Quick Answer
⚠️ Brandy is a liquid and counts as alcohol.
✅ In carry-on, bottles must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or smaller inside your quart-sized liquids bag.
✅ Full-size bottles (750 ml, 1 L) are only allowed in checked luggage or if purchased duty-free after security.
✈️ FAA limits alcohol in checked bags: up to 5 liters per passenger of spirits between 24–70% ABV. Anything stronger than 70% ABV is banned.
Details
- Carry-on (before security):
- Only containers ≤ 3.4 oz are permitted in your liquids bag.
- Standard bottles cannot pass TSA checkpoints.
- After security:
- Duty-free brandy in sealed tamper-evident bags is allowed on board.
- Warning: re-screening during connections may lead to confiscation.
- Checked luggage:
- Brandy is typically 35–50% ABV → falls under FAA’s 24–70% alcohol rule.
- Up to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per person allowed in unopened retail packaging.
- International flights:
- Customs usually allows 1 liter duty-free. Extra may be taxed or confiscated.
TSA Brandy Rules Summary
| Brandy Type | Carry-On | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Brandy ≤ 3.4 oz | ✅ Allowed (quart bag) | ✅ Allowed |
| Standard bottle (750 ml, 1 L) | ❌ Not allowed | ✅ Allowed (≤ 5 L, 24–70% ABV) |
| Duty-free sealed bottles | ✅ Allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| Brandy > 70% ABV | ❌ Not allowed | ❌ Not allowed |
Gotchas / Common Issues
- ✈️ Duty-free trap: Brandy bottles may be seized during connecting flights if you must re-clear security.
- ✈️ Overproof brandy (>70% ABV): Not allowed on planes, in carry-on or checked.
- ✈️ Glass bottles risk: Use padded sleeves to protect bottles in checked luggage.
- ✈️ FAA reminder: You cannot consume your own alcohol on board — only crew-served drinks.