Transitting through LAX - duty free?

[IDugAnotherHole]

Hi, I'm flying from London tomorrow and have a connecting flight in LA to my final destination. I know I have to go through security, scanning, immigration etc but just wondered what that meant for any duty free liquids I buy at Heathrow? Presumably I can just put them in my hold luggage as I have to get my case and get re-scanned etc? Or can I take them as carry on if they're in a sealed bag, unopened from when they were purchased? Im talking about bottles that contain more than 100ml.

Thanks!

I would not bother buying duty free in your circumstances as all those bottled duty free items will be confiscated and otherwise kept by security at LAX when you travel onto your final stop.

Really? I thought as I need to get my suitcase and go through customs I could just put any items i bought in London in my hold luggage when I get it fr baggage claim at LAX before checking it through to my onward flight. Is that not possible?

Are both flights not on the same ticket? If they are, your bag will meet you at the final destination and you won’t leave airside.

They are on the same ticket, but I've been told that in the US you have to claim your luggage and go through the full check in and security process. Such a palaver

Not for international arrivals at LAX.

OP, LAX is a nightmare for connections. And all the construction work going on there doesn’t help either. You’ll likely arrive at Tom Bradley terminal (the international one) and change to another terminal, which involves taking a bus or walking around the edge (but that’s more inconvenient than the bus). You have to go through security again so you won’t be able to keep any liquids in your carry on. You could put it in your hold baggage when you reclaim at customs or just not bother with duty free. The savings are not usually enough to justify the hassle.

LHR will put your duty free in a sealed bag which you can take through LAX security with you. Don't under any circumstances remove it from the bag.

The duty free staff should ask for your ticket and will know to seal it. You can mention it to them and they can tell you the rules

Probably to late for the OP but as @BritWifeInUSA has said it doesn't work like that at LAX (in fact from memory I don't think that it works like at any American gateway airport if you are inbound to the US)

You have to collect your bags and clear US Customs and immigration before travelling onwards, so in theory there would be an opportunity to put the Duty Free in the hold bags between the two flights.

It depends where your final destination is. In the US, you collect your bags. Outside the US, you don’t - assuming it’s the one ticket.

The us$ exchange rate will presumably clear any benefit of the duty free?