OK, so you read about my purchases... 22 bottles of wine and 5 bottles of olive oil. Then, the only problem was getting it back.

We were packing our suitcases the last night of our honeymoon (we both have 26" Travel Pro Flightpro 2 suitcases) and we were going to place the wine (which the wineries pack in easy to carry boxes that fit 3 bottles each) between layers of clothes. However, we thought that if a bottle breaks, all the clothes would be ruined. So, I started reading the back of our tickets regarding carry-on dimensions. Since both our carry-ons met the dimensions, we decided we'd just carry all the wine with us. So, we placed the wine in our carry-ons with some clothes as padding.

We get to the airport the next morning, and proceed to check-in. When we get there, the lady informs us that the carry-on weight is 8 kilograms (17 pounds). I tell her we have a bunch of breakable wine bottles that we don't want to pack, and I'd be willing to pay extra if I had to. She informed me that we couldn't, and we'd have to do something to make our carry-ons lighter. So I asked, "Are we supposed to re-pack right here in the middle of the airport?" She replied... "Your carry-ons can only be 8 kilos." Next I asked her about the people who buy things at the stores in the airport. Many people shop at the duty free stores and bring stuff back in bags, in addition to their luggage. So, she informed us that it was acceptable.

So, we move off to the side, pack our wine in shopping bags we had. With our new 8 kilo carry-ons we got back on line, checked in, checked our suitcases and proceeded to security. We get to security, and they tell us that we can't go through because we have too many bottles, and it is a hazard for the airline. We informed them that the lady at check-in told us it was OK, so security said we had to get the lady call them and issue and OK to let us through. So, back to the lady we go.

When we get there, we explain the situation, and she tells us that she previously told us we could only have 8 kilos. I reminded her about the airport shopping, and she said it was OK if we used bags as long as the total weight of all our carry-ons was less than 8 kilos. Now we are screwed. Our suitcases are already gone, we have nothing else to pack them in, there is no Fed-Ex, or post office at the airport. What do we do with all our wine?

So, we load the wine back into my carry-on. I had 4 bottles in my brand new Italian leather briefcase, and bag with 8 kilos of wine. We were throwing any and everything that could act as padding into the carry-on... fliers, pamphlets, schedules, etc. All in all, the carry-on, which was basically a duffel bag, (read no padding, etc.) had 10 of the 22 bottles of wine. We all know how airlines treat baggage. I was sure we weren't ever going to see any of the wine. We check the bag, and watch as I'm sure this will be the last time I see those bottles. Terra was crying, and shaking. I was in a state of shock... I couldn't even think. We get through security, and sit at our gate.

Then, we start worrying what happens if the wine leaks on others' baggage ruining their stuff. I almost started crying... it was hell. The pit in my stomach was huge!!! Then, it gets worse.

They call boarding for our plane. So, I stand up, sling my briefcase over my shoulder, pick up the bag of wine, and start walking forward. Next thing I know, the weight on my shoulder "snaps" off, I hear a *thud* on the floor, and people behind us gasp. I turn around, and what do I see on the floor... red wine streaming out of my brand new bag. AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I literally wanted to die, then and there. As I pick up the bag, and turn it over to see if the bottom of the bag is busted, the remaining wine pours out of the top, all down my pants. Shorts... soaked in red wine. Boxers... soaked in red wine. Sock... soaked in red wine. Sneaker... you guessed it!!! With an enormous puddle below me, I step out of line, open the bag, take out all the bottles (thank God it was the 6Euro bottle that broke), throw the broken one away, pour the rest of the wine into a garbage can, reload the remaining 3 bottles into my briefcase, wipe off my leg when an airport employee gave me a paper towel, and get back on line. Now, we're both freaking... we just wanted to get home.

Fast forward 12 hours (10 flying, 2 laying over)... back in the US at good ol' JFK... in the baggage claim waiting for our bags. First, one of our suitcases... a few minutes later, the next one. I'm sure I'm going to hear people comlpain about their bags being wet. I'm looking at others' bags to see if there is red wine on them. I see my duffel bag on the belt. As it gets to me... it looks alright, it isn't wet. I pick it up, and bring it to our push cart. Terra's shaking. I don't smell wine (except what is on me and my clothes), the bag seems heavy, and I don't hear broken glass. We open it up...

NOT ONE SCRATCH!!! I started crying I was so happy, Terra did too. Now we both go to church, and I know you're not supposed to pray for material things... but I said countless prayers for our wine (Terra later said she said more Hail Mary’s than she ever has). Believe in God or not... getting all that wine back with nothing being broken is nothing short of a miracle!!!

I guess I won't be buying any wine in Italy.

Ha ha ha.

Actually I believe I had 8 (plus or minus 2) in my 8 kilo bag. I definately won't buy that much next time we go. However, I think I'll buy some and caryfully pack it in the suitcase.

Another idea is bringing a seperate suitcase for wine. Some wineries have the wine in wood boxes. I also heard that you can get styrofoam shippers and stuff like that at enotecas.

Oh man, what a story! I ended up bringing back a bunch of bottles from Cayman in June (which I hadn't planned for) and didn't have 1/4 the problem you had....and THAT was pure hell. I can only imagine what you and Terra must have been going through.

Congrats on getting back with everything in tact though. Must have been some trip! I'll look foward to the TN's.

Oh geez Matt ... glad that only the one bottle broke. I understand what you went through, because the same thing happened to me.

Luckily I was able to finally get through and not have to check and wine.

