Full-Size Liquids FLY? Airport Security SHOCKER! What Happens Next?!

Goodbye 100ml rule? Where Europe’s airports now let you fly with full-size liquids

Full-Size Liquids FLY? Airport Security SHOCKER! W...

If you've ever reluctantly poured out a half-full water bottle at Airport security, relief may be on the horizon. Finally! It’s a pain we’ve all felt, that little pang of environmental guilt as you toss perfectly good liquids thanks to those pesky regulations.

This doesn't signal a universal change, but for travelers passing through select airports, the days of transferring toiletries into travel-sized containers may be numbered. The shift is unfolding gradually, lane by lane, terminal by terminal – a factor that could lead to confusion. I can already picture the scenes of frustrated travelers at security, some blissfully unaware they can carry larger bottles, others still clinging to their miniature shampoos.

The liquid restriction dates back to 2006, implemented after British police uncovered a plot involving liquid explosives disguised in beverage bottles. Airports worldwide swiftly imposed strict regulations, requiring passengers to carry liquids in small containers, sealed in plastic bags. It’s amazing how a single event can impact global travel so profoundly. I remember the immediate chaos and the long lines that followed.

Nearly two decades later, security technology has advanced. New CT scanners generate detailed 3D images of bag contents, detecting both solid and liquid explosives without requiring passengers to unpack. This advancement prompted the European Commission to announce last summer its intention to eliminate the rule across the EU. Progress, at last!

The caveat? Airports must first acquire the advanced scanners, and not all have done so yet. That’s the key piece of information you need to remember. Just because the EU *wants* to get rid of the rule, doesn’t mean every airport is equipped to do so right now. It’s a bit of a patchwork situation.

The UK is at the forefront of this transition. At London Heathrow Airport, passengers can now carry liquids of up to two liters per container through security in all terminals. This marks a significant change at Europe's busiest airport, one that frequent flyers will immediately notice. Other UK airports, including London Gatwick Airport, Birmingham Airport, Belfast International Airport, and Edinburgh Airport, have also adopted the new scanners. I'm looking forward to my next trip through Heathrow to test this out firsthand! No more frantic searches for tiny bottles.

Some London airports are in a transitional phase. At London Stansted Airport, London City Airport, and London Luton Airport, passengers are no longer required to remove liquids from their bags, but the 100ml size limit remains in effect. So, while you don't have to pull everything out, you still need to stick to the small sizes. Confusing, right? Just be sure to double check before you fly.

In Germany, the regulations vary depending on the security lane. At Munich Airport, some checkpoints now permit liquids up to two liters, while others still enforce the original rules. The same applies at Frankfurt Airport and Berlin Brandenburg Airport, where only specific lanes have the new scanners installed. Berlin airport has cautioned passengers that full upgrades won't commence until 2026, advising travelers to adhere to the 100ml rule to avoid potential delays.

Italy is making significant progress, particularly with the Winter Olympics approaching. Passengers can carry larger liquid containers at Rome Fiumicino Airport, Milan Linate Airport, Bologna Airport, and Milan Malpensa Airport (Terminal 1 only). At Turin Airport, the updated rule primarily applies to fast-track passengers. It's great to see these changes rolling out, especially ahead of such a major event.

Several other airports across Europe have also implemented the change, including Dublin Airport, Prague Vaclav Havel Airport (Terminal 2), Vilnius Airport, Kaunas Airport, Kraków … (to be continued).