What is Duty-free Shopping & is it a Good Deal? | Understanding How it Works & Whether It's Worth it

[@TripAstute]

What has been your experience with duty-free shopping? Are you a fan or do you tend to avoid them? 😄

[@se7enzee444]

I like to browse when I'm at a foreign airport. But I usually just buy a carton (10 packs) of cigarettes for my dad when I come back. I bought the cigarettes at Taoyuan/Taipei Airport for ~$23 which was significantly cheaper than here, $10 a pack?

[@Triple.7]

I'm only a fan when I forget a present.

[@charleslau259]

Helpful travel tips! Especially about bringing back wine 👍🏻 Thanks!

[@TripAstute]

Thanks Charles! 😊

[@Pz16]

Great video, I don't travel often internationally, but I do on occasion, and usually go to these stores, at least walk through them. You probably helped a ton of people with this video.

[@TripAstute]

Thanks! The whole duty-free concept was confusing to me, so I figured others probably felt the same way. 😄

[@taramisu1483]

Useful and educational love, a flight attendant subscriber 💗

[@TripAstute]

Thanks Tara! I appreciate the support. 😊

[@DigitalicaEG]

I left a bag of expensive chocolates on the plane once too! But I realized that at the customs gate, went back to ask if someone picked it up and luckily a good samaritan found them and brought them to the gate. Was very lucky

[@TripAstute]

Nice! What a nice person to bring the chocolates to the gate. I wish I were as lucky! 😄

[@briangonsalez2173]

Excellent video, Ernest!

[@TripAstute]

Thanks Brian! Glad the video was helpful. 😊

[@TuanHo-ju9lf]

My friend bought an expensive aged wine at a duty free in Melbourne airport before flying back to China. It was penfolds from a earlier year, and it was at least $500 more than the other penfolds. When he paid, the staff packed it for him and added it to his luggage. When he arrived in China, he told me that they had swapped the wine with the cheaper bottle, and not the one he had paid for.

[@TripAstute]

Ugh. That's terrible! I would be so upset. 😬

[@lmckayphoto]

I purchased some Jo Malone fragrances at duty free in Gatwick. The prices were much cheaper than you find in the states.

[@TripAstute]

Good to know that there are still some deals to be found. Thanks for sharing! 👍

[@roburb73]

I never purchase from a duty free store. However, it's not because I don't like them. I am retired military and I get all my alcohol on base, no taxes. And most military bases have imported liquors from most countries.

[@TripAstute]

Great point! Buying alcohol on base is one of the best places to avoid extra fees and taxes. 👍

[@redcomusic]

I've always known about 'em and how they work. I just use 'em as a last resort (i.e. convenience) and so it's OK if they're occasionally not the best deal on certain items. - Red

[@TripAstute]

They are definitely a good place to get that last gift before heading home. 👍

[@MrLantean]

What I had learn that alcohol and tobaccos products like cigarettes are the ones that really cheaper to purchase at duty free shops as these are heavily taxed items and are more expensive at local stores. Whenever I travel overseas, I often purchases spirits at duty free shops. Spirits sold at duty free are generally at 1liter size compared to local stores which 700ml size are generally sold. Last year when in KliA Airport Malaysia, a bottle of Jim Beam Bourbon 1liter size is sold at RM65 in contrast with 700ml size sold at RM170 at a local store. Such a big contrast with the price.

[@TripAstute]

Thanks for sharing your experience! 👍

[@tomburke5311]

I don’t shop in Duty Free much - not much opportunity! I’ll add one more issue regarding a particular type of alcohol, namely Single Malt scotch whisky (my tipple of choice...). The distilleries are alive to their regular customers being upset at ‘cheaper’ whisky being available via duty free, so many of the distilleries produce slightly different products for sale at Duty Free shops worldwide. They’re probably perfectly good, representative products from the distillery, but they’re not exactly the same as the product retailed in normal shops. So you’re unlikely to find the standard expressions of the well-known malts in duty free.