Yeah, I don't see what the big deal is. To add to it, our plane wasn't even full... neither legs of the trip. There was pleanty of space in the overhead bins and beneath seats. Oh well, at least all ended well. I know it is after the fact, but... How many bottles did you wind up bringing back? Did you make special provisions to carry them?

I was made to check a carry on bag in Montreal as it was deemed slightly too large (it wouldn't fit through the plexiglass hole of the x-ray machine). I was anticipating carrying the bag on the plane so I didn't bother to protect my 13 bottles of wine I had just bought/traded for.

The check in person told me to relax, slapped fragile stickers all over it and promised me they would take good care of my wine.

In Toronto, I was waiting to find my bag leaving a trail of expensive red wine behind it but miraculuosly not a bottle was broken.

I was very lucky - the wines were Ornalaia, Guado al Tasso, Solengo and various 375mls of vintage port.

What a story! I can only imagine how stressful it was. You feel so helpless at an airport like that, b/c you don't have any legit backup options.

On a more positive note, I was far more lucky coming back from Tuscany (Florence-Paris-Dulles). I had a Banfi box of six bottles (flat box) in a checked bag... It barely fit in the bag, and I padded it too tightly I think. It was cracked (not badly enough to warrant repair) when I got it at Dulles.

We carried six (or was it eight?) other bottles including a magnum in our carry-ons with our other breakable souvenirs. Basically packed everything we would normally carry on into our checked baggage.

All the wine arrived unscathed, and we got not a question or raised eyebrow from customs for bringing back 12 bottles of wine incl a magnum.

We are going to be selective in our purchases, that is for sure.

We take an annual trip to Sonoma/Napa to tour wineries with friends. Since shipping is quite costly back to Hawaii, we've learned to bring two rolling duffles which contains one empty styrofoam packing box previously obtained from our winery friends but can be purchased at most wineries for $8-10. The filled styrofoam case (12 bottles) and duffle weighs just about 50# which avoids the excess weight airline surcharge. Our other two 26" suitcases carries our clothes and gifts for our friends and in a pinch can contain a couple of 3 pack styrofoam units. On return we have 2 cases of wine in unbreakable styrofoam and 2-3 packs - 30 bottles total (not to mention carry on if needed). You might consider this if you intend to purchase wine while travelling in the future.
aloha

Not long ago I traveled to Napa alone on business and brought back 44 bottles (without a baggage overage). Southwest allowed 3 checked bags- one cardboard/ styrofoam shipper with 12 bottles, 2 suitcases with a 12 bottle styrofoam shipper in each, a 6 bottle cardboard hand carrier from a winery, and 2 bottles in my backpack. All came back safe. I think I pushed my luck pretty much to the max. on that one!

What's more fun- the pursuit or the consumption?

You Americans are just too pampered. Don't you know that other than in America and flying in or out of America, the rest of the world has an 8kg (Actually 7kg) limit carry on and 20kg on check-in ? That check-in is good enough for only a dozen bottles. So ship your wines by couriers next time if you are buying lots.

I came back on an International flight with 35 bottles of wine.

quote:

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Originally posted by Konei:
Don't you know that other than in America and flying in or out of America, the rest of the world has an 8kg (Actually 7kg) limit carry on and 20kg on check-in ?

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If I knew, do you think I would have had that problem?

Mwagner - congrats on bringing 'em back alive (mostly...). The various regulations are so frustrating because of their inconsistency.

On our trip to Italy in June we brought back eight bottles in our suitcases. I travel with very large industrial strength ziplock bags and we packed them with our luggage.

We shipped back another 3 cases via a carrier to remain nameless. Cost on the 2-day international shipping came out to be $18 per bottle. Most of the wine was high-end barolo so even with the $18 the wines were still 30% less per bottle than US prices. There will be a Barolo-athon in a few years in our house.

Nice.

Yeah, I read the the shipping turns out to be very expensive. Now, I have real numbers to "back it up."

quote:

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Originally posted by Winetex:
There will be a Barolo-athon in a few years in our house.

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I've already got my plane ticket booked.

Futronic - You'll be on our invite list. Besides, you need to pick up a certain bottle o'bubbly.

Indeed I do. Hopefully we'll get together before a few years from now, however!

that was one heck of a story,
thank you for sharing!
I got a chuckle,
you have your way with words and I usually don't read looong posts.

Great (but sad) story! What was the airline?

JFTR, I came back from Napa/Sonoma last week with no less than 15 qty 750 ml bottles in carry-on luggage. And at least half of them were those incredibly heavy Pinot Noir bottles (what’s up with that, anyways?).

quote:

Originally posted by GreenDrazi:
What was the airline?

Lufthansa.

quote:

Lufthansa.

is very strict with rules. I always bring and extra case for bringing back my wine.

I avoid Lufthansa because of their rigid inflexibility. Try Alitalia - they are usually quite willing to bend the rules for you if they can.

On my last trip, I had some Banfi 1999 Brunello left over from the restaurant the night before. I suppose this was probably against the rules, but they were very obliging in letting me finish off my carry-on wine.

Returning from last year's tip from Tuscany, I had 13 bottles: 6 in my checked bag, 4 in my gym bag, and 3 in my backpack. The checked bag had those nice 3 bottle carriers, each bottle wrapped in a sock and then a plastic bag taped around it. The boxes were in the center of all of the dirty clothes, tucked in very tight. I have never had a problem carrying bottles back this way.
Delta has never questioned the weight of my bags. I have never had a problem with Delta.
On one recent trip I carried a sealed case back on my shoulder, as carry on luggage, and no one seemed to think it strange.