The beginning of the end for the 100ml rule

[AlterEgo]

These 3D Scanners (where you don't have to take out liquids or lap tops et al) are not all they are cracked up to be as I found out at London City last week.

More bags were being rejected and funnelled into the manual check lane than getting through unscathed.

Most problems seem to be related to lap tops that required no further inspection.

Conversely the one I used at MCO (Orlando) during the summer worked fine.

City Airport has form for that, I agree. Elsewhere, at Dulles and many other places, I’ve not witnessed the same problem.

 

[island]

From this week, London City Airport and Durham Tees Valley (or whatever it's called this month) have formally abolished the 100ml rule at their checkpoints.

 

[Mojo]

I ended up using one of the “trial” lanes at Terminal 5 last week. The staff were advising customers they didn’t need to remove anything from their bags. I noted that they only had three spaces to load your belongings into trays rather than the 5 or 6 you normally get. This did seem to cause the queue to go a bit slower but I guess it’ll get better in time as customers don’t need to be continually reassured by staff not to empty their bags.

I had a packet of wet wipes in my bag which got rejected by the machine and subjected to secondary screening. The security officer asked me if I had a book in my bag which I did not, she then realised they were wet wipes, did a wipe of the outside of the packet and then let me go.

Hopefully these machines don’t reject wet wipes normally as I’ve never had a problem at the conventional scanners. It was a bit of a pain, as others have pointed out they seem to have a higher “reject rate” so I was waiting a bit of time.

 

[Cloud Strife]

The reject rate is really a major issue from what I'm seeing in other airports too. I do wonder if it wouldn't be more sensible to require liquids to be kept outside of the baggage, just so that false positives (like with the wet wipes) can be avoided.

Incidentally, I wonder how this will affect retailers airside. The high prices for drinks in some airports (looking at you, Poland!) is a lucrative moneyspinner for some.

 

[Butts]

I ended up using one of the “trial” lanes at Terminal 5 last week. The staff were advising customers they didn’t need to remove anything from their bags. I noted that they only had three spaces to load your belongings into trays rather than the 5 or 6 you normally get. This did seem to cause the queue to go a bit slower but I guess it’ll get better in time as customers don’t need to be continually reassured by staff not to empty their bags.

I had a packet of wet wipes in my bag which got rejected by the machine and subjected to secondary screening. The security officer asked me if I had a book in my bag which I did not, she then realised they were wet wipes, did a wipe of the outside of the packet and then let me go.

Hopefully these machines don’t reject wet wipes normally as I’ve never had a problem at the conventional scanners. It was a bit of a pain, as others have pointed out they seem to have a higher “reject rate” so I was waiting a bit of time.

Is this also being trialled in Fast Track / First Wing Security at T5 as I haven't seen it ?

 

[island]

Is this also being trialled in Fast Track / First Wing Security at T5 as I haven't seen it ?

First wing still has old school X-rays.

Connections fast track at north security is operating CT scanner and R&S QPS body scan for everyone.

 

[Butts]

First wing still has old school X-rays.

Connections fast track at north security is operating CT scanner and R&S QPS body scan for everyone.

Outrageous - although to be fair it's rare I've found more than a couple people ahead of me.

 

[Snow1964]

Update, trials now in place at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton

Travelers can expect to see the complete removal of the 100ml rule at major airports by 2024. Eventually, the carry-on liquid limit at these airports will be extended to 2 liters (0.53 gallons). This new limit is already in force at some major airports.

UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:
“By 2024, major airports across the UK will have the latest security tech installed, reducing queuing times, improving the passenger experience, and most importantly detecting potential threats.”
However, it’s important to note that travelers should always check the security requirements at all points of their journey. While the departing airport may accept liquid in containers measuring more than 100ml, the airport through which they transfer or return may not.

The Removal Of The 100ml Rule At UK Airports: Everything You Need To Know

Passengers can soon hand-carry up to 2 liters of liquids onboard in the UK - some airports have already rolled out the technology.

simpleflying.com

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why, out of interest, is a two-litre limit imposed, why not no limit at all?

