Bottled water in checked luggage

I prefer to bring my own water than pay hotel prices for it, but
since I can't bring a few bottles in carry-on luggage anymore, I'm
wondering if it's safe in checked baggage. I have two concerns in mind:
1. If baggage compartments aren't heated, the water might freeze and
push open the bottle. That would be bad.
2. My luggage is soft-sided and a big heavy bag could be put on top,
thus squishing the bottles open. THat would be bad too.

Is the idea of putting a couple of botles of say, Arrowhead water, in
my bag reasonable or am I likely to endup with wet interview clothes?
Thanks.

OccasionalFlyer wrote:

> I prefer to bring my own water than pay hotel prices for it, but
> since I can't bring a few bottles in carry-on luggage anymore, I'm
> wondering if it's safe in checked baggage. I have two concerns in mind:
> 1. If baggage compartments aren't heated, the water might freeze and
> push open the bottle. That would be bad.

The baggage compartment is heated.

> 2. My luggage is soft-sided and a big heavy bag could be put on top,
> thus squishing the bottles open. THat would be bad too.

You would put the bottles in the middle of the clothing, to cushion
them. Put them in plastic bags to reduce the chance of spillage.
Also, since you mention soft sided bags. Are they waterproof? How do you
protect your clothing in case there is moisture from outside of your
bag? Some people put there clothing in plastic bags for this reason.

xyzzy.dude@ wrote:
> Water doesn't freeze that way. It expands equally on all sides, it
> doesn't expand to fill the remaining empty space. Try it in your
> freezer and you'll see what I mean.
>

Actually, it expands equally on all sides if the pressure and
temperature are the same on all sides.

Shawn Hirn wrote:

> In article <1163698751.224746.256300@h48g2000cwc. .com>,
> "OccasionalFlyer" <klitwak@apu.edu> wrote:
>
>
>> I prefer to bring my own water than pay hotel prices for it, but
>>since I can't bring a few bottles in carry-on luggage anymore, I'm
>>wondering if it's safe in checked baggage. I have two concerns in mind:
>>1. If baggage compartments aren't heated, the water might freeze and
>>push open the bottle. That would be bad.
>>2. My luggage is soft-sided and a big heavy bag could be put on top,
>>thus squishing the bottles open. THat would be bad too.
>>
>>Is the idea of putting a couple of botles of say, Arrowhead water, in
>>my bag reasonable or am I likely to endup with wet interview clothes?
>>Thanks.
>
>
> Why not just buy some bottled water at your destination? Unless you are
> traveling to some remote area, chances are, you can find bottled water
> at a grocery store near the airport or near the hotel where you will be
> staying.

Or take an empty bottle and fill it in your hotel, if you think water is
only good in a bottle.

SMS wrote:
> OccasionalFlyer wrote:
> > I prefer to bring my own water than pay hotel prices for it, but
> > since I can't bring a few bottles in carry-on luggage anymore, I'm
> > wondering if it's safe in checked baggage. I have two concerns in mind:
> > 1. If baggage compartments aren't heated, the water might freeze and
> > push open the bottle. That would be bad.
> > 2. My luggage is soft-sided and a big heavy bag could be put on top,
> > thus squishing the bottles open. THat would be bad too.
> >
> > Is the idea of putting a couple of botles of say, Arrowhead water, in
> > my bag reasonable or am I likely to endup with wet interview clothes?
> > Thanks.
>
> Hmm, all over the world, the first thing I do if the hotel doesn't
> provide free bottled water, and if the tap water is no good, is to run
> out to the corner store and buy some. In Asia, most hotels provide
> bottled water at no charge, but I was annoyed that the very expensive
> Grand Hyatt in Taipei did not. I was not going to pay $5 for a bottle of
> water, even though I could expense it, so I went across the street to
> 7-11 to buy water.
>
> But to answer your question, it should be fine. Buy some big Zip Lock
> Freezer bags, and triple bag it in case of breakage.

Just guessing -- but perhaps, before bagging the bottles, maybe crack
the seal on the lid and squeeze out the air? That might provide a
little bit of flex room in case the bottles get a bit crushed, if in a
soft side case.