Traveling to Europe? The 100ml carry-on liquid rule is back
Planning a vacation to Europe soon? Be aware of a recent change to cabin baggage rules and save your drinks and skincare products from being thrown!
Starting Sept. 1, the European Union is reinstating its original regulations on the size of carry-on luggage. This means that the previous temporary relaxation of these rules has ended.
Reports circulating online initially claimed that the EU is set to roll out a new set of rules aimed at standardizing the dimensions of carry-on bags for all member state airports. However, a spokesperson for the European Commission told Condé Nast Traveller UK that this is not true and that they are merely "organized a workshop with all interested stakeholders to discuss possible common industry standards on the weight and dimensions of hand luggage."
Despite this, the EU has now started to re-introduce strict cabin bag rules for carry-on luggage in some airports on Sept. 1. Here's what you should know:
What are the rules?
The EU's rules mostly concern the restriction of liquids, wherein passengers traveling to an EU airport will be limited to how much liquids, gels, and creams they can carry in their luggage.
These include drinks, semi-liquid foods such as soup and honey, cosmetics and toiletries such as lotion and lip gloss, sprays like hairspray and deodorant, toothpaste, shower gel, and liquid solutions such as saline.
These substances are only allowed if they are in containers of 100ml or less and are inspected by airport security in a clear plastic bag of around 20cm x 20cm. The liquids must then be placed into a tray that is separate from your luggage and other items.
For those who have babies or have health requirements, you can be exempted from this rule, but it is still recommended that you check these with the airport in advance. You should also prepare a doctor's note if you have any medications.
While this rule has been in effect since 2006, some EU destinations have scrapped the 100ml limit over the years.
Which airports will the rule apply to?
The liquid restrictions will be applied to airports that have not installed the new CT scanners.
The new equipment is said to be capable of generating higher accuracy and resolution of the contents of passengers’ carry-on luggage, enabling security to detect explosives in toiletries and electronics.
Its AI feature can also help differentiate liquids such as water, hydrogen peroxide, or high-strength alcohol. As the old scanners do not have this capability, passengers will have to follow the 100ml rule until European airports have the advanced technology installed.
The airports that do have them include Terminal 1 at Italy's Rome Fiumicino Airport, Terminal 1 at Milano Linate and Milano Malpensa, as well as those in Aberdeen, Leeds/Bradford, London City, Newcastle, London Southend, Teesside, and Birmingham.
When will the rule be removed?
A spokesperson for the European Commission, per Condé Nast Traveller UK, assured that the reinforcement of the rule is only temporary, but there is no specified date as to when this will end.
Currently, the installation of the new scanners has been delayed due to the price of the machines. Their weight has also posed a problem as the scanners are "like a large domestic washing machine" and are "the size of a Ford Transit," according to a report by The Times.