Chinese Authorities Bust Open My KLM Delft Blue Houses!

I’m sharing in real-time style about my SAS EuroBonus SkyTeam Million Mile challenge this week. Click here for background and route information.

They made it through Jakarta, Xiamen, Tapei, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, and Jakarta again, but security screeners did not like our KLM Delft Blue Houses in Shanghai.

My KLM Delft Blue Houses Meet Chinese Airport Security Screeners

After checking in for our Korean Air flight and stamping out of Mainland China, we faced a security checkpoint…we’ve seen many of these on this trip.

I removed my laptop and put the bags through, as usual, but my bag was pulled aside.

A security screener pulled up the x-ray and then made a drinking motion with his hands. He then said, “Drink! Drink!”

Well, it’s five o’clock somewhere but I was not in the mood…

I jest.

I knew what he meant. I opened up my bag and pulled out two lumpy socks. Reaching inside, I pulled a KLM Delft Blue House from each one.

The agent grabbed them and made the not allowed sign with his hands.

What?

I said, “Small. Less than 100 mL.”

He said, “Must dump out.”

I said, “But it’s a small size.”

He repeated, “Must dump out.”

Once more, I made the small sign with my index finger and thumb.

But he said, “Must dump out.”

And before I could say 谢谢, he pulled out a pick hammer and busted open the first house, smashing the wax encasement and forcing the cork down into the house. He then took it, turned it upside down, and dumped the contents (gin) in the trash can.

(Not that I would have drunk it, but I was not even given the chance!)

I made the slow-down sign with my two hands and then tried to mime carefully chipping away the wax of the second house.

SMASH.

Thankfully, the top came off in one piece…

The gin from the second bottle was dumped, and the empty house was handed back to me with a nod.

My bag was about two ounces lighter…

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I suppose you’re wondering how I got these since we flew economy class on our KLM flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta. Whenever a KLM intercontinental (or Fith Freedom) flight lands, check the business class cabin…people strangely tend to leave houses behind.

Does anyone know how to re-seal these? Candle wax, perhaps?