Duty Free to Australia

Hi All

Am rather excited that my trip to Oz is nearly here but surprised to read on the VA website about duty free purchases and that I cant buy anything at LHR, on the flight to HKG, or at HKG and if I do it will be confiscated??[?]

Why is this so strict and does this mean I'm not allowed to buy anything tax free at all?

Thanks in advance folks![:D]

I seem to remember reading in one of the respectable UK papers that the entire duty free / liquid problem on connecting flights where a passenger never goes 'landside' all boils down to the fact that there is no internationally agreed standard for a tamper-evident bag to seal the duty free purchases in.

When on my travels, I have had duty free liquids 'sealed' in anything from a normal carrier bag tied together at the top with a lot of sellotape (Orlando), to a serious tamper evident bag, with internal pocket for the receipt showing what has been purchased (Hannover).

Given the apparent lack of consistency in sealing up liquid based duty free purchases, I cannot blame the airlines in erring on the side of caution when deciding what to allow you to take on board.

James

The website is correct. You have to take all items off the aircraft at HKG and pass through security again to enter the gate area to reboard for SYD. You can't take any liquids bigger than 100ml with you through the HKG security checkpoint.

I have always found HKG cheaper for duty free so it's no real problem. You can buy your items in HKG and you will be able to take them through to Australia. There are plenty of duty free stores right next to gate 36 which VS use at HKG. [:D]

[mcmbenjamin]

Hmm I thought you could preorder items for collection on return to LHR from BAA. I could be outdated or wrong.

Originally posted by tallprawn
The website is correct. You have to take all items off the aircraft at HKG and pass through security again to enter the gate area to reboard for SYD. You can't take any liquids bigger than 100ml with you through the HKG security checkpoint.

Absolutely [y] - am sitting in my room at the Intercontinental Sydney with a fantastic view of the bridge and opera house ... oh and yes, when you disembark from the plane at HKG for the stop you pass through security into the terminal and any bottles / liquids over 100ml are banned. I am not sure about other duty free items though ...

As stated that is correct anything over 100ml will be confiscated. I had some deodorant aerosol confiscated in Bangkok last week which was over 100ml but bought at Heathrow and in a sealed bag.

On the plus side I am pretty sure SYD has an inbound duty free shop, Melbourne definitely does, which is where I always get grog no need to carry it around.

The only thing affected, correct me if I am wrong, is liquids and aerosols.

Originally posted by RobL
On the plus side I am pretty sure SYD has an inbound duty free shop

Yes it does ... standard stuff I saw as I waltzed by this morning.

Thanks everyone - and Slinky am very envious.... still roll on the Marriott view and its exec lounge in a couple of weeks time!! Hope the jet lag is ok?

so if I buy on the plane or at heathrow aftershave under 100ml it wont be confiscated at HKG or SYD then?

Interestingly VS200 and VS201 are the only routes that VA won't let you pre-order duty free on either! Bugger!

Originally posted by baloobear
so if I buy on the plane or at heathrow aftershave under 100ml it wont be confiscated at HKG or SYD then?

As long as you can fit the aftershave bottle in your little plastic ziploc bag, you'll be fine [:)]

Originally posted by baloobear
Thanks everyone - and Slinky am very envious.... still roll on the Marriott view and its exec lounge in a couple of weeks time!! Hope the jet lag is ok?

so if I buy on the plane or at heathrow aftershave under 100ml it wont be confiscated at HKG or SYD then?

Thanks - you'll be here soon, the weather is lovely [y].

I took my placky bag of toiletries with me and had aftershave in a 100ml bottle, got through HKG no problem.