 

[najaB]

Why, out of interest, is a two-litre limit imposed, why not no limit at all?

At a guess, the practicalities of weight and not wanting to deal with multi-litre spills.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Why, out of interest, is a two-litre limit imposed, why not no limit at all?

Probably arbitrarily chosen as the size of a large bottle of drink.

That, and to stop the inevitable person who tries to carry a 4 litre bottle of milk on board.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Probably arbitrarily chosen as the size of a large bottle of drink.

That, and to stop the inevitable person who tries to carry a 4 litre bottle of milk on board.

Why exactly should one not carry a 4l bottle of milk on board if one wanted?

 

[Cloud Strife]

Why exactly should one not carry a 4l bottle of milk on board if one wanted?

Can you imagine the mess when it inevitably goes everywhere?!

But thinking rationally, it might just be one of those arbitrary things decided in Whitehall without any real reason.

 

[najaB]

Can you imagine the mess when it inevitably goes everywhere?!

That's my thinking as well. It's unlikely that many people will want to carry more than 2 litres of liquid with them into the cabin, if for no other reason other than it being heavy.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's my thinking as well. It's unlikely that many people will want to carry more than 2 litres of liquid with them into the cabin, if for no other reason other than it being heavy.

I think it's very likely they would. Pre 100ml rule I did a couple of times - bringing a couple of 4 packs of beer back from Germany. Or even one 4 pack and a bottle of water. And are they going to get finiticky about refillable bottles not marked with capacity?

 

[Cloud Strife]

Or even one 4 pack and a bottle of water. And are they going to get finiticky about refillable bottles not marked with capacity?

Isn't it 2l in any one individual container, rather than 2l total? From London City Airport's website:

Only liquids and gels in containers of up to 2 litres are allowed in your hand luggage.

I understand this as you can have as many containers as you want, just as long as the individual container is no more than 2l in size. So, you'd be perfectly allowed to take a crate of beer on board, as each can would be well under the 2l limit.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ah, fair enough, I read that wrong. Thought it was 2l total.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Ah, fair enough, I read that wrong. Thought it was 2l total.

I'm honestly not sure, because the media are reporting it as 2l total as well.

Seems to have been badly explained!

 

[najaB]

I'm honestly not sure, because the media are reporting it as 2l total as well.

Seems to have been badly explained!

Even if it is, that's twenty times the previous limit, and only applies to liquids brought through security. So still plenty of opportunity to stock up on beers, just at airport prices!

 

[Butts]

Even if it is, that's twenty times the previous limit, and only applies to liquids brought through security. So still plenty of opportunity to stock up on beers, just at airport prices!

Not if you have access to BA Lounges - "free takeaway service"

 

[Sm5]

That's my thinking as well. It's unlikely that many people will want to carry more than 2 litres of liquid with them into the cabin, if for no other reason other than it being heavy.

Bottles of alcohol etc.. 3-4 bottles of wine etc.

its all a long way from a flight I did in the 90’s… I flew out to new york with all my juggling /circus skills stuff in a back pack… including 3 Juggling knives (blades over 12 inch long), fire clubs and fireating kit, as well as regular clubs, hoops etc, including associated flammable liquids.

It wasnt hidden either, me and my colleague were entertaining in the boarding gate (though not with the fire clubs).

Not even sure i’d make it past the taxi rank today with that lot openly exposed.

 

[island]

I flew from London City on Friday under the new rules. But I couldn’t really benefit from it as I come back from an airport that hasn’t got them yet.

 

[Silenos]

Update, trials now in place at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton

The Removal Of The 100ml Rule At UK Airports: Everything You Need To Know

Passengers can soon hand-carry up to 2 liters of liquids onboard in the UK - some airports have already rolled out the technology.

simpleflying.com

Definitely at Stansted too - the last time I flew to Copenhagen in March they directed us to the trial area for scanning.

 

[island]

Newcastle and Southend airports are the latest to start installing CT scanners. However, the 100ml rule remains in place until all lanes are so equipped.

 

[nlogax]

At least one CT now installed and in active trial at Glasgow. It was being used on the fasttrack line a little over a week ago.