What is duty-free and how do duty-free shops work

We are sure that at least once your acquaintances brought you alcohol or perfume from duty-free after traveling abroad. Perhaps you yourself have gazed at the bright displays while passing through the boarding area at the airport.

Today, we have prepared a small educational guide on duty-free shops for those who will be at the airport for the first time and are worried that a purchase there might turn into some kind of adventure.

Duty-free: what it is

Duty-free is a tax-free shop where goods are sold without certain types of duties, excises, and VAT included in their price. This is because such shops are located at border crossing points, and the goods leave the country immediately after purchase, so no taxes need to be paid on them. Tourists do not need to fill out an import declaration if the duty-free import limit is not exceeded.

Where are these shops located

Duty-free shops can usually be found in the departure halls of international flights at airports. In some countries, they are also located in the arrival zone, and even at border crossings.

In some countries, such as Egypt, duty-free shops are available in major resort cities, but goods there can only be purchased within a specific time frame (from one to five days).

On which flights are they available

Usually, if a product is purchased and not taken out of the country, the shop must pay tax on it. It follows that duty-free cannot exist on domestic flights or on flights between countries with a single customs area.

Unfortunately, you won't find such a shop on domestic flights within Russia. Airports located in the Russian Federation have regular shops selling newspapers and pharmacy goods, as well as cafes and restaurants. Naturally, prices here will be higher: the cost of renting premises or retail space is too high.

Regarding the customs union: Russia has concluded an agreement with Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Goods can be freely transported between these countries without additional duties.

What can be bought advantageously in duty-free: product range

Here is a list of goods you might want to consider when in duty-free:

• alcohol — it is usually sold here at a lower price. Moreover, alcohol packaged in a transparent bag with a receipt will allow you to carry it on board, bypassing the 100 ml restriction;
• tobacco products;
• perfumery — airports usually host branded stores, so rest assured: your purchase will be authentic. Just like alcohol, packaged perfume with a receipt can be taken on board without restrictions;
• clothing and accessories from famous brands. The reason is the same as with perfume — branded boutiques. And here you can often buy clothing and bag models that are not widely available.

What not to buy in duty-free

So, here is a list of what is better to stock up on in the city and not buy in the duty-free zone:

• children's toys. These fall into the category of items tourists buy impulsively to calm a child. Shops easily profit from such goods, so bring toys with you;
• souvenirs. They are expensive not only on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg but also in duty-free. Bright, fancy, and terribly wallet-draining. So you can put them in your checked luggage immediately after buying them at a local market;
• everything for a comfortable flight. This includes headphones, suitcases, players, travel pillows. Shop owners know that it will be difficult to fly for a long time without items in this category, so their cost is significantly higher than in the city.

Rules and restrictions for carrying duty-free goods

So, now let's talk about restrictions. We've already mentioned some of them above, but it won't hurt to repeat them.

The liquid volume restriction on an airplane is 100 ml. However, if you make purchases in duty-free and follow the rules, some items are included in the list of what can be taken on a plane.

Let's break this down with an example of alcohol:

1. You bought a bottle of alcohol in the duty-free zone.
2. The bottle is packaged in a transparent, sealed bag. Besides the bottle, it contains the original receipt from the store.
3. You will not open the bag until you reach your destination.

And now a little about import. Some countries have their own rules for importing certain goods. In Russia, it is permitted to import three liters of alcohol per person and up to 200 cigarettes. In the UAE, for example, you can import four liters of alcohol and up to 400 cigarettes, but you cannot import raw ivory and rhinoceros horn. Just in case you really wanted to.

Important: if you are flying with transfers, it is better to buy duty-free goods before your last flight and check-in for the plane. Be guided by the import rules at your destination. This way, you will definitely avoid questions from customs in some countries. Also, keep in mind that each airline has its own rules for carrying duty-free purchases.

Popular duty-free shops worldwide

Heathrow Airport in London

Heathrow Airport is considered one of the busiest transport hubs in Europe. Duty-free zones are located in Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5. Shops are found in both check-in halls and arrival areas. A small life hack: you can buy goods in advance in the online store with a discount.

By the way, Harry Potter fans come here to the branded store for gifts for their fellow geek friends.

Hamad Airport in Qatar

An abundance of perfume boutiques, as well as stores of iconic brands, watches, and electronics. In fact, you could spend days walking through the duty-free at Qatar's Hamad Airport, admiring rare collections of clothing and accessories. Of course, after such walks, you can't stay hungry — grab a snack, for example, at Starbucks and set off on your further journey. You can see what is sold at Hamad duty-free via the link.

Frankfurt am Main Airport in Germany

Not inferior in beauty to its London counterpart, a duty-free shop is located in Germany, at Frankfurt am Main Airport. Here you will find a huge number of perfume brands, rare types of alcohol and tobacco, and jewelry. In short, there is an opportunity to grab many gifts for all your relatives. You can reserve some items on the official website.

Despite the rather pleasant prices here, a small word of caution: money likes to be counted. Just in case.

We wish you great shopping and equally cool trips!