Yes, duty-free can go in carry-on if liquids stay sealed in a tamper-evident bag with the receipt and they clear screening.
Not Allowed
Conditional
Allowed
Carry-On
- 100 mL each in one clear bag.
- Over 100 mL allowed in sealed STEB.
- Keep receipt inside the pouch.
Cabin
Checked Bag
- Wine/beer OK in retail bottles.
- Over 70% ABV is prohibited.
- Pack glass with padding.
Hold
International Transfer
- U.S.: purchase within 48 hours.
- EU accepts STEBs from listed hubs.
- Seal must stay intact.
Transfer
Carry-On Duty-Free: Quick Rules
Duty-free is a store, not a pass. Liquids still face the liquid limit unless packed in an official tamper-evident bag, often called a STEB. Your receipt needs to show the purchase time. Keep the bag sealed until you reach the final stop. If an officer sees tampering or the item can’t be screened, it won’t travel in the cabin. Non-liquids like chocolate, dry snacks, sunglasses, and small electronics don’t trigger the liquid rule.
- Liquids over 100 mL in carry-on only ride if sealed in a STEB and screened without issues.
- Liquids at 100 mL or less go in your quart bag like any other toiletries.
- On connections, present the sealed bag and receipt at the next checkpoint.
- Airline alcohol service rules still apply; don’t open or drink your bottle on board.
Duty-Free Liquids And The 3-1-1 Rule
The cabin liquid rule caps each container at 100 mL and asks you to place them in one quart-size bag. Duty-free doesn’t erase that cap; it adds a pathway for bigger bottles when they sit sealed in a STEB. The seal and receipt help officers confirm chain of custody from the shop to you. Review the TSA 3-1-1 rule before you pack to keep lines moving.
Carry-On Outcomes By Scenario
| Scenario | Carry-On Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buy duty-free after security, no connection | Allowed | Keep the sealed bag closed until landing. |
| Buy duty-free abroad, connect in the U.S. | Conditional | Bag must be a STEB with receipt; screening required at transfer. |
| Buy duty-free in EU, connect in another EU state | Allowed | STEB accepted across EU airports when sealed. |
| Unsealed liquor over 100 mL at checkpoint | Not allowed | Check the item or surrender it. |
| Wine or spirits in 50 mL minis | Allowed | They count toward your quart bag. |
| Perfume at 150 mL in STEB | Conditional | Permitted if sealed and it clears screening. |
| Non-liquid duty-free gifts | Allowed | No liquid cap; standard screening still applies. |
Can Duty-Free Liquids Go In Carry-On During Connections?
Yes, with a catch. If you land and face another checkpoint, officers need to rescreen the duty-free bag. In the United States, larger duty-free liquids can pass a connection when the purchase was made within the last 48 hours, the STEB shows no tampering, the original receipt sits inside, and the contents clear security. In the European Union, airports accept sealed STEBs and ask for the same transparent bag and proof of purchase. Opened bags, torn seals, or missing receipts raise flags and the item will be treated like any other oversized liquid.
Seal Looks Compromised? What To Expect
An opened or creased seal, a missing receipt, or a cloudy pouch can trigger extra checks. If the package can’t be cleared, you’ll be asked to check it or let it go. Shops can’t reseal after the fact, so protect the bag and keep it flat in transit.
That means two habits save the day: ask the shop to place each bottle in its own sealed bag and stash the receipt inside the pouch. Hand the bag to officers at transfer points without removing the contents. If a screener needs to run extra checks, be patient and let them handle the package.
Taking Duty-Free In Carry-On Bags: What Works
Large bottles can travel in the cabin under the STEB route, but small items keep things simple. Travel sets at 100 mL or less slip into your quart bag. Atomizers that exceed 100 mL ride only if they sit sealed in a STEB and pass screening. Aerosol fragrance follows the same logic. Chocolate, tea, coffee, and similar dry goods travel like any snack.
Flying with kids or medical needs? TSA lets you carry medically required liquids beyond the usual cap with a quick declaration. That’s separate from duty-free, yet many families buy formula or water airside to make life easier. If a bottle from the shop is bigger than 100 mL and not in a STEB, it won’t go through a standard U.S. checkpoint.
