Transporting liquids in carry-on baggage To travel well by plane
Liquids are regulated products when traveling by plane. You can easily transport them in checked baggage if you wish, but carry-on baggage is subject to much stricter regulations. Here's everything you need to know about transporting liquids on a plane and how to properly prepare your carry-on baggage.
What liquids are allowed in carry-on baggage?
The liquids allowed in carry-on baggage are:
- Liquids or aerosols contained in a maximum 100mL bottle,
- Bottles purchased in Duty-Free, transported in a sealed bag by the merchant (with a valid receipt),
- Baby food and drinks (if the baby is also a passenger on the flight),
- Food necessary for a special diet (with a prescription),
- Medications (with a prescription).
In the last three cases, the allowed quantity is equivalent to what is necessary for your entire trip, including round-trip flights.
Good to know: The term 'liquid' is used in a general sense, but the regulations also apply to all aerosols and products such as pastes or gels.
Packaging liquids with a mandatory plastic bag
All bottles with a maximum capacity of 100mL must be placed in a bag that meets specific criteria. The bag must be:
- Made of plastic,
- Transparent,
- Resealable,
- And have a maximum capacity of 1L per passenger (equivalent to a bag of 20cm x 20cm).
It is possible that the security agents provide this bag if you don't have one. However, we recommend having your own to save time and ensure that the bag can hold all your products. You can find resealable freezer bags in supermarkets, which are perfect for your travels!
Preparing your liquid products for the plane: our advice
If you have too many liquid products in your bag, or if you have a product larger than 100mL, the security agents will confiscate the relevant bottles. So be careful to properly prepare your bag in compliance with the regulations.
To facilitate the organization of your carry-on baggage, you can:
- Only buy products in small or 'travel size' formats,
- Keep or buy bottles of less than 100mL in preparation for your trips, so you can transfer your larger products into them,
- Buy certain products at your vacation destination if you can't find small bottles (such as sunscreen).
How to transport beverages?
At the airport, remember to finish your drinks before going through security checks. Your water bottles and containers must be empty when presenting your carry-on baggage.
Don't worry: once you have passed the security checkpoint, you can buy beverages and water bottles that you can take with you on the plane!
Some airports also have water fountains where you can fill your water bottles.
