Fly Your Wine Home
Some airlines check up to a case of wine free per person when you fly out of Sonoma County, the Bay Area or Sacramento, so a 3-bottle or 6-bottle box flies free too. Here are the rules, the links, and how to pack it so every bottle makes it home.
The Short Answer
Alaska, Southwest, and Delta each let you check one case of wine free per person when you fly out of Sonoma County Airport (STS), San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose or Sacramento. A 3-bottle or 6-bottle box flies free too.
Shared rules for every airline:
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One case is up to 12 bottles
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Up to 50 pounds
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Up to 62 inches (length plus width plus height)
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You must be 21 or older
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Wine must be packed in a sturdy box or wine suitcase
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The free case applies when you fly out of a participating airport, not when you fly in
Airline policies change. Last checked November 9, 2026. Always confirm with your airline before you fly.
Can you ship my wine home?
Sonoma Wine Rides cannot ship wine. Only licensed wineries can ship wine, and a winery will not ship wine from another winery. You can ask each winery you visit to ship what you buy there. If you would rather bring everything home together, your best option is to buy a wine shipper box from us and check it as a bag on your flight.
Airlines at Sonoma County Airport
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) is served by Alaska, American, Delta and Southwest. Three of them offer a free wine case. Here is how each one works.
Alaska Airlines: Wine Flies Free
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One case of wine flies free from Sonoma County Airport. Up to 12 bottles and 50 pounds.
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You must be 21 or older and an Atmos Rewards member. Add your Atmos Rewards number to your reservation.
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Pack your wine in a case or box with padding such as foam, cardboard liners or bubble wrap.
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Check your case with an Alaska agent at the ticket counter. Alaska labels the box fragile.
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TSA may open your box to inspect it and will reseal it.
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The offer is for flights leaving participating airports, not flights into them.
Southwest Airlines: Sip and Ship
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One case of wine checks free. Up to 12 bottles, 50 pounds, 62 inches.
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You must be 21 or older. No Rapid Rewards membership is needed.
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You must be flying within the U.S. Bring the box to the ticket counter unsealed.
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A Southwest agent inspects it, then seals and labels it for you.
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Pack bottles in a sturdy, leak-proof box or wine suitcase with padding such as foam, bubble wrap or cardboard dividers.
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The wine case does not count toward your checked bag allowance.
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It works on connecting flights within the U.S.
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A second case, or a case over 50 pounds, pays regular Southwest bag charges.
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Southwest sells padded wine bags at the counter for $5 per bottle. Our Bottle Protectors do the same job at the same price, so you can pack before you get to the airport.
Delta Air Lines: SkyMiles Wine Takes Flight
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One case of wine checks free. Up to 12 bottles (750 ml each), 50 pounds, 62 inches.
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You must be an active SkyMiles member and 21 or older. SkyMiles is free to join.
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It applies to Delta and Delta Connection flights that Delta operates, leaving STS (or SFO, OAK, SJC or SMF) for anywhere in the U.S.
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It does not apply to codeshare flights.
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Bottles must be unopened with their original labels, packed in a durable, leak-resistant box with padding.
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Take the case to the ticket counter.
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Do not seal it if the agent needs to inspect it.
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Overweight and oversize fees are not waived.
American Airlines
American also flies from STS but does not have a free wine program that we could find. Your wine box is a regular checked bag. Consult American for baggage fees and for its size and weight limits.
Leaving from SFO, Oakland, San Jose or Sacramento?
Many Sonoma County guests fly out of a nearby airport. Southwest, Delta and Alaska all run their wine programs at San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK), San Jose (SJC) and Sacramento (SMF), with the same rules as at STS. Up to one case of wine flies free per person. For any other airline, see the next section.
Flying another airline?
Airlines other than Southwest, Delta and Alaska do not offer a free wine case. Your box counts as a checked bag. Consult your airline for baggage fees. Most airlines allow wine in checked bags as long as it meets their size and weight limits.
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United: economy checked bags can weigh up to 50 pounds and measure up to 62 inches. Styrofoam boxes must be packed inside another container with a secure lid. Consult United for baggage fees.
