Post #361337 by I-Tiki on Fri, Feb 15, 2008 10:54 AM

Since I travel a lot (and I don't live on the west coast where they seem to understand the need for stocking a plethora of good rums and such) I have taken to buying my tiki potions while on business trips. Of course the "can't carry it through security" rule really makes things difficult, but in the past I have had good luck wrapping my bottles in bubble wrap, boxing them, and checking them on United as baggage.

My last trip to LA though was a fiasco. I had bought a couple of bottles of Rum and a bottle of Macadamia nut liquor for the flight home at BevMo in San Fran. Checked in at SFO, declared when asked there was liquor in the box, and signed a damage waiver. No problem. When I tired to check the same box in LA I was told I could not check it unless all bottles were in shape conforming Styrofoam containers. Well, needless to say I didn't have any with me and beside the point the Macadamia bottle was oval and so you would never find one. I tried to use my top status with United, my years of previous experience doing this without issues, I would be willing to sign a waiver, the fact that SFO checked it no problem etc. No joy. I won't bore you with the details of the heated arguments (I really wanted to become a headhunter that day) but they refused and instead sent me to the post office in a cab. Of course after waiting in a 30 minute line at USPS they also refused to take it (flammable liquid) and so after returning and pitching a fit, United finally agreed to put it onboard but "never again".

I have decided from now on just to bring an extra duffel, put my clothes in it, and put the wrapped bottles in my suitcase.

I'm curious though, has anyone else had problems like this with United or other airlines? Any better ideas on how to transport precious cargo?

Lee

(I-Tiki)