Penny pinching at Heathrow

[SLeanne]

We are due to go away soon from Heathrow T4. OH and I like a couple of drinks before the flight (at 9pm). However, I was shocked last time that a glass of wine is over £10 a glass. If we are discreet, could we get away with buying a bottle in Duty Free and drinking it before the flight (and disposing of the empty bottle before boarding). I know it's not allowed but has anyone done it before and got away with it? Quite frankly I'm getting sick of having to spend C 100 quid for something to eat and a couple of drinks each (family of 4) and am looking at ways of cheating the system 🤔

My husband would be mortified if I suggested we did this and vice a versa. He would go and sit in the bar and buy a drink in there but then we would pay £10 for a glass of wine regardless if it was an airport bar or not.

How desperate are you for a drink?!

No one is going to check that, they ain’t patrolling the departure area checking no one necks their duty free.

Yes I have a master of wine qualification. Do you?

TBF it's not the drinking bit people are a bit at, it's the buying in duty free to drink sneakily were curious about.

I love a drink once through security, look forward to it in fact!

Exactly why the phrase money cannot buy class exists.

Wow. I cannot stand this attitude it's so tight. If you can't afford airport prices then don't drink (far better for you anyway before flying). To smuggle in a bottle to drink as if you are teenagers is embarrrassing and also unfair to retailers/other passengers who do pay retail prices. It's just so cringeworthy.

Oh dear. Bless.
You can't be bothered to look at the evidence that demonstrates that you are in the wrong, so you come back with a sarcastic comment, the last resort of the stubborn.

Grim

I don't think op is desperate for the drink. I don't even think it's extreme frugality (wine wouldn't be on the agenda at all). I think she's just convinced herself that she'll really enjoy the feeling of beating the system.

Except for the fact that you had Breast cancer which is awful I think you need to take a step back.

You wrote a post about penny pinching to drink more cheaply at Heathrow and then went on to say or admit the following things.

1. You have enough money to have done the above and smugness aside it would stand to reason you have the money to buy a couple of drinks if you are also going on holiday.
2. You are suggesting circumventing airport rules (and seemingly wanting advise on how to do so) which could cause you to be refused from your flight.
3. You are potentially getting onto a flight liquored up with your children because drinking half a bottle wine is better than a couple of overpriced drinks. Sure you may not be drunk but for some a half a bottle of wine will do it especially when tolerance is lowered in the air.
4. You accused several contributors to not being able to debate properly (the meeting comment) and then have written the above which is neither insightful or debatable but just done to appear smug.
5. You also seemingly are fine with taking your kids out of school to go away (unless of course they are homeschooled etc) which as been pointed out there may be fines to pay.
6. You have been pretty quick to take offence when someone doesn’t agree with you but then say you are laughing at all the nasty comments.
7. Your financial status completely negates your point and honestly is arrogant and out of touch with a lot of people.

Thats what I have unless others can add…..

@Relaxedandchilled I know a reasonable amount about airport security for reasons I won't disclose here. They're watching everything, all the time, especially at somewhere big and busy like Heathrow. Anything vaguely suspicious (like people tucked away in a corner, faffing with something concealed in a bag) is a red flag.

Bye the bottle and go to toilet cubicle. Nobody will see.

right...and wrong. You are right no one is patrolling the departures esp the washrooms were I have seen people decanting duty free. HOWEVER by buying duty free alcohol, you must present your boarding pass which they scan, and the arriving airport do spot checks. I have been checked twice in the last few years. It is illegal to break the duty free seals until you pass passport control in your arrival airport.

The only one who looks foolish is you. Buy a bottle of wine in duty free. Send your son to the bar for an empty glass of water, get rid of the water somehow. Bundle yourself into a cubicle in the toilets. Open the bottle. Pour into borrowed water glass and leave toilet clutching wine in a water glass to drink while waiting for a flight whilst trying to disguise you are in fact drinking wine you bought in duty free in a glass you robbed from the bar to save a tenner.
Desperation and extreme penny pinching at it’s finest. I would rather DIE. But in fairness you have the balls to sit there and do that so … em enjoy I guess.

You aren't just paying for the wine OP.

You are paying for the seat and a table in the bar or restaurant (likely to be more pleasant and comfortable with more space than sitting in the general waiting area, if you can even get a space), for the service and the convenience.

I'd say that was worth £10 each, if it's part of the experience of going on holiday.

Do you take your own sandwiches too?

So do I and honestly they won’t care about a couple sharing a bottle of red in the departure area. Really they don’t there is lots of reasons not to do this, but this isn’t one.

OMG this site. People are actually suggesting grown adults sit in a public toilet to drink alcohol to save a few quid 😱

Ok calm down

This is just too much, no one and I mean no one, is checking you’ve all your duty free with you when you lands

They often do check at the other end. I have been pulled over in the arrivals customs to have all my bags x rayed and my hand luggage checked a few times. I am a very non-descript 60 year old. There is a reason duty free bags are sealed and your boarding pass is inspected when you buy.

Personally I wouldn't care if you get the duty free/empty glass. I just don't understand why you are so nasty to posters who don't agree with you. You obviously felt a bit like it wasn't ok because you posted this.

And sorry I do not beleive you for one second anyone checked your your duty free with you.

You are missing the point. They don’t care if your 100ml bottles contain alcohol or shower gel.

That’s different, they aren’t saying hey where is the wine you bought. What you describe is standard checks to ensure you’re not bringing in goods you shouldn’t,