Originally Posted by
wiggy
Well colour me confused...I’ve entered the States from Europe (including through ATL, a multitude of times) and over the years have seen a multitude of passengers get through the American “system” without handing over their booze (in their hand baggage, bought airside at the airport of departure) so all I can say is your experience sounds very strange...
You have not seen a passenger go through any US airport, clear customs and catch a connection with hand luggage containing liquids. You may have seen them carrying liquids through customs and immigration but they either checked them after that or surrendered them. There is one exception. If you had a US customs preclearance facility at the departure airport (Dublin ect.) In that case you deplane into the sterile area and do not require rescreening.