If you’ve made a purchase in duty-free, you may want to check ahead of time to see if you’re actually able to use it on board, as there’s one item strictly prohibited
People travelling to and from holidays need to know this rule(Image: Miragest via Getty Images)
Brits travelling abroad need to stay alert to the items they can and cannot take onboard, but do they know about the rules regarding items they buy at the airport?
Travelling with bottles in any shape or form usually comes with its restrictions, as many airports ask for you to pack liquids in measurements only up to 100ml. However, there are some far stricter rules when it comes to the liquid you’re buying in duty-free – particularly alcohol.
At most airports, you can buy bottles of wine, spirits, beers, and more; sometimes up to a liter of each is sold at discounted prices. And yet, despite being able to make the purchase at the airport, you are strictly prohibited from drinking it or even opening it on the plane.
Duty-free alcohol is generally allowed on board, passing as a form of carry-on luggage, when purchased after getting your security checks. Although it is almost always placed inside a sealed Security Tamper-Evident Bag, paired with the receipt.
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Within aviation law, this bag must remain sealed throughout the whole duration of the flight, a rule that is consistent across all airlines. Passengers must not consume their own duty-free alcohol on the plane, as all alcohol must be purchased from the cabin crew.
If there’s anything else you’ve purchased from duty-free, you will need to ensure it is placed in a separate bag or in your carry-on luggage to avoid it being trapped inside the sealed bag for the duration of the flight.
The rule is consistent, yet each airline may handle people consuming this alcohol differently, with potential fines for those who break the rules.
Jet2 states: “You may not bring on board alcohol for the purposes of consumption whilst on the aircraft. For safety reasons, we restrict the consumption of alcohol on board. Only alcoholic drinks purchased on board may be consumed during the flight. It is an offence to be drunk on any aircraft. Jet2.com reserves the right to serve alcoholic drinks to customers at our absolute discretion.”
After some recent confusion with passengers boarding Ryanair flights, a spokesperson made it clear where they stand when it comes to drinking on board. They said: “We are not ‘banning’ or ‘confiscating’ duty-free alcohol at boarding gates. As per Ryanair’s T&Cs, passengers can carry duty-free alcohol onboard but must not consume it during the flight.”
Across the majority of airlines, when it comes to alcohol consumption, they have a zero-tolerance policy on ‘disruptive behaviour’ and have the right to reject drunken and disorderly passengers from boarding the flight.
Meaning, even if you’re yet to take a swig of your duty-free bottle, you should be wary of how much alcohol you’re drinking within airport bars and restaurants.
As for the duty-free bag itself, this is often allowed as an extra courtesy to take on the flight, provided that it fits under your seat. However, this is typically limited to one bag per person and does not encourage passengers to hop on board with multiple additional bags after a huge shopping spree.