Transit at O R Tambo to Domestic Flight with Duty Free
 

Does anyone have current experience of a transit at O R Tambo to a domestic flight when carrying Duty Free?

In theory, if the Duty Free is in an approved sealed bag from the airport of origin (in this case, LHR), it should be no problem to take it through the security check at JNB for the domestic flight, and carry it on board. However, the ability of security staff to invent their own rules at whim is well known, and I would very much like to have a written definitive reference, or current experience.

I have tried searching on the web. The airlines are very coy about the issue, and there seems to be nothing on the O R Tambo or ACSA sites. The only thing I have found is a reference on the Air Namibia site which suggests that it is O.K. to carry Duty Free (from Namibia), “if you are transferring through Johannesburg or Cape Town on to domestic services”.

Anyone with the definitive answer, or current experience?

Thanks.

There's no duty free before domestic departure security at Terminal B at ORTIA. You do have to clear immigration, retrieve your bag and pass through customs on international arrival at Terminal A before turning left out the arrival door and proceeding to Terminal B for domestic check in. The safest gamble might be to have some bubble wrap in a checked bag and transfer the duty free to a check in bag.
There is, as you perhaps surmise, no definitive answer until you get there and find out at bag check what the drill is.

According to this site the LAG rule only applies to international flights:

Airports Company South Africa - LAGs

Click on " Q: Does this apply to all flights?" under the FAQ's, right hand column.

Guys, thanks your responses... I had hoped that 'someone' out there might have done it recently, but seemingly not...


cavortingcheetah


That is indeed the fall-back... I have done that in the past, and I have carried a couple of 1½ litre empty spring water bottles and decanted spirits into those before putting into checked baggage. The PET bottles are remarkable robust, and it avoids the problem a colleague had recently when presented by his hosts with a bottle of Sake as a farewell gift at the airport. The entire contents of his suitcase needed dry cleaning and/or dhobeying, and he says that his suits still smell of it... :(


ExXB


Thanks for the link... I had spotted that, but it is not specific about Duty Free... although indeed one can argue that if the rules set out for Liquids, Gels and Pastes say "no problem on domestic flights" then presumably they'd apply for a couple of litres of Scotland's finest. :ok:

Let us know how you get on ...

Is it worth the trouble of taking duty free booze to South Africa?
Solly Kramer is a big booze conglomerate.

Brandy

Edit: By which I mean to suggest that you check local prices before humping the stuff south. I, myself, being of a subtle and superior intellect, do not drink alcohol so I wouldn't at all know whether the grog was expensive although Bells at £10 a bottle seems cheap enough.