Comments on: Carbonated beverages in luggage?

Question: Carbonated beverages in luggage?

Morrigan — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 07:00:50 -0800

Will a bottle of champagne pop its cork if put in one's checked luggage during air travel?

I'll be celebrating a special occasion with a friend during a long weekend away and would like to bring some champagne. Due to current TSA restrictions, though, I won't be able to put the bottle in my carry-on bag. If I use a large zip-loc bag and pack it well, should it be okay?

By: JJ86

JJ86 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 07:11:55 -0800

No, it shouldn't. Pack it in a carboard box, bubble wrap and then a zip lock bag just in case it breaks in your baggage. Also to be on the safe side you may want to buy the champagne with the wire covering the cork.

By: cerebus19

cerebus19 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 07:17:59 -0800

The pressure differential should have little to no effect on it. Champagne corks are made to stay in until pushed out, so as long as you pack it securely enough that the cork won't be pushed up by an external force, I would be very surprised if it popped.

I would frankly be much more worried about the bottle breaking. Baggage handlers are not typically very gentle with checked luggage, so if you can't pack it really securely, you're probably better off not packing it at all. My advice would be to either wrap the bottle in a bath towel (so that, if it does break, it has minimal effect on the rest of the contents of your suitcase, or, better, wait until you get to your destination to buy the champagne.

By: SuperSquirrel

SuperSquirrel — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 07:55:36 -0800

Can you have it shipped to your destination instead (using FedEx or some service with experience in shipping breakables)? That way you can label and pack it appropriately, and perhaps even insure it if it is an expensive bottle.

By: slimepuppy

slimepuppy — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:22:34 -0800

Are they banning all the liquid purchased behind the security-checkopoints as well? If not, you could just buy the champagne from the airport...

By: Morrigan

Morrigan — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:27:09 -0800

slimepuppy, yes. Only infant formula is allowed and they are checking that carefully, too, supposedly.

By: raedyn

raedyn — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:36:17 -0800

Infant formula and prescription medication are allowed.

By: bonehead

bonehead — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:36:19 -0800

Champagne bottles are pretty good pressure vessels. I'd worry more about it getting broken by rough handling.

The rule for packing liquids is to pack it in a sealed bag with enough absorbent that even if it breaks it won't leak. The best way is put the primary container into a heavy plastic bag (freezer ziplocs are great for this), and put enough absorbent in the zip-bag (perlite or vermiculite is the best material, towels are ok in a pinch, but make sure you've got enough to absorb the 750mL of liquid in a bottle). Put the bag into a rigid outer shell, which could be your luggage or a good cardboard box. Keep in mind, six-foot drops are normal in baggage handling---that's what your package has to withstand.

If it breaks and leaks, even if the baggage handlers used it for football practice, the airline will be pissed and you'll have to pay damages, probably a few hundred dollars.

By: Lebannen

Lebannen — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:55:45 -0800

I've carried champagne in checked luggage on relatively short flights (Spain-France-UK) and it was fine.

By: cardboard

cardboard — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 09:06:28 -0800

As has been mentioned before, there is no pressure difference between the cabin and the cargo hold on commercial aircraft. The cabin and hold are pressurized to the equivalent of about 8000 feet above sea level when you are at cruising altitude (around 35000 ft).

By: Mr. Gunn

Mr. Gunn — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 10:16:45 -0800

I've carried champagne in my checked luggage once or twice with no issue.

By: i_am_joe's_spleen

i_am_joe's_spleen — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:44:17 -0800

I've also got away with this.