With the new security precautions it doesn't sound like we will be able to bring liquor home on the planes. (With the no liquids in your carry ons). Has anyone heard anything yet?

You can bring it back, but it must be checked - not carry-on.

Check the liquor? OK I can understand this but who is responsible if it breaks? And who pays you back? I understand fully why they are doing this. This affects me as I have medication that is a liquid which fine to take as I call the airlines a long wait I might add. They said as long as it marked with label & I might want to bring a doctor's note or bring a prescription for it & get it filled in St Thomas. Well I said it cosy me $150 to fill at Kaiser & pay not the full price. Kaiser informed me they will not pay me back & the meds cost retail $350 at a regular drug store. I am not going to worry about it. Just not bring a full bottle but might pack in checked bag. I have also heard this is not long term but until it blow over who know anymore but I rather be on safe side than to be blown up. I guess we won't be buying any liquor when we go in October. Too bad they don't let the liquor store mail it back home. 🙂

Nobody is responsible and no one pays you back - my dad lost two bottles before it ever left the ticket counter area.

Explain your situation to your physician and see if he will go to bat for an early refill for you.

I had a discussion with an airline attendant a few days ago. The new "puffer" machines in the airports are designed to ferret out explosives - but if you take Nitroglycerine and you have it in your pocket, you are going to get the Special Treatment from TSA because the puffer will find it. Be SURE to take it out of your pocket or at least inform the TSA personnel you have it - and have it in a clearly marked container from the pharmacy from which it was dispensed - don't put it in an old bottle. If they call the old pharmacy and it hasn't be refilled through them in 6 months, you probably are setting yourself up for misery. It goes without saying that all medication should be in the original container, marked with the patient's name, the pharmacy, with the Rx name and strength on it - don't try to slip somebody else's meds through in your bottles. I would imagine this will be closely monitored - besides, it's just not good medicine if it's not meant for you!

In addition, if you get all of your prescriptions at the same pharmacy, your pharmacist will be glad to give you a print out of your current meds - I know this because I'm married to one! Might help if your meds are lost along the way as well and you get forced into buying on island because the dispensing pharmacy can be contacted immediately. However, they will not instantly refill because you are holding a piece of paper, especially if you take chronic pain meds or something like that.

Too much information, LOL???

I've checked liquor several times and never had a problem. Unfortunately when I fly I always have multiple stops and 6 bottles of liquor hurt my hand to carry too far 🙂 I'm still planning on buying them every time I return home - if you're really worried, wrap clothes around the bottle for a little extra cushion in the liquor boxes. They've come home safe and sound - even after dropping down some of those shute things on the baggage claims 🙂

I am another liquor checker - no breakage. You can have the store give you the box to pack the liquor yourself so that you can wrap clothing or newspaper around it, as Cheri has noted. Tape it up well.

Just wanted to say that this is very scary. Here is a snippet from an article that I just read:

"Mr Reid said that the scale of the alleged terror plot was potentially bigger than the September 11 attacks. "Had this plot been carried out, the loss of life to innocent civilians would have been on an unprecedented scale," he said."

"Officials in the US said the airlines allegedly targeted were United, American and Continental, which fly to major airports in New York, Washington and California. They are sending US air marshals to the UK to provide increased security on flights bound for America."

I feel ok about flying next week because now everything is really super-tight and everyone is on alert.

On a lighter note, I like the approach the authorities took with mothers with babies who needed to fly with bottled of milk - if the mother was willing to take a few sips of the milk, they could carry it on board 🙂

We never had a problem bringing liquor home. A lot of the stores will package it for you, tape it up and place your name on the outside. Then all you have to do is check it in with your luggage.
Too all those traveling now, be safe and have lots of patience.

My first trip to the VI, I checked a bottle of Appleton rum (the kind that is individually packaged in a box); I'd wrapped the box in two large beach towels, put that in a suitcase full of clothes, and the baggage people still managed to break the bottle...needless to say, the entire suitcase was soaked in rum when I opened it at home that night. I've never seen baggage handlers throw luggage around the way they do at STT, so if you check liquor, don't put anything in with it that can't get soaked 🙂

STT Mike has posted some info on the relocation board regarding the BVIs and Caribbean territories and possessions, which are under the same restrictions as the U.K....and whose restrictions are much tougher than what the U.S. is enforcing at this time.

Please check the Yahoo news page or your individual airline home page for restrictions for those traveling to or from British areas...

