In March of this year, we wrote about the first airport in the world to remove their “liquids” rule from carry-on baggage. It reportedly halved the time passengers spent going through security screenings. A few months later we wrote about another airport that was making the jump to no longer requiring passengers to limit how much liquid they bring in their carry-on bags.
A handful of other airports either have this technology or say they will soon. However, no country has said it will remove their hand luggage restrictions.
Well, until now.
According to The Times, travelers going through the major airports in the UK will no longer have to limit their liquids to 100ml (the equivalent of approximately 3 ounces), as the UK has announced they will remove this restriction by 2024.
As per The Times, airports in the UK will allow passengers to carry liquids of any size in their carry-on and personal sized bag. Passengers will also no longer be required to remove their laptops for security.
The reason for this change of heart is, of course, the new CT scanner technology that’s slowly being introduced to airport security worldwide. The new scanners show 3D images in high resolution, which allows operators to inspect the bag from all angles. The old screening machines, which are being phased out, only show 2D images.
According to The Times, the new 3D baggage screening equipment is being tested at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The Department for Transport (DfT) has told the UK’s major airports that older screening technology must be replaced in full by the summer of 2024.
The change is expected to be a “gamechanger” for those stuck on long queues, since there would be no worries about keeping liquids in baggies, removing said baggies from bags, etc.
What about the U.S.?
The 2024 deadline is great for those flying out of UK-based airports. But when I asked representatives at TSA when the 3-1-1 liquid rules would end here, their response was less optimistic.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
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7 comments
Australia doesn’t have a liquids rule for domestic flights, and a lot of intra asian flights don’t either.
2024? Why because liquids are dangerous in 2023?
What’s interesting about this rule is that in my experience it has not been enforced for years. Yes, the bottles must be 3 oz. max, but in my carry-on those bottles are all over the place, not in a baggy, nor do I remove them for inspection. And they would definitely fill more than a quart bag if I combineed them together! I have flown out of numerous major airports in the US, never had anyone complain or ask about it in the past decade or so. For that matter, I have not observed other passengers doing it either. They probably gave up on enforcing it to save time.
The US won’t revive the restriction because they would no longer have a reason to charge a fee for TSA PreCheck, because everyone would them be treated the same again. The UK, as well as Germany and many others, already doesn’t require you to remove your shoes. But the US has to keep the theatre alive
I suspect there’s quite a bit more involved in vetting people for PreCheck. Also, this “theater” has stopped thousands upon thousands of guns being brought into cabins every years. And when was the last time we had a hijacking or a plane been used as a bomb a’la 9/11? Not since 9/11. Definitely more than just theater.
@Sharonkurheg – Security meaures stops guns but limiting liquids, pulling them out of your bag, and taking off your shoes does not.
Neither you nor I know that for sure. However when was the last time a plane was lost due to liquid bombs, or shoes hiding explosives?