The beginning of the end for the 100ml rule

[island]

Shannon Airport has recently abolished the 100ml rule at security citing more advanced scanners. After over 15 years it's a very interesting change.

 

[roversfan2001]

For a rule that was only brought in temporarily it's not half stuck around a fair while.

 

[LucyP]

Of course it has. All those airport shops that sell grossly overpriced bottled water after security have kept the sales rolling in because of that rule.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Of course it has. All those airport shops that sell grossly overpriced bottled water after security have kept the sales rolling in because of that rule.

At most if not all airports you can take an empty bottle through (put it in the tray separately) and fill it up on the other side. I've done it a number of times.

 

[AlterEgo]

Shannon Airport has recently abolished the 100ml rule at security citing more advanced scanners. After over 15 years it's a very interesting change.

That is excellent news. This was akin to the mask law - annoying and with very low efficacy in doing anything in the way of protection as a wide scale policy.

 

[LucyP]

Perhaps in the USA. Not in the UK or Europe, unless you fancy filling it up in the toilets! And there are several countries (Hong Kong for instance on a flight to Australia) where they re-check your hand luggage at the gate. Bizarrely you can fly internally in Australia with as much water as you can carry!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Perhaps in the USA. Not in the UK or Europe, unless you fancy filling it up in the toilets!

Certainly Luton and Heathrow T2 and T5 have water fill-up points airside and I think Gatwick does too. I can't comment on other UK airports as I don't use them, but I suspect you're just not looking hard enough - they are often not located in very obvious places.

Once you're on a long haul flight they'll provide it anyway!

 

[XAM2175]

And there are several countries (Hong Kong for instance on a flight to Australia) where they re-check your hand luggage at the gate.

Yeah, I really enjoyed that surprise

Bizarrely you can fly internally in Australia with as much water as you can carry!

The benefits of segregating domestic and international passengers. Qantas still allow check-in and bag-drop for domestics up to 30 minutes before departure time.

Certainly Luton and Heathrow T2 and T5 have water fill-up points airside and I think Gatwick does too. I can't comment on other UK airports as I don't use them, but I suspect you're just not looking hard enough - they are often not located in very obvious places.

Glasgow has one too, on the left side of the ramp leading from security into duty-free. It's quite obvious, thankfully. On the other hand, I've never been able to find the damned things at Heathrow T5 either!

 

[mmh]

Certainly Luton and Heathrow T2 and T5 have water fill-up points airside and I think Gatwick does too. I can't comment on other UK airports as I don't use them, but I suspect you're just not looking hard enough - they are often not located in very obvious places.

Once you're on a long haul flight they'll provide it anyway!

"Perhaps in the USA. Not in the UK or Europe, unless you fancy filling it up in the toilets!"

I don't understand the problem with filling a water bottle in toilets. I've done so countless times. Unlike in some hotter parts of the USA, different grade water supplies are very rare in the UK and I'd be very surprised if the water at the sink is exactly the same as at the water fountain. I wouldn't use the USA as an example given their far higher neuroticism over perceived "hygiene" at public facilities and on public transport!

 

[Haywain]

Certainly Luton and Heathrow T2 and T5 have water fill-up points airside and I think Gatwick does too. I can't comment on other UK airports as I don't use them, but I suspect you're just not looking hard enough - they are often not located in very obvious places.

I do this regularly when flying. If there isn't a drinking water fountain just ask for it to be filled at one of the coffee shops - I've never been refused (or charged) in the UK or elsewhere.

 

[Bluejays]

Seems a bit of a daft rule. Always noticed that the Israeli airport security don't take any notice of it. They check luggage thoroughly but will allow large containers of liquids through

 

[Starmill]

Certainly Luton and Heathrow T2 and T5 have water fill-up points airside and I think Gatwick does too. I can't comment on other UK airports as I don't use them, but I suspect you're just not looking hard enough - they are often not located in very obvious places.

Once you're on a long haul flight they'll provide it anyway!

There are several water fountains at Manchester Airport, I used one in 2019. There is a thread on the moneysavingexpert forum with a list of where to look for them, and most airports have them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Mar 2022 ==

I do this regularly when flying. If there isn't a drinking water fountain just ask for it to be filled at one of the coffee shops - I've never been refused (or charged) in the UK or elsewhere.

A lot of coffee shops and licensed premises even have a little sign in the door now saying 'free drinking water available here'.

 

[westralian]

Yeah, I really enjoyed that surprise


The benefits of segregating domestic and international passengers. Qantas still allow check-in and bag-drop for domestics up to 30 minutes before departure time.


Glasgow has one too, on the left side of the ramp leading from security into duty-free. It's quite obvious, thankfully. On the other hand, I've never been able to find the damned things at Heathrow T5 either!