Below is a listed of approved/disapproved items and conditions for BRITISH travel only. This may not be totally comprehensive, as this is the list from yesterday morning.

----------------
Security measures in place Thursday at British airports in response to thwarted terror plot:

Prohibited items in airline cabins:

• All liquids, except medicine and baby formula verified as authentic.

• Food bought at airport.

• Handbags.

• All electrical and battery-powered items, including laptop computers, mobile phones and iPods.

• Electric key fobs.

• Wheelchairs, except those provided by airport.

___

Items permitted in cabin, carried in clear plastic bag:

• Pocket-size wallets and purses containing money, ID and credit cards.

• Passports and tickets.

• Prescription medicine and medical items.

• Glasses and sunglasses, but not cases.

• Contact lens holders, but not lens solution.

• Baby formula and milk, but contents of each bottle must be tasted by passenger.

• Diapers, wipes, creams for infants.

• Tampons, sanitary napkins and tissues, but not boxes.

• Keys.

Ditto with checking the liquor. I'm short, so heaving it into overhead is a problem. Besides, it's heavy!!!

When we arrive on island we save all bags, boxes, etc. expressly for padding the bottles (heck, we even take a few of the dividers from wine cases - they fold flat and go in the bottom of the suitcase). Also take a roll of packaging tape (packed in checked luggage) to wrap it eight ways to Sunday.

In nearly 30 trips to STX, each of us bringing back 6 bottles, and with transfers in such airports as JFK, Boston, O'Hare, Newark, LaGuardia, Miami, SJU, STT, Charlotte (hey - it's tought to get there from upstate NY) we've collectively lost three bottles.

And if you're packing ANY liquid in checked luggage (as opposed to the liquor boxes) be sure to put it in one or more plastic bags at the very least - I recommend bringing a few large ziploc bags just in case.

According to the STX paper today, no carry on liquor is allowed...all must be checked.

Here's the post Becky R was referring to:

A little FYI for those planning to travel to the BVI's or other British overseas teritories: I am flying from STT to Grand Cayman (a British overseas territory) next week. I spoke with a lady from American Airlines and she said that the strict UK policy on carry-on baggage extends to all British overseas territories as well.

So if any one is planning to travel to one of the British Caribbean islands on AA, they must ONLY travel with a wallet, plane ticket, passport/ID, medications, baby formula (if traveling with an infant), according to the airline. These items must be carried in a plastic bag before entering the security screening area.

All laptops, pagers, cell phones, keys, iPods, PDA's, Etc. Must be stored in checked luggage. And, furthermore, the same procedure must be followed when returning to the US from the UK or its possesions, according to the airline.

Actually as much of an "inconvenience" as all this seems, I prefer not to have to lug a bunch of stuff onto the plane, this simplifies matters quite a bit. Not to mention, now we will all be able to get on and find our seat, or get off the plane in a timely manner, not having to wait for all those people to deal with their junk in the overhead compartments. Just trying to find a bright side to this mess! 🙂

Be careful about letting the liquor store pack your liquor. I have had occasions where they packed bottles upside down. The narrow bottle necks do not handle contact very well.

We usually carry it on, but have checked it with varying success. The worst case was when bottles in each of the two boxes were broken between STT and PR. The cardboard boxes were soaked and falling apart and we really had to scramble to carry 9 or 10 bottles without the cardboard boxes. I smelled like I had bathed in rum by the time we got to our connecting flight.

My advice pack it yourself, use bubble wrap, protect it as best you can, and hope for the best.

Now how difficult is it gonna be to travel on a daysail over to BVI while staying on St. John? You think they will tighten up security for those trips?

In a way it's gonna suck for places like Starbucks in the airports....not being able to carry on our late'....but it will be great for...say K-Mart on St. Thomas....for me to have to go there to get my shampoo's & stuff that I can't bring on in my carry on. I don't like checking in luggage traveling....so I'll just have to make a store run.

This all isn't gonna keep ME from traveling...& I will feel safer now anyways traveling...just have to re-adjust things in the packing!

We checked a box of liquor about 2 weeks ago with NO problems whatsoever. Just be sure to put aname tag on it.

Nah not too much information lol. I am not buying any liquor while down there.

Do you suppose this means we won't be able to carry food on? We've got a long one, and I'd hate to be stuck with whatever stale sandwiches they sell... 🙁