I know this is a wine forum, and we're supposed to discuss only matters relating or associated to wine, but this terrorist thing is too topical to only discuss the banning of wine (and other liquids).

Could someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard "they" intend to ban computer notebooks from being carried on (planes). Is this true? How to you feel about this? For me, I don't usually use my notebook on 1 hour or less flights. But if I'm heading to the west coast (from Toronto) or on an international flight, I use the time to work. I NEED the time to work.

All electronic gizmos -- laptops, PDA's, cell phones and ipod's -- are currently banned on all flights to/from the UK and the US.

Only liquid/gels have been banned as carry-on for other flights. You can still take electronic items onboard -- at least for now. I have not yet heard anything regarding electronic items for any other flights except those leaving or going to the UK.

All what I can say is I'm surprised it's taken them this long to ban wine bottles.

Seriously, if you were a bad guy attempting to highjack a plane what's going to cause more damage, a nail clipper or waiter's friend or a full 750ml swung at the back of somebody's head.

And now we have to worry about offensive contents (and I'm not just referring to Yellowtail)

Silly question about checking your wine with your luggage. What about the temperature in the cargo area? Excessive heat or cold can damage wine and airlines can place restrictions on pet transportation due to temperature, especially during hot and cold months. These restrictions are referred to as heat and cold embargos. Furthermore, animals are stored in the live animal cargo section. I imagine that section gets preferential treatment, whats that say about your wine in the regular ol' cargo area?

At 30,000+ feet the outside temperatures are way below freezing. The cargo area receives some heat. My bottles always arrive cool to the touch, just like out of the cellar.

Robert, I have shipped wines back as checked luggage on several occasions with NO breakage or seepage.

Most US wineries have styrofoam shippers available in 3, 6 and 12 bottle containers - where each bottle is isolated from the other.

I would advise shipping this way - as in the past it has cost me $400 to ship 4 cases back from Cali to the east coast.

again with the styro

quote:

Originally posted by TBird:
i'll give up this luxury to keep from being blown out of the sky.

I agree. If I have to fly buckass naked to avoid getting vaporized, no problem.

I just flew back to Toronto from Jamaica this weekend and I had no problem with packing a bottle of wine in my checked baggage. It isn't a big deal as long as it is wrapped properly.

Also, any duty free purchased in the airport was boxed and taped up in the store and taken by the airline at the gate during boarding. I had to pick up my rum at the oversized baggage area in Toronto which was a bit of a pain.

I think these restrictions are here to stay, sad but true. And like others, I'm surprised it's taken this long for this to happen.

Offlines won't be as interesting if it's that much tougher to carry wine on planes, especially since it's so tough to find many aged wines for retail sale, even in the US.

I was half way through a business trip/tour of OR and WA when the ban was instituted. When I visited yet another winery I purchased a 12 bottle shipping box from them to get my growing collection home. I was planning on using a carry on and getting 6 bottles home. Ended up with a checked box and 12 bottles of nice NW Pinot's home safe and sound. This was the only way I could get these wines living in the wonderful state of MD. The cardboard box and styro worked well for the cross country trip. Now I'm left wondering what to do with the box, if I should save it for my next trip. The benefit to the whole thing for me was that I ended up with more wine.

My friend also checked a box like mine, his was opened and inspected by the TSA. It also arrived safe and sound.

quote:

Originally posted by mcc:

quote:

quote:
but they can't stop you from buying it at a shop or Duty-Free and carrying it on.

unfortunately, they are. you can't even bring on water/soda bought at the airport.

I wondered about that. My family came back from the Dominican Republic a few weeks ago, and we loaded up on the duty-free liquor. THAT became my carry on, and at that point, I wouldn't have been able to go back to the check-in to ship it.
This must be killing the duty-frees inside the airports.

I've checked well-packed wine a number of times without incident - usually young wines of moderate price where I didn't feel much was at risk.

What about temperature? I wonder what the temperature is in the hold of a jetliner? I know what the temperature is on the runway in Miami or Phoenix in the summer and I wouldn't like to see wine out there for long.

I have a minimum/maximum thermometer I think I'll pack in one of the box spaces next trip and see what the temp range is.

quote:

Originally posted by patches:
I have a minimum/maximum thermometer I think I'll pack in one of the box spaces next trip and see what the temp range is.

Great idea! Please post your findings and what the route was.

quote:

Originally posted by Baird:
If I have to fly buckass naked to avoid getting vaporized, no problem.

The idea of that makes riding a train a whole lot better.

i like trains, too

in this country amtrak takes longer (delays)

and the safety stats are better than cars but not planes

the good part is the room & comfort

but, price can be more than flying at times