Beer on planes

[Binky]

I want to take some beer with me when I visit a friend in Spain.  The beer will be in cans.  Should they be transported with me in the plane or in my luggage in the hold?  I'm not sure if a can is a pressurised container.

[blueeyedlass]

hi there binky well i know that i have took cans of juice in my carry on bag before and it was fine and the stewardess sells cans so i reckon ud be fine with them in ur carry on bag.

[Clanad]

In the U.S. at least it's a violation of Federal Aviation Administration regulations to carry any form of alcohol on board an aircraft in the passenger compartment.  Any alcohol available must be dispensed by the air carrier.  You take a chance on carrying it in the checked baggage since it may be placed in an unpressurized hold, in which case your best suit may smell like hops, barley, yeast and spring water when you arrive at your destination...

[Pinotage]

Baggage holds are pressurised.  Clannard suggests your beer can will burst open, but then so would your deodorent and shaving cans, shampoos etc.

I'd put them in the suitcase primarily because it saves you carrying them around the terminal before the flight.

[Clanad]

Not all baggage holds are pressurized, Pinotage... and the ones that are pressurized are still at about 8,000 feet above seal level equivalent pressure.  Have you not ever had your screw on bottles leak?  Common occurrence.  I would add that it's probably not a common occurrence for cans of beer and other such items to explode, though... call it poetic license...

[Bob A Job]

Airlines get really shirty with anyone taking their own alcohol on board. And they charge �3.50 a freaking can of fosters. There is also an enforced weight limit of 5 kilos on hand luggage, they charge you for more than one bag aswell, license to print money!! Im guessing its real ale your taking with you, spanish supermarkets stock all european lager nowdays.

Better be safe and pack them in your luggage, but in a separate bag so if they do explode they wont ruin your clothes.

[Bangkok]

Draughtflow cans are more likely to leak than normal beer (in my experience rather than any scientific fact).  Depends how much you take.  In theory, the airline can stop you carrying on as hand baggage, in which case you can make a polite request for them to look after it until you arrive.