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JetBlue: wine under 24 percent alcohol has no quantity limit in checked bags, as long as the bag is within JetBlue's size and weight limits. Consult JetBlue for baggage fees.
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Other airlines, including Frontier and Allegiant: weight limits and fees vary. Consult your airline before you pack.
Can a wine box be an additional checked bag?
Yes. On airlines without a free wine program, a wine shipper box is a checked bag like any suitcase. If you already have a suitcase, the box may count as an additional checked item. Consult your airline for baggage fees.
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Our wine shipper boxes are built to stay under the weight limit of most airlines and within the size limits for checked bags.
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A full 12-bottle box weighs about 42 pounds.
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Most airlines set the limit at 50 pounds.
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Sparkling wine bottles are heavier, so weigh your box before you leave. Overweight and oversize boxes may carry extra charges.
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Baggage fees and rules change, so consult your airline before you fly.
A few rules that apply everywhere
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TSA allows wine in checked bags, with no quantity limit for wine under 24 percent alcohol.
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Wine in your carry-on must be 3.4 ounces or less.
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Airlines do not cover breakage, and Sonoma Wine Rides is not responsible for broken bottles.
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Wine is carried at your own risk, so pack carefully.
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These are airline programs, not ours. Each one applies only to flights leaving a participating airport, so confirm your departure airport with your airline.
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Some states limit how much wine you can bring in.
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Check your home state's rules.
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You must be 21 or older.
How to pack your bottles
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Use a wine shipper box or wine suitcase, not a regular cardboard box.
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Lay each bottle flat in the box dividers.
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Do not seal the top until the airline agent has checked it, if they ask.
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Put your name, phone number and flight on the outside.
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Arrive early. The counter inspection adds a few minutes.
Only taking a few bottles home?
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You can pre order your Bottle Protectors with the link below, or we will have a limited amount on the bus
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Put each protected bottle in the center of your bag
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Surround bottles with soft clothing, and keep them away from the zipper and corners
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Remember wine must go in your checked bag, not your carry-on
Get your shipper from Sonoma Wine Rides
The best way to get your shipper is to pre order it with the link below. We may have a limited supply on the bus, but pre ordering makes sure you have the size you need.
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3-Bottle Wine Shipper Box: $15
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6-Bottle Wine Shipper Box: $20
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12-Bottle Wine Shipper Box: $25
Frequently asked questions
Can Sonoma Wine Rides ship my wine home?
No. Only licensed wineries can ship wine, and a winery will not ship another winery's wine. You can ask each winery to ship what you buy there. Otherwise, buy a wine shipper box from us and check it as a bag on your flight.
Can I bring wine in my carry-on?
No. Bottles larger than 3.4 ounces cannot go through TSA security in a carry-on bag. Pack your wine in a checked bag.
Which airlines check wine free from STS?
Southwest, Delta and Alaska each check one case of wine free from Sonoma County Airport. American does not have a free wine program, so its rules for a wine box are the same as for any checked bag.
How many bottles is a case?
A case is up to 12 standard 750 ml bottles. Our full 12-bottle shipper is built to stay within the weight limit of most airlines.
Do I need a special box?
For a full case, yes. Use a sturdy wine shipper box or wine suitcase. For a couple of bottles in your own suitcase, slip a Bottle Protector over each one and wrap them in soft clothing.
Do airlines offer the Wine Flies Free program when traveling to California?
No. Airline wine programs apply only to flights that leave a participating airport, not flights into one.
Do I need an airline membership?
It depends on the airline. Southwest does not require one. Delta requires a free SkyMiles membership. Alaska requires an Atmos Rewards membership. Add your member number to your reservation.
What if a bottle breaks?
Airlines do not cover breakage of wine, and Sonoma Wine Rides is not responsible for broken bottles. Pack each bottle in the dividers with a Bottle Protector, and consider travel insurance for special bottles.
Airline policies change often. We last checked on November 9, 2026. Please confirm with your airline before you fly.