Liquid Limits Lifted: The UK Airports Saying Goodbye to 100ml

Remember the last-minute panic at security, juggling mini shampoo bottles and clear plastic bags? That might be coming to an end, at least if you're flying from the right airport.

Birmingham and Edinburgh airports have officially waved goodbye to the long-standing 100ml liquid rule for cabin baggage, thanks to shiny new CT scanner tech. These are the first major UK airports to take full advantage of the Department for Transport’s recent relaxation of liquid limits. And yes, that means you can now travel with up to two litres of liquids in your hand luggage without splitting them across a battalion of tiny bottles.

Birmingham and Edinburgh airports have officially waved goodbye to the long-standing 100ml liquid rule for cabin baggage

But before you toss your toiletry travel kit, there’s a catch. Not every airport is quite there yet, so let us explain which UK airports are saying goodbye to the 100ml limit.

A Patchwork of Rules - Which UK Airports Are Saying Goodbye to the 100ml Limit

So far, only Birmingham and Edinburgh have fully lifted the 100ml rule. If you're jetting off from either, rejoice: there's no need to remove your liquids or electronics at security. Just pack, zip, and go.

Meanwhile, a few other airports are in a sort of halfway house. Some have installed the scanners and allow you to leave liquids in your bag, but still stick to the 100ml cap. Others want everything out, bagged, and under the limit.

Here’s the current lay of the land:

Airports where the 100ml rule is gone:

• Edinburgh

• Birmingham

Airports where you can leave liquids in your bag (but still under 100ml):

• Bristol

• London City

• Gatwick

• Leeds Bradford

• Luton

• Newcastle

• Southend

• Teesside

Airports where you must remove your liquids and stick to 100ml:

• Aberdeen

• Bournemouth

• Cardiff

• East Midlands

• Exeter

• Glasgow

• Glasgow Prestwick

• Heathrow

• Inverness

• Isle of Man

• Liverpool

• Manchester

• Newquay

• Norwich

• Southampton

• Stansted

Got baby food or medicine?

No worries, essential items like baby milk, prescription medication and special dietary liquids are still allowed in larger quantities, but you’ll need to declare them.

Why the Delay Elsewhere?

The government has given airports the green light to scrap the 100ml rule once their new scanners are up and running. But there’s no hard deadline for when that will happen across the board. So, for now, we’re in a holding pattern of mixed rules.

It’s a similar story across Europe, where airports with next-gen scanners were initially allowed to relax rules - only for the European Commission to hit pause after discovering the equipment didn’t quite meet its full certification standards.

What Makes These Scanners So Special?

The secret weapon is a new generation of CT scanners, which, unlike the older x-ray machines, these devices create detailed, 3D images that security teams can view from multiple angles.

They’re also clever enough to detect explosives without making you unpack your belongings or ditch your moisturiser.

And What About Electronics?

If you're travelling from an airport with CT scanners fully deployed, you can now leave your laptop, tablet, and camera tucked safely in your hand luggage. For everyone else, it’s still tray time.

Anything Else I Should Know?

Besides liquid limits and laptops, airports still ban anything that could resemble a weapon. That includes toy guns, martial arts gear, and, somewhat tragically, snow globes. Hazardous materials are, unsurprisingly, off the list too.

Check your departure point’s rules and pack accordingly

So, before you head to the airport, check your departure point’s rules and pack accordingly. The days of rationing your conditioner might be numbered, but until every airport gets on board, it’s better to be safe than shampoo-less.

Helena

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