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Baggage and hand luggage on an airplane: what and how you can carry. How much water can you take on a plane Packing for liquids on a plane

Airplane passengers often encounter a situation where, before boarding the plane, during the security screening process, drinking water and other drinks intended to quench their thirst are confiscated from them. But not everyone knows that this is being done for the safety of air travel. There is a worldwide legal regulation according to which it is prohibited to bring your own drinking beverages on board. The same document regulates the rules for transporting any other liquids. To understand whether it is possible to take water on a plane in hand luggage, you should understand the reasons for such legislative regulations.

How much water can you take in hand luggage?

Any airline has clear rules regarding the carriage of liquids on board an aircraft in hand luggage. These rules also apply to the transportation of water. To avoid unpleasant situations, you need to know three important points:

  1. It is allowed to carry liquids on board the aircraft in containers with a volume of no more than 100 ml. The total volume should not exceed 1 liter. That is, theoretically, you can carry 10 100 ml bottles of water without breaking the rules.
  2. It is prohibited to bring your own drinks and food on board the aircraft in any way (in a purse, hand luggage, or in your hands).
  3. Water and other liquids (even alcohol) purchased in the duty-free zone (Duty Free) can be carried in hand luggage, provided that the integrity of the packaging is preserved. The rules of paragraph 1 and weight restrictions do not apply to such products (you can take on board, for example, mineral water in a 1.5-liter bottle).

Products that are allowed to be carried in hand luggage must be packaged appropriately: a tightly closed container must be placed in a transparent plastic bag with a zipper. You can put all containers allowed for transportation in a common package (but no more than 10 pieces).

Important! During the inspection, security officers have the right to check what you are carrying. Therefore, access to liquids must be free.

During the inspection, the airport employee will definitely ask you to get rid of the open bottles that you have in your hands, or the excess volume of liquids if the permitted limit is exceeded. For example, if they found perfume in your purse, the volume of a bottle of which is 150 ml, your arguments that there is less than half there will not convince the inspectors to let you through. The bottle will have to be thrown away even if there are 70 or 50 ml of perfume left in it. If you have a bottle of water in your hands, during the inspection you will have to throw it in the trash bin or drink it on the spot.

An exception is provided only for passengers with children. They are allowed to take baby food and drink into the cabin with them. The law does not regulate what is included in these concepts, so in practice, parents of children freely bring drinks, cookies, and chocolates with them. The amount allowed is determined by airport employees at their discretion. It is clear that you are unlikely to be allowed to take two 1.5 liter bottles, but 2-3 bottles of 0.5 each can be carried safely.

Why you can't take water on a plane

Strict restrictions on the transport of liquids were established in 2006 after the capture of a group of terrorists who tried to carry out a large-scale terrorist attack using liquid bombs. According to members of the special services, it was planned to blow up about 20 aircraft.

Water is an ideal solvent. Therefore, in liquid form, attackers can transport toxic substances, flammable solutions, and various reagents for creating explosives. To make a full-fledged bomb, more than 1 liter of liquid is required. That is why the current standards have been established.

According to intelligence services, explosives made from water with a volume of less than 1 liter are not capable of causing a large-scale fire. Modern aircraft are equipped with fire-fighting equipment, including fire extinguishers, which can quickly help put out a local fire in a timely manner.

Is it possible to carry water in airplane luggage?

There are no clauses in airline requirements prohibiting the carriage of water as baggage, and there are also no restrictions on its volume. If you do not question the appropriateness of this action, you can assume that you can carry water in your luggage in quantities that correspond to the established weight standards. If the airline has a weight limit for one piece of luggage of 23 kg, then that’s how much liquid you can carry. The question “why carry 23 kg” remains open.

But you can find reasons to carry a small amount of water in your luggage. For example, a person decided to bring local medicinal mineral water to foreign relatives. Or a passenger on a transit flight with a transfer does not want to spend money on buying a drink at the airport, since prices there can be very high, or he simply does not have the necessary currency.

Thus, the ban on carrying water on board an airplane is related to flight safety issues, and not the intention of local merchants at the airport or duty free zone to profit from passengers, as many assume. There is no need to take drinks on board with you, as drinks are provided without fail, even if meals are not provided during the flight. Nobody forbids you to bring a bottle with you to the airport, but you cannot bring it on board the plane. Therefore, when planning a plane flight, calculate the time of connections and waits, and make sure that thirst does not overtake you at the most unexpected moment.

Those who decide to travel by airline are required to know the rules for transporting liquids in checked luggage and hand luggage. It is worth saying that the standards for all air carriers in the world are identical; there may be some differences in the rules. Also, when making domestic flights, there are some additions and permissions for prohibitions. Next, we will tell you in more detail how much liquid you can take on a plane in your hand luggage.

There are certain conditions regarding liquids in hand luggage on an airplane. If you transport liquid in the cabin, it should not exceed 1 liter. Containers cannot be larger than 100 ml. Remember that even if you decide to transport a 200 g tube of cream, and the contents are less than 100 grams, you will not be allowed to take it into the salon.

If you take liquid into the cabin, it should not be more than 1 liter in total, but it should also be transported in a transparent bag with a zipper. Such bags can be easily purchased at office supply stores; their dimensions are often 200x200 mm.

A package with contents is often shown when passing through the Security Service, whose representatives may have different views on what is being transported. Some may glance at the package, others may force you to not only open the package, but also the tubes to make sure that you are not carrying anything prohibited. So this should be remembered.

Important! If you want to complete the SB without delays, we advise you not to store the liquid substance in a container with the specified volume. In this case, the representatives will not have any questions for you.

You can also get out of the situation if you purchase the so-called “summer set” with plastic transparent containers with markings that should not raise any questions from the customs service.

As for baby food, it is not necessary to pack it in cellophane, since this applies to food, that is, the child must be fed on board during the flight.

Let's talk about liquids

If you think that the concepts of liquids include only juices, waters and alcohol, then this is not so. Air carriers define the following as liquids:

  • yoghurts;
  • alcohol;
  • food for children;
  • soft cheeses, such as mozzarella, feta and so on;
  • seaming, compotes;
  • jam;
  • canned food;
  • gels, shampoos;
  • aerosols, deodorants, antiperspirants, creams.

The above options can be taken from the interior of the liner. However, carrying liquids on an airplane is subject to the 100 ml limit rule.

Most travelers make the mistake of carrying it in their hand luggage. canned food