Alcohol, Perfume, And Other Liquid Limits
ABV Limits For Spirits
Spirits over 70% ABV are a no-go on U.S. flights in both carry-on and checked baggage. Bottles between 24% and 70% ABV can ride in checked baggage in limited quantities when sealed in retail packaging. Duty-free liquor in the cabin still needs the STEB and successful screening, and you can’t open it on board.
Mini Bottles And 100 mL Containers
Miniatures fit the cabin rule when each bottle is 100 mL or less and all minis fit in your quart bag. They count as liquids like toothpaste or shampoo. If you bought a sleeve of minis airside, move only the ones you want into the quart bag at the next checkpoint and check the rest.
Wine, Beer, And Low-Alcohol Gifts
Wine and beer sit under 24% ABV. They aren’t limited by hazmat caps in checked baggage, though airline weight rules and customs rules still apply. In the cabin they must meet the 100 mL rule unless they ride sealed in a STEB from a duty-free shop and clear screening on transfer.
Connections Across Regions
U.S. Entry With International Duty-Free
On itineraries that connect in the U.S., the 48-hour window matters. Keep the receipt inside the bag the shop sealed. Present the intact bag at the checkpoint, and let officers screen it. Any alarm or signs of tampering will block the item from the cabin.
EU, EEA, And Swiss Handoffs
Within the EU and many linked airports, a sealed STEB with a same-day or clearly dated receipt is accepted across checkpoints. If you connect the next day, leave the seal untouched and bring the receipt where agents can read it through the pouch. Many shops print the flight and time on the receipt to help agents verify chain of custody.
Gate Delivery On Long Hauls
Some shops offer gate delivery for large or fragile items. That removes one step at the central checkpoint and helps keep the seal intact. You’ll still face screening at connection points, so plan your layover with a little buffer.
Packing Tips That Prevent Headaches
- Ask for a separate sealed bag for each bottle. Two smaller bags beat one heavy bundle.
- Place the receipt inside the pouch with the date visible. Keep a photo on your phone as backup.
- Carry the STEB in hand through transfers. Don’t cram it under bulky layers where it could crease or split.
- Move toiletries and any 100 mL minis into your quart bag before you reach the line.
- Never open the sealed bag mid-trip. If you break the seal, the bottle becomes a regular liquid at the next checkpoint.
- Mind customs allowances at your destination. Duty-free doesn’t erase local import limits.
Common Mistakes And Better Choices
| Mistake | What Happens | Better Choice |
|---|---|---|
| Opening the STEB during a layover | Bag loses protection; screening treats it as a normal liquid | Keep it sealed until you exit the last airport |
| Throwing the receipt in a pocket | Proof of purchase isn’t ready at screening | Leave the receipt inside the pouch and snap a photo |
| Buying a 200 mL perfume without a STEB | Won’t pass the 100 mL limit at the next checkpoint | Ask the shop to seal it or choose the 100 mL size |
| Overpacking minis | Quart bag overflows and triggers a search | Pack a few in carry-on and check the rest |
| Buying high-proof spirits above 70% ABV | Not accepted on U.S. flights | Select a bottle under the ABV cap |
Checked Bags Or Cabin: Which To Choose?
Both paths work; pick the one that reduces risk for your route. A sealed bottle in a padded checked bag avoids rechecks, yet you need to respect ABV caps and packing care. Cabin carriage using a STEB keeps the bottle with you, but adds the rescreen step on transfers and needs the seal to stay pristine. DIY decanting into small containers is a bad idea for alcohol and fragrance; retail packaging and clear labels make screening faster.
Final Pointers Before You Buy
Scan your route for checkpoints. Nonstop flights are simple. Connections add one more screening. If you aren’t sure, ask the shop for a STEB and confirm the seal covers the opening completely. Bring a slim tote so the pouch sits flat on top of your carry-on, not crumpled. When in doubt, place big bottles in a padded checked bag and carry a small sample set in the cabin. Cross-check ABV caps on the FAA PackSafe page so your purchase matches airline rules.