I often travel with wine, and the WineCheck has become a favorite, especially on trips where I can check it one way, toss the polystyrene, and fold it into a carry-on for the trip home. I do wish it had some sort of handle instead of the pull strap, but it gets the job done. On this visit to see family, Delta did their best to create a wine-opocalypse. The bottom of the packing was completely pulverized, yet all twelve bottles somehow survived without a scratch.
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You don’t put the cardboard box inside the wine check?
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Not generally, but maybe I should going forward. User error?
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I typically use the box with cardboard because it’s a bit lighter and have never had an issue; I’d never ship it without a box that’s just asking for trouble.
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YES!!! You have to use the cardboard box, as otherwise polystyrene Styro will shatter, like that! It needs the structural support of the outer box. Glad all the bottles are safe, but you got lucky!!
Not as bad as @Charlie_Carnes who flew with his Wine Check Elite using only the removable (lightly) padded dividers (designed for just taking around town, dinners, etc) instead of a shipper box/insert, and all his bottles survived the trip to NYC
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: for anyone who flies with a Wine Check, you need to use the shipper box and inserts for optimum safety! The bag itself is more for convenience, and to classify the bag as luggage, versus many airlines who don’t classify a cardboard box as such. And it makes it much easier to transport, handles, pullstrap, wheels, etc., but you want max protection, so use both outer box and inserts. (Of note, I much prefer the stand-up pulp (3-piece if you can find it) - it doesn’t shatter like Styrofoam, and the latter has NO thermal advantages (we’ve tested, and posted results))
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Good information, thanks. And there’s nothing quite so humbling as admitting I’m a dumbass on a public forum, but maybe others will benefit from the admission.
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Thank you for your sacrifice! 
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Yep. I go with just a standard case box and rip up another box and line all sides of the box with it, including extra slats between bottles, fragile label the outside and pray a lot. So far, so good.
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I don’t think that’s necessary; I’ll just bubble wrap any expensive bottles and put it in the shipper; I’ve shipped hundreds of cases with wine check and had no broken bottles, not true with vinguard valise 
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I go sans shipper 
uh oh…not much padding on those, no room for sufficient padding. I think they should use the 12-bottle case size for 8 bottles and just pad properly. As is, bottles are so close to one another, particularly Champagne or Burgundy bottles, and very little padding between layers and exterior shell
WHAT? You just pile bottles in a Wine Check??
It looks better than I would have thought without a cardboard box.
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I did not use my Wine Check this trip. VinGardeValise was no match for the kind and professional American Airlines baggage handlers from JFK to CLT (bottles were fine during the recheck at JFK).
2017 Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche destroyed and damp stained labels all over Dujac Clos St Denis and others. American has a strict policy against insuring in the case of glass breakage so unless my credit card insurance bails me out, this is what remains …
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The bottle I broke was 2019 lignier cdlr too.
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Just a standard warehouse case box. I used to use styro but needed to fly one time when I didn’t have a proper shipper and winged it with just internal padding with extra cardboard. Went well so I have done it again about half a dozen times. Some outer scuffing has been the worst.
Shipping Burg, Barolo, and bubbles. Living on the edge.
edit to add that I fly front of the plane. I think is some help as luggage is given some priority.
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Oof. I fly American almost exclusively, and have never had a broken bottle in my Wine Checks, ever, Elite or regular. Those shipper boxes work well for a reason!
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You have a lot of faith in airport baggage handlers. I doubt you would pack a box the same way if shipping via UPS or FedEx but the handling is likely similar.
IIRC shipper boxes can protect your wine from like a 6-foot drop onto concrete. There’s no reason not to use one if you have a Wine Check
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I still think you’re wicked smart, Warren. Still, as always, better to be lucky than smart 
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The time a store in Italy packed a shipper box for my flight home but forgot an important piece of it
I have little faith in baggage handlers. I’ve known of many mangled surfboards that we’re packaged quite well.