Checking Champagne

[IslandAddict]

Any one checked Champagne on the plane? I have a rather special bottle I want to bring down, but I worry about the bubbly. (once had a can of coke explode in my suitcase). I have an extremely sturdy wine case to pack it in but I still worry, I've had it a long time and have been saving it for a special occasion.

First "real" vacation in almost five years (and two kids).


Thanks, gettin close........

[krislbi]

I wouldn't do it. Drink it before you leave to toast your awesome trip ahead of you!!

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[suzi]

I wouldnt take the chance. Have you ever seen those luggage handlers throw the baggage around??? Even in a padded case, I bet you wouldnt have it when you got there and you would have to wash all your clothes( or buy new ones)

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[Poohwear]

Extreme bubble wrap, but thinking about the luggage area pressure...could wreck havoc with a bubbly bottle...talk about popping your cork...LOL!

[theshopper3]

IslandAddict,

Last May we checked a bottle of Champagne in our checked luggage & had no problem.
Hubby wrapped it in bubble wrap & tee shirts & put it in the middle of his suitcase.

I would go for it. Sounds like it is a special bottle & I can't think of a better place to enjoy it than St John.

We took ours to Maho on our last day with some OJ & had Momosa on the beach. It was the best

The Shopper

[FlaGeorge]

My daughter brought us 6 bottles of Almond Champagne from California to Florida and all made it OK. She had it packed in a Styrofoam Wine box that was then put into the middle part of their luggage. I do it all the time and never had one pop on me.

But – and this is the big “But”. If it was a $200 plus special bottle or a bottle that is not easily replaced – I wouldn’t do it. But this is what I’d do. Get yourself a stretch limo to take you to the airport. Put in a nice music CD and pop that baby on the way to the airport. What a way to start off a long awaited vacation.

This is exactly what my wife and I did a few years back. Island music blasting from a white stretch limo, bubbly in one hand and the wife in the other hand. Gets you into “Island Time” real fast.

Cheers

[mbw1024]

Maybe Marybeth knows more about traveling with it? She is our resident Champagne specialist...

sorry, never packed it. always buy it where I am. if it's really special then I wouldn't chance it.

[liamsaunt]

This is exactly what my wife and I did a few years back. Island music blasting from a white stretch limo, bubbly in one hand and the wife in the other hand. Gets you into “Island Time” real fast.

Cheers

That is an AWESOME idea! I have a special bottle of champagne that John gave me about 10 years ago. You may have just given me the inspiration on how we should finally drink it.

[RickG]

We routinely bring wine, champagne and very precious champagne corked beers as checked luggage. There should be no problems, unless its packaged improperly. But, things happen. In 25 years of checking precious cargo on airlines we've only had one bottle break.

Cheers, RickG

[IslandAddict]

Thanks all, I think I'm going to risk it. It's a 96 Cristal Rose, probably worth as much as my plane tickets, but it is replaceable. Can't drink it in the limo as I'm doing a stay, park and fly by the airport the night before, but great idea!

Now to get my wife on island time........

[Lulu76]

You could drink it at the hotel the night before.

I brought champagne back from France several years ago, and it made it back packed really well in the middle of my suitcase, but it wasn't anything we couldn't have bought at the local liquor store -- but for a lot more than what I paid there. (This was, of course, when the dollar was still strong!)

I'd just be way too worried about it, but that's just me.