Airline Carry on Liquid Rules

In the wake of the 9/11 airline crash into the World Trade Center, airline security all over the world was tightened. Security checks became more stringent as did the restriction on carry on and checked luggage. These measures were only further tightened, when on the 10th August 2006, the security authorities in the United Kingdom discovered a plot that would threaten almost 10 flights between the UK and the US. The explosives to be used in this massive terror plot were discovered to be all liquid and gel based. It was then that the United States Transportation Security Administration or TSA came out with a set of rules to prevent a similar plot in the future. Most countries around the world have their own rules about what can we take on an airplane, but the airline carry on liquid regulations that the TSA has put forth has been widely accepted as necessary requirement to ensure security on aircraft carriers.

Airline Carry on Liquid Rules

According to TSA, liquids and gels in limited quantities are not harmful or a security threat, and therefore a passenger is allowed to carry a certain fixed amount of liquids in carry on luggage. The TSA suggests that in order to make your airport security check a faster process and also to provide assistance to the security professional, a passenger should follow the 3-1-1 rule and follow some air travel tips that ensure safety. According to this rule, every passenger is allowed to carry liquids and gels which weigh or measure up to less than 3 ounce in volume. This is the airline carry on liquid limit, but you can carry liquids of higher volume in your checked luggage. Every passenger is allowed to carry one quart sized plastic bag to carry the liquid or gel bottles and each passenger is allowed only one bag per screening bin. That is also the limit of the total number of bags, each passenger can bring in to the flight, according to the rules. If you have any decoration or any such item that has liquid filled in it, it can only be carried in checked luggage. Passengers are allowed to buy beverages or liquids or gels of any size, once they have passed the airport security area and are in the terminal. These are the rules for carry on liquids on airlines. Given below is a list of all those countries that follow the airline carry on liquid restrictions and rules as prescribed by the TSA.

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Brazil
• Canada
• Cape Verde
• China
• Cook Islands
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Egypt
• Estonia
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• French Polynesia
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Marshall Islands
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Republic of Korea
• Romania
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tunisia
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom

Exemptions on the Rules

There are some liquid items that are exempted under the airline carry on liquid regulations, applicable under certain situations and conditions. As mentioned above, medications can be carried along if declared. These would include drugs and over-the-counter medication like insulin, petroleum jelly, eye drops, etc. Liquids that are essential for life support are also allowed including bone marrow, blood, transplant organs, etc. In accordance with the rules, if you have any other liquid that exceeds the quantity allowed by the airlines, then you will need to declare the same for inspection. These items may include medication, breast milk in case of nursing mothers and baby formula. If there are any objects that are essential to be used for medical or cosmetic needs like mastectomy items, prosthetic breasts, enhancing bras containing silicon gels, saline solutions, etc. then they may be allowed in carry on luggage on declaration. Passengers are also allowed to carry water, juice or any other such liquid essential for nutrition, but only in case of disability or a medical problem. Passengers are allowed to carry toiletries and other such personal hygiene items, but only in solid form. To ensure that you do not get stuck in a situation, where you are held at a security check for carrying a liquid face wash or other such items, try and carry alternatives in non-liquid form. These are just some of the rules to ensure airline safety.

Almost more than half of the world can now travel by air comparatively safely, due to these rules as specified by the TSA, along with other security measures. So, the next time you are held at checkpoint due to the latte that you are enjoying, instead of making things difficult for the security person at hand, remember that these rules are for your own safety.