Liquids in carry-on luggage: Where is the 100 ml limit valid, and which airports allow up to two liters?
The rules for bringing liquids on board aircraft are gradually changing. While some European airports allow packaging of up to two liters, others still apply a limit of 100 ml. We present an overview of the rules, exceptions, and the most important advice for travelers.
Is it allowed to bring a half-liter bottle of water, a larger perfume or sunscreen on board the plane? The answer increasingly depends on which airport you are traveling from.
Thanks to new CT scanners, some European airports have relaxed a longstanding restriction of 100 ml for liquids in carry-on luggage. However, a uniform rule does not yet exist. What you can bring on board when you depart does not have to be allowed during a layover or return flight.
How much liquid can you bring on board the plane?
At airports that apply standard rules, the individual packaging of liquids must not exceed 100 ml. All packaging must fit into a single transparent bag with a capacity of up to one litre.
The restriction applies to the size of the packaging, not the remaining amount of the contents. However, a 500 ml bottle, even when it contains only a small amount of water, does not pass the safety check.
Liquids also include perfumes, shampoos, creams, gels, toothpastes, deodorants, as well as certain foods such as honey, yogurt or jam.
Exceptions mainly relate to necessary medicines, baby food, special diets and products purchased in duty-free shops, subject to the prescribed packaging conditions.
Which European airports allow more than 100 ml?
New technology allows for a more detailed inspection of the contents of luggage, which is why some airports allow liquids in containers of up to two liters.
Among them are London Heathrow and Gatwick, Dublin, Edinburgh, Rome's Fiumicino, Milan Linate, Bologna, Krakow and Vilnius.
However, the rules vary between airports and sometimes even their terminals.
| Airport | Rule for liquids |
|---|---|
| London Heathrow and Gatwick | Up to 2 liters |
| Dublin and Edinburgh | Up to 2 liters |
| Rome Fiumicino | Up to 2 liters, with exceptions |
| Milan Linate and Bologna | Up to 2 liters |
| Krakow and Vilnius | Up to 2 liters |
| Prague | One additional package of up to 2 liters at Terminal 2 |
| Frankfurt and Berlin | It depends on the control point |
| Amsterdam Schiphol | 100 ml |
| Zagreb | 100 ml |
For example, in Prague, passengers from Terminal 2 can bring one additional package of up to two liters, in addition to the standard bag for smaller packages. At Terminal 1, the limit remains at 100 ml.
Why don't the new rules apply at all airports?
The reason is the different levels of modernization of security equipment and its approval. CT scanners allow for a three-dimensional inspection of luggage, but their installation does not automatically eliminate restrictions.
A good example is Amsterdam’s Schiphol. Although passengers no longer have to take electronics and liquids out of their bags, the 100 ml limit remains in effect.
What if you are transferring or returning from another airport?
A traveler who brings 500 ml of shampoo from London may face a problem on the return flight from Zagreb, where the standard limit applies.
The same applies to transfers if a passenger has to undergo security checks again. However, the rules should be checked for each airport and terminal on the itinerary.
For tourist agencies and TMCs This means that information about carry-on baggage should also include special airport restrictions, especially for more complex trips.
AdviceIf you are not sure which rules apply throughout the entire journey, pack liquids in containers of up to 100 ml. Larger packages should be placed in checked baggage, subject to other restrictions. This will avoid inconveniences and possible confiscation of products at security control.
