Things You Should Know About Duty Free Shopping

I’ve always loved duty-free shops, but, like most things related to flying these days, the rules governing duty-free purchases have changed, and if you’re not up-to-date on what’s allowed and what’s not your liquid duty-free purchases may be confiscated by security. Bear in mind that these new rules apply only to the same liquids, lotions, gels, and aerosols that are subject to the US 3-1-1 rule (no container holding more than 3.4 ounces, must all fit in one 1-quart zip top bag, no more than I bag per passenger).

Many duty-free shops in countries other than the United States are located before the security check point. Therefore, in countries that belong to the European Union (virtually all of Europe), as well as Iceland, Norway, Singapore, Australia and some other countries, all duty-free liquids must be placed in tamper-evident bags before passing through the country’s security check point. If you have a nonstop flight from an international airport to the United States you won’t have a problem bringing in those purchases. But if you have a connection inside the United States, your liquids, even in tamper-evident bags, will not be allowed through security.

If you’re outward-bound, the problem is different. Any purchase from a duty free shop in the US is allowed on-board the plane, but if it isn’t in a tamper-evident bag, it will be confiscated upon your arrival. US duty-free shops are permitted but not required to supply these bags so they don’t always have them, and the bags are not available on the plane, so you really need to ask before you buy that bottle of perfume, Champagne, or liquor.

As always, knowing the rules will save you a lot of unnecessary frustration—and wasted money. To get all the details directly from the horse’s mouth (aka the government’s Web site).