Everything You Need to Know About TSA Liquid Rules

Coping with airport security will be one of many extra daunting points of air travel, from the detailed guidelines about what you’ll be able to and might’t carry on board to the lengthy strains that always kind at checkpoints.

One rule that ceaselessly journeys up vacationers is the Transportation Safety Administration’s (TSA) 3-1-1 relating to liquids in carry-on bags. We’re right here to stroll you thru the finer particulars of the rule and supply useful suggestions for packing liquids if you’re flying.

What’s the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule?

In 2006, British safety officers thwarted a plot to bomb an plane with liquid explosives carried on board. Since then, safety businesses world wide have restricted the quantity of liquid passengers can carry via airport safety.

For the TSA, which regulates journey in america, all liquids, gels, and aerosols should be in containers which are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or much less. All liquids should match right into a single, clear quart-size bag — passengers can solely pack one among these baggage of their carry-on.

The three-1-1 designation is a straightforward option to keep in mind these numbers: particular person liquid containers should be 3.4 ounces or smaller, they need to match into one clear, quart-size bag, and there is just one bag allowed per passenger.

Liquids that don’t adjust to the 3-1-1 rule should be packed in checked baggage, or thrown out at airport safety. Some liquids, similar to gasoline or different flammable liquids, are prohibited fully, each in checked and carry-on baggage. You’ll find a full checklist of permitted and prohibited objects on the TSA’s website.

In the event you’re uncertain if a selected merchandise adheres to the 3-1-1 rule, you’ll be able to all the time contact the TSA earlier than your journey. “Tweet your questions and feedback to @AskTSA or through Facebook Messenger, weekdays from 8 a.m. to six p.m. ET,” TSA spokesperson Jessica Mayle tells Journey + Leisure. “You too can name the TSA Contact Heart at 866-289-9673.”

Are there any exceptions to the 3-1-1 rule?

The TSA does exempt some objects from the 3-1-1 rule: medically essential liquids, components, and breast milk. You possibly can carry greater than 3.4 ounces of those liquids on board, however you might have to endure further safety screening.

“Inform the TSA officer at first of the screening course of that you simply’re carrying them,” says Mayle. “These liquids are usually screened by X-ray, however TSA officers can also take a look at them individually for explosives or hid prohibited objects. Officers might ask you to open the container and/or have you ever switch a small amount of the liquid to a separate empty container, or get rid of a small amount, if possible.”

If you do not need your exempt liquids to be screened by X-ray, inform your TSA officer, and they’re going to use various safety measures to clear the objects.

And that is not all. “There’s an exception for hand sanitizer, which has a short lived 12-ounce restrict,” says Mayle. However as COVID-19 journey restrictions and protocols proceed to raise, the momentary particular case for hand sanitizer might change, too.

One other exception is liquids bought after safety in an airport. In domestic U.S. airports, you’ll be able to carry nonalcoholic drinks and different liquid objects bought airside onto your flight. (This isn’t all the time the case in worldwide airports.) Responsibility-free liquids, nonetheless, can be sealed in a tamper-safe bag earlier than boarding — typically they’re permitted within the cabin, and different instances they might be stowed elsewhere on the airplane.

Packing Ideas for Liquids in Carry-on Luggage

• Whereas many merchandise are bought in 3.4-ounce containers appropriate for journey, not all of them are. Take into account rebottling your liquids into travel-size, leak-proof instances.
• “One other option to save area in your quart-sized bag is to pack stable variations of merchandise, which you’ll put in your baggage or carry-on bag while not having to put it within the quart-size bag,” journey advisor Ateet Ahuja of Complete Getaways tells T+ L. “For instance, you’ll be able to carry a stick or stable model of some perfumes and shampoo bars as an alternative of liquid shampoo.”
• Purchase your liquids, like shampoo or mouthwash, at your closing vacation spot. “Whilst you’ll spend a bit of additional, the associated fee far outweighs the potential of it spilling or leaking in your bag,” says Ahuja.
• On that notice, put together for spills — Ahuja advises wrapping a small hand towel round your quart-size bag.
• Pack your nonliquid toiletries individually to save lots of area in your quart-sized bag.
• Pack your liquids bag in an easy-to-access area, like an exterior compartment or the highest of your carry-on bag. In accordance with Ahuja, “It will prevent time within the TSA line.”