[@TripAstute]

That's really good to know. Thanks for sharing! I had no idea that the product might be different at a duty-free store. 👍

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

In all my years of traveling I have shopped at many duty free shops. Usually I'll get one item or 2 little things like maybe a candy or chocolates or something like that. Never had any problems. No one has ever asked me, Did you buy duty free? I just put it in my bag after I purchase and keep walking.

[@TripAstute]

Good to know. Thanks for sharing your experience. 👍

[@j2simpso]

I like to shop at the duty free shop!

[@TripAstute]

Nice! Any favorite items that you like to purchase at the duty-free shop?

[@Bangpaulxu]

From most of my friends and my wife, they all say the cosmestics in the duty free shop in T3 of Beijing Capital airport is the cheapest in the world. dunno if it is true or not.

[@TripAstute]

Very cool! I’m sure it’s a good deal. 👍

[@khadijahhh]

But if after purchasing duty free, what if I’m traveling to a country which is a tax free country, then what?

[@TripAstute]

Probably nothing, to be honest. It definitely makes things less complicated. 😊

[@nenad958]

I was wondering if you could just get into a local airport, buy an item and just get back home? I never been to an airport but i know the shops at my airport have perfume brands that are not avalible in my country so i was wondering...

[@TripAstute]

I don't think so. Every duty-free store that I have ever visited checked my passport and tickets when entering or paying to verify that I was a traveler.

[@masoompatel11]

I’ve never bought anything. I typically don’t need or want anything they offer and when traveling internationally it’s difficult to find you if you’re really getting a good deal.

[@TripAstute]

Yeah, I've only really used it to buy last-minute gifts for family and friends. I'm usually struggling with luggage space too! 😄

[@amphindian]

if im flying back from london to the usa, direct, and i buy alcohol at the duty free in london, would i be able to bring that onto the plane with me?

[@prettyflytraveler]

Hmmm, honeys and jams are not technically liquids so it doesn’t pass the TSA test at the gate. Pack these items in your checked luggage or in a packing box to check in. Trust me, it was a process to get honey past Florida in the USA. 😂

[@TripAstute]

Good tip! Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@Ranger15893bn]

Purchasing liquor at the duty free shop in the Aruba airport is a good deal. There is a 20% liquor tax if you buy it in Aruba local stores; unless you are buying their local brands. I don't think it's a good deal to buy it and take it back to the US.

[@TripAstute]

Good to know! 👍

[@alansaiju7280]

is duty free shops on arrival or departure terminal?

[@TripAstute]

Usually, you see them in the terminal when departing a country.

[@ssh9040]

I bought a drink and they won't let me open it to check it. Read send mail that they gave me the wrong drink and according to they would return the money, I have been 3 weeks and they have not charged me anything, you speak on the phone and they hang up because according to they do not speak English or Spanish since they say they are in Brazil

[@TripAstute]

Yikes! That sounds like a nightmare. Sorry to hear about your experience. 🙁

[@ranarayhan8850]

I am traveling from USA to Bangladesh and i am planning to buy 3 bottle of alcohol ,Do you think i should buy from USA duty free or Qatar duty free?

[@TripAstute]

It's hard to say which would offer a better price. I wish I could help!

[@smileychick3656]

Why are you embarrassed to admit that??? I’ve never travelled internationally so I am clueless 😳

[@TripAstute]

Ha. I think it's one of those things that I feel like I should understand, but always avoided since I am so thrifty. 😂

[@QuickTravel2024]

not paying tax yes..... but you're also paying more for them ! Duty Free is a scam !

[@TripAstute]

It's a good point. You can often get a better deal on most items by just buying online.

[@StarfieldWX-tb42]

@@TripAstute for those of us in locations where it's illegal to ship liquor, and no distilleries ship direct, duty free can be a good way to get a coveted bottle from a distillery that doesn't distribute to our location.

[@svitlanam1209]

you sharing a piece of good information but you speak too fast. and a big minus for people who watch your video.

[@TripAstute]

I’m sorry that you feel that I’m a poor presenter. 😔

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

All you have to do is click on the playback speed and slower the speed. I usually quicken the speed cause I like for people to talk faster. (And you're a great presenter Mr. KZbinr.)