Carry Liquid in Flight: Rules and Essential Tips for Carrying Liquids on a Plane

Carry Liquid in Flight: When traveling abroad, especially to countries with strict regulations like the European Union, Australia, the UK, or Canada, many people worry about what they can and cannot pack in their luggage. The biggest confusion often revolves around liquids and cosmetics. A small mistake could lead to your favorite perfume or shampoo being discarded in an airport dustbin. To avoid such undesirable situations, it is crucial to know the correct rules for carrying liquids or cosmetics on a plane.

Checked Baggage vs. Hand Baggage

There are two types of luggage you can take on a plane: checked baggage (which goes in the cargo hold) and hand baggage or cabin baggage (which stays with you in the cabin). The safest way to carry toiletries like lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, aftershaves, and makeup is to pack them in your check-in luggage. This eliminates any risk of them being confiscated during airport security checks. However, if you must carry liquids in your hand baggage, there are strict rules you need to follow.

Rules for Carrying Liquids in Hand Baggage

There are international regulations for carrying liquids in hand baggage that all passengers must adhere to.

• Use a transparent, zip-lock bag/pouch: You must place all liquids in a transparent, re-sealable bag or pouch. These are commonly known as “zip-lock” bags. While some airports may provide them for free or for a fee, it’s best to be prepared in advance.
• Volume limit per item: Each liquid item (such as perfume, deodorant, hair serum, foundation, moisturizer, toner) must not exceed 100 milliliters (ml). Even if a bottle is only partially full, its original packaging size must be 100ml or less.
• Total volume limit: The total volume of all liquids in your transparent bag should not exceed 1000 milliliters or 1 liter.
• One bag per person: Only one transparent, zip-lock bag is permitted per passenger. If you are traveling with others, each person can carry their own bag with up to 1000ml of liquids.
• The bag must be sealable: The bag must be able to be completely zip-locked or sealed after all items are inside. Any items outside the bag will be removed by security personnel.

Travel-Friendly Alternatives

Instead of large bottles, you can purchase travel-sized toiletries, which are readily available in the market. Alternatively, you can repack your existing toiletries into smaller, reusable travel bottles. For items like perfume, it’s wise to buy smaller bottles of 20ml or 30ml, as they are sufficient for travel and comply with the regulations.

Dealing with Security

Remember, airport security personnel are doing their job. If they ask you to remove an item, it is best not to argue with them. Always comply with their rules and regulations, as there is always a reason behind their requests.