TSA May Finally Change Its Liquids Rule. Here's What Travelers Should Know
Some airport habits have become so routine that most people don’t question them. You take off your shoes, empty your pockets, and pull out the little travel-sized bottles of toiletries that you need for the trip. You also throw away the bottle of water that you just paid $5 for, only to refill it on the other side of the TSA checkpoint. For nearly 20 years, that’s been a usual part of airport etiquette, but it may be changing.
The Transportation Security Administration is considering allowing some TSA PreCheck passengers to bring full water bottles through security at certain airports, potentially ending one of the most frustrating parts of the modern airport experience. The catch is that the change hasn't happened yet, wouldn't apply to everyone, and would depend on the security technology available at a particular airport. Don’t start packing your full-size shampoo bottle yet, but if you’re flying soon, things may be different than they were only a few months ago.
The 3-1-1 Rule Is Still In Effect
The most important part about the possible changes to the TSA water bottle rule is that nothing has changed yet. If you’re flying somewhere this weekend, you should plan on things being just like they’ve been for the last two-plus decades.
The TSA's current 3-1-1 rule still generally limits liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes in carry-on bags to containers holding 3.4 ounces, or 100 milliliters, or less. Those containers must fit into a single quart-sized bag, with one such bag allowed per passenger. Travelers have been following that rule since 2006. For now, you should pack as though the rule is still in full effect, because it is.
What TSA Is Actually Considering
On the surface, it may look like the news involves the end of the TSA water bottle rule, but it’s far narrower than that. For now, TSA is considering allowing TSA PreCheck passengers to bring water bottles through checkpoints at select airports. Initially, the rule change would focus on airports that have advanced CT screening technology and detection systems that can differentiate between water and other liquids. That's a pretty big difference from eliminating the TSA 3-1-1 rule completely.
The Water Bottle Is The Big Deal
Water bottles have become the symbol of the potential TSA liquids rule change. Unlike shampoo, sunscreen, or toothpaste, a reusable water bottle is something travelers often want to bring with them specifically because they don't want to buy another drink at the airport. Under the current rules, travelers have to either pour out their water bottle and then refill it on the other side of the checkpoint or go through the checkpoint and buy water once they’ve been processed.
People walk toward the security checkpoint carrying perfectly ordinary water bottles, suddenly remember the rule, and either drain them into a nearby trash can or gulp down as much as they can before entering the line. If the proposed change eventually takes effect for PreCheck travelers, that particular ritual could disappear at participating airports.
Why Can TSA Suddenly Scan A Full Bottle?
Technology has changed airport security for liquids and various other things that travelers want to bring with them. The TSA has been installing computed tomography, or CT, scanners that create three-dimensional images of carry-on bags. Unlike older X-ray systems, the newer technology gives security officers a more detailed view of what is inside a bag.
When it comes to water bottles, the system can distinguish water from other liquids when scanning for potential security threats. That ability is what’s behind the possibility of being able to bring a full water bottle through certain TSA checkpoints. The rule may be changing because the technology behind the initial rule has evolved.
For Travelers, The Biggest Change May Be The Smallest One
Airport security has evolved tremendously since 2006. Travelers have become accustomed to removing shoes, limiting liquids, presenting identification, placing bags through increasingly sophisticated scanners, and following a long list of procedures that can vary somewhat by airport and screening lane. With all of those steps in mind, a water bottle might seem small by comparison. However, it’s a rule that affects almost everyone who flies. If the TSA can find a way to continue offering secure flights while allowing travelers to skip the process of refilling a water bottle, it’s the kind of improvement that customers will notice immediately.
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