Flying with Port

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:54 pm

Based upon this thread, a series of questions were spawned re: Port and flying. As we all know, present rules forbid taking bottles of any liquid onboard an aircraft that are larger than 100 mL. As such, Alex stated that he usually flies with at least 2 or 3x mL bottles of Port, so he knows he can always have a good glass at the end of the night. This led me to the following set of questions... I'm particularly interested in those folks that do a lot of traveling. I have not done a whole lot of job-related travel, but the three trips I was on this year for job-related duties proved to me that Alex's practice really is necessity, simply because it is hard to find any decent Port in most hotels restaurants and the like, and when you do, it is almost always very pricey.

Have you ever had problems with multiple bottles of the 100 mL variety?
What is the most you have ever tried fitting in one of the little baggies that they want the liquids in?
Do you pack port in your hold luggage?

Todd

Lars F · Post by **Lars F** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:14 am

Can't say that I've tried packing port for any kind of travel, but in my experience you can cram all you can into the little baggies as long as the zip lock will close. You can't however fill up more than one bag which I learned the hard way when I robbed a hotel room of some particularly nice complementary shampoos and soaps. I wouldn't recommend standing in the security line and having the people there going through your loot

-Lars

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:59 am

The most I have ever taken through security was 3 bottles of 100ml capacity each. As Lars suggests, no-one seems interested provided you can fit it all into one of those little bags that the give you at the airport. Every now and then a particularly vigilant security guard will ask me what the bottles are and I tell the truth - wine samples to share with people at the other end of the journey.

No one has ever stopped me from flying with them.

I will sometimes also fly with a bottle in the hold or a bottle in the cabin that was bought in duty free at the airport.

Alex

Moses Botbol · Post by **Moses Botbol** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:54 am

I've always put bottles in my check in luggage.

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:49 am

I would not try putting alcool in 3 x 100ml small bottles to go trough Canadian customs. This is potential problem.

I've always put all my bottles in my luggage in those bubbles plastic bag and enveloped in towels, thermos bag or cloths. Brought back again 15 and a half bottles this year and no breakage

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:10 pm

Hopefully you got some good ones in the mix Fred! :)

I've flown twice with bottles in the hold, and unfortunately, one of of the three bottles broke on the second trip. My bad tho - I somehow managed to pack the thing on top of the 'spine' of the suitcase (one of two metal rods that seem to run the width of the case to provide form and rigidity.)

Argh... that Niepoort '76 Colheita was a tragic loss.

Todd

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:29 am

Some more tips :)

You need to have rigid protection in your suitcase in addition to the one it has. I use either cardboard from wine cases of wood panels of wine cases depending on the one available to me. With this you can make a solid and stable base to stock and protect your love ones

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:58 am

This is the first time that I did not bring a styro shipper with me. Instead I brought along an 8 bottle WINE CRUZER ... google it ... and it never exceeds the weight limit. It is quite limiting in terms of what you can bring back ... missing 4 bottles from the typical case shipper. However it is so well insulated and is almost bullet proof and has a carrying handle and wheels, that having received one as a gift from my brother, I figured this would be a good time to try it.

I know that many of the folks on this trip are "concerned" about entering their country of origin ... USA, Canada, China. So we'll see how we all fare passing through customs and report back here!

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:39 pm

Wow, what a cool case. I found it here: http://www.winecruzer.com/.

I also see they have a 12- and 24-bottle version. I imagine the shipping surcharges may get a bit steeper on those ones, but hey, at least you know your wine will arrive home safe and sound.

One that I found very cool was the 5+decanter option. It appears that it would hold a decanter or, thinking still 'inside the box', a magnum.

Todd

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:02 am

Having just reentered the USA with 12 bottles of Port in a carboard and styrofoam wine shipper, I had NO problems what so ever. I decalred to Customs it was wine and zero problems. Also had no problems with TAP Airlines and American Airlines when I checked the big box in.

I like the cardboard and styrofoam wine shipping boxes as they never exceed the airlines weight limits when you fill up a 12 bottle box and they offer very good insulating properties. Ohh, and they are cheap or free, as I reuse the one I get during the year from other wine shipments to me.

However, One must be very careful as some of those 12 bottle carriers (the plastic or metal ones with wheels) often will exceed the weight limit when filled with 12 bottles of wine. So becareful before you spend money to buy one.

Jay Powers · Post by **Jay Powers** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:37 pm

I returned from Portugal in 2006 with 12 bottles in single bottle shippers strapped together into a big "box" with strapping tape, and an addittional 4 bottles in my bag. I had to pay an overweight charge, but had no problems with security or customs (Porto-Newark on TAP, Newark to SFO on United). Have not tried it recently.

Jay

SEAN C. · Post by **SEAN C.** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:11 pm

Although I had no problems returning from Portugal recently with a 12 bottle cardboard wine shipper full of Port I can HIGHLY recommend the "Wine Cruzer" made by Pelican cases. Pelican is well know in the world of elite military units especially for their weapon and communications support cases because they are virtually indestructible. So when I learned from Roy (above) that they now make wine travelers I had to run out and buy one. I picked up the 5 bottle + decanter (or magnum bottle) case with wheels and It has already come in handy several times for keeping my wine in excellent condition during travel! I like this case so much I may pick up an 8 bottle as well!

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:16 pm

As cool as the 8 bottle Wine Cruzer may be, I like Andy's way better, which I have used for over a dozen years in shipping wines between countries. They are light, efficient, thermally sound, easily shipped if necessary (buying another case worth of wine to carry back) and best of all, they're free.

My only issue with 'em is that although they can be reused, they are a serious pain in terms of their half life. Where I live it is even worse, there are no recycling facilities within WA State where you can plunk styro shippers. :twisted:

Moses Botbol · Post by **Moses Botbol** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:31 pm

I've used the carboard case shipper a couple of times with no problems.

Once I was delivering port for a friend that had no real selection around him, and he just mailed back the empty box rather than have me lug back an empty box on the plane.

Lugging a full case cardboard box is not any fun, fyi...

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:28 pm

I must admit that I own a very cool telescoping luggage cart that I have used for years (quite heavy duty but very light in weight) that folds into a small format and I just stow it above me when flying. It can easily handle a full size suitcase and full case cardboard wine shipper with ease and usually my wine bag/carry on as well. It has always been my preferred way to bring wine in and out of the USA and even to domestic venues when the need arises.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:29 pm

While taking a friend to the airport last night, we spoke with a TSA agent who said that security will be even tighter during the holiday season and bringing in wines from overseas will be heavily scrutinized for the next few weeks. He would not say if it would loosen up again in January.

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:41 pm

Roy Hersh wrote:While taking a friend to the airport last night, we spoke with a TSA agent who said that security will be even tighter during the holiday season and bringing in wines from overseas will be heavily scrutinized for the next few weeks. He would not say if it would loosen up again in January.

Glad I am not taking a trip anywhere over the holiday season then!

Todd