Yes, domestic flights in Australia were always a breeze due to no liquid restrictions. It was also nice that you can see off/meet people right at the gate as you don't need to be on a flight to go airside.

For Heathrow T5, immediately after going through North security, turn left and then (when you are by the BA North lounge entry near the escalators) look left and the water fountain is up again the wall kind of in line with the row of security lanes.

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes, domestic flights in Australia were always a breeze due to no liquid restrictions. It was also nice that you can see off/meet people right at the gate as you don't need to be on a flight to go airside.

For Heathrow T5, immediately after going through North security, turn left and then (when you are by the BA North lounge entry near the escalators) look left and the water fountain is up again the wall kind of in line with the row of security lanes.

I'd forgotten that about Aussie airports, truly a pleasure using them. Perth and Adelaide both particularly nice.

 

[island]

The international side is the exact opposite with security barkers, mandatory body scan with no opt-out hand search, etc. They have at least deigned to remove the requirement to fill out a form to request permission to leave Australia.

 

[XAM2175]

For Heathrow T5, immediately after going through North security, turn left and then (when you are by the BA North lounge entry near the escalators) look left and the water fountain is up again the wall kind of in line with the row of security lanes.

Aha! Cheers.

I don't understand the problem with filling a water bottle in toilets.

The main impediment to my doing this so far is the fact that I always seem to end up in toilets where there's not enough space between the outlet and the sink for my bottle

 

[The exile]

Certainly Luton and Heathrow T2 and T5 have water fill-up points airside and I think Gatwick does too. I can't comment on other UK airports as I don't use them, but I suspect you're just not looking hard enough - they are often not located in very obvious places.

Once you're on a long haul flight they'll provide it anyway!

Bristol does as well ( or at least did pre-Covid)

 

[Brooke]

Many airports are now getting baggage scanners where you don’t need to take your laptops and liquids out of your bag.

I’ve learned that at these airports, regardless what the rules may be, big bottles of water typically make it through unchallenged.

Airports I’ve managed it in during the last days: London City, Geneva.

 

[choochoochoo]

Now we just need more advanced scanners that mean we don't need to take laptops/tablets out of our bags.

 

[Fred43123]

Now we just need more advanced scanners that mean we don't need to take laptops/tablets out of our bags.

London City has one advance scanner which you don't require to take liquids or laptops/tablets etc out

 

[gabrielhj07]

This is good news, especially when one could evade the rule by freezing the water before going through, thus rendering it pointless.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Quicker this is rolled out to all airports the better. I will miss the liquid rules about as much as I would miss chlamydia. Horrible horrible stupid idea ear that really probably didn't solve anything in the first place and and is a complete nuisance if like me you are a frequent flyer

 

[Brooke]

London City has one advance scanner which you don't require to take liquids or laptops/tablets etc out

Yep, but so far it’s not guaranteed to be available for use, so you cannot yet assume you will be able to have >100ml.

Better at Geneva where they have two of these so far, and if you ask you can always go down this lane (and be sure to get away with >100ml).

 

[choochoochoo]

Yep, but so far it’s not guaranteed to be available for use, so you cannot yet assume you will be able to have >100ml.

Better at Geneva where they have two of these so far, and if you ask you can always go down this lane (and be sure to get away with >100ml).

Think I saw one at Madrid airport too

 

[Brooke]

Think I saw one at Madrid airport too

The lovely folks at Kerry Airport upgraded recently too. Becoming more common, thankfully

 

[Fred43123]

Think I saw one at Madrid airport too

Was that in the normal security line or Fast Track? I only use Fast Track and I haven't been there in a while

 

[WatcherZero]

Perhaps in the USA. Not in the UK or Europe, unless you fancy filling it up in the toilets! And there are several countries (Hong Kong for instance on a flight to Australia) where they re-check your hand luggage at the gate. Bizarrely you can fly internally in Australia with as much water as you can carry!

This is a story from 25 years ago but still cracks me up. My grandmother was flying a domestic Qantas flight and among the complimentary items were knitting needles, she then connected to a Qantas international flight and the same airline confiscated the knitting needles!

 

[najaB]

At most if not all airports you can take an empty bottle through (put it in the tray separately) and fill it up on the other side. I've done it a number of times.

I've had empty bottles taken from me more than once.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've had empty bottles taken from me more than once.

Never happened to me, and shouldn't happen. Best plan is to place them in the tray separately with the lids off showing them to be empty.

 

[najaB]

Never happened to me, and shouldn't happen. Best plan is to place them in the tray separately with the lids off showing them to be empty.

I don't fly nearly as often as I used to so it'll probably be a while until I get to try it again - by which time the rule will likely have been removed/altered anyway.