tips on your next trip! According to the FAA, it’s all about the alcohol content! Alcohol less than 24% alcohol by volume (ABV) or 48 proof, like most beers and wine:
For carry-on you are limited to containers of 3.4oz or less that can fit comfortably in one quart-sized, clear, zip-top bag. If it’s overflowing from the bag, that isn’t comfortable. Please remember, one bag per passenger, For checked bags, there is no limit! I wish this was true when I was in college.
Alcohol between 24% – 70% ABV (48 – 140 proof):
For carry-on, same rules apply as above. You are limited to containers of 3.4oz or less that fit in your quart-sized bag. For checked bags you are limited to five liters per passenger. However, it must be in unopened retail packaging!
Alcohol over 70% ABV or over 140 proof:
Leave your bathtub brew at home! Seriously the strong stuff isn’t allowed in carry-on or checked bags!
Our airline partners and the FAA ask that you don’t drink your own booze while flying. Let’s leave the pouring to the pros! And be sure to check your airline’s website to make sure they are cool with being a designated flyer for your hooch. Planning on buying some ‘cough medicine’ at the duty-free store after the security checkpoint? You’re limited to 5 liters of alcohol between 24%-70% ABV or 48 – 140 proof.
The bottles are packed in a transparent, secure, tamper-evident bag by the retailer. Don’t try to sneak a swig! If the bag looks opened or tampered with, then it won’t be allowed to fly in your carry-on bag. Keep the receipt! You must show that the alcohol was purchased within the last 48 hours.
Are you brining wine or other spirits from overseas? Our friends at Customs and Border Protection are in charge of the rules for bringing alcohol into the United States, Cheers! Jay Wagner
Contents
How do you carry alcohol on a plane?
Alcoholic beverages Carry On Bags: Yes (Less than or equal to 3.4oz/100 ml allowed) Check with your airline before bringing any alcohol beverages on board. FAA regulations prohibit travelers from consuming alcohol on board an aircraft unless served by a flight attendant.
- Additionally, Flight Attendants are not permitted to serve a passenger who is intoxicated.
- Alcoholic beverages with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging.
- Alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations in checked bags.
Mini bottles of alcohol in carry-on must be able to comfortably fit into a single quart-sized bag. For more information, see FAA regulation: : Alcoholic beverages
Can I take alcohol in my suitcase on a plane?
How To Pack Alcohol in Your Checked Baggage – When you’re packing alcohol in your checked luggage, you’ll want to make sure it’s wrapped well, so it’s protected. A is important in this instance since it will help protect your alcohol bottles from being crushed.
- Next, you’ll want to wrap your bottles in a protective layer — this can be just your clothes or a specially designed case.
- You can buy inexpensive bubble wrap bags for wine bottles online.
- While these bags are designed for wine, they can also be used for spirits and even things like olive oil.
- If you’re a serious wine collector or are returning from a trip to, you can even find suitcases designed specifically to transport wine bottles.
If you find yourself packing alcohol in your checked bags and you don’t have any special bag or bubble wrap handy, just be sure to wrap each bottle with your clothes. You can slide bottles into sleeves or pant legs and then pack those wrapped bottles in the middle of your suitcase, between more layers of clothing so they are as insulated as possible.
- If you’re packing mini bottles of alcohol, you can put those inside shoes to give them some protection.
- If you are traveling with beer bottles or something similarly sized, slide each into a sock for protection.
- Don’t forget that the alcohol you pack in your checked luggage should be unopened and still in the original packaging.
Bottom Line: You can pack alcohol in your checked luggage as long as it’s unopened and in the original container. Alcohol that’s less than 24% ABV (under 48 proof) is allowed in unlimited quantities. There’s a limit of 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger for alcohol that has an ABV of 24% to 70% (48 to 140 proof).
Can I take a box of wine in hold luggage?
How Much Wine Can You Bring Back into the USA? – Rule 2: when it comes to bringing alcohol into US in checked luggage, you need to adhere to the TSA’s rules on alcoholic beverages. The TSA alcohol limit is divided into two categories:
- alcoholic beverages that contain between 24% – 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters per person;
- alcoholic beverages that contain less than 24% alcohol have no limit.
So how much wine can I bring back from France then? Great news: as much as you want! Nearly all wine contains less than 24% alcohol, so there is no TSA-regulated quantity limit for the amount of wine in your checked bag for personal use. Just always be sure to check the TSA website for any changes to this policy before you travel. Use wine bottle protectors to protect wine in your checked luggage
Can I put sealed drinks in my checked bag?
1. Can I pack liquids in my checked bag? Yes, liquids in containers larger than 3.4 ounces must be packed in checked luggage. There is no limit to the amount of non-alcoholic liquid that can be brought, but too many full-size bottles can exceed the maximum weight limit for your luggage.
Can I take a drink in my hand luggage?
Liquids – There are restrictions on the amount of liquids you can take in your hand luggage. If possible, pack liquids in your hold baggage (luggage that you check in). Liquids include:
all drinks, including waterliquid or semi-liquid foods, for example soup, jam, honey and syrupscosmetics and toiletries, including creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara and lip glosssprays, including shaving foam, hairspray and spray deodorantspastes, including toothpastegels, including hair and shower gelcontact lens solutionany other solutions and items of similar consistency
If you do take liquids in your hand luggage:
containers must hold no more than 100mlcontainers should be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures around 20cm by 20cmcontents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealedthe bag must not be knotted or tied at the topyou’re limited to one plastic bag per personyou must show the bag at the airport security point
Liquids in containers larger than 100ml generally can’t go through security even if the container is only part full. There are some exemptions.
Can you take alcohol on a plane from duty-free?
Regulations for carry-on (cabin) baggage: – Wine and hard alcohol in your carry-on or cabin baggage is generally NOT allowed. This is because liquids in quantities larger than 100 ml (3.4 oz.) cannot be placed in your carry-on, An exception to the carry-on rule is made for wine and other spirits purchased in duty-free stores beyond security checkpoints.
Under rules that took effect January 31, 2014, passengers traveling internationally into the United States, Canada and Europe with a connecting flight are permitted to carry liquids in excess of 100 ml (3.4 ounces) in their carry-on baggage, provided they were purchased in duty-free shops and placed in secure, tamper-evident bags (STEBs).
See: TSA Again Allows Large Bottles Of Liquids On Planes, With One Catch, Forbes Magazine, 2014/02/05
Does Ryanair check liquids?
When passing through airport security screening : Liquids carried must be in a container of no more than 100ml (3.4 ounces) All liquids should be carried in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of up to 20cm x 20cm with a total capacity of up to a litre.
Can I take an empty metal flask on a plane?
You may take empty drink containers through the checkpoint and fill them afterward. The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.
What is the alcohol limit for aircraft?
Is there a drinking limit? – There’s no specific limit on how much you can drink on a flight, but it is a criminal offence to be drunk on board an aircraft. And cabin crew have the right to refuse to serve alcohol if they think you’ve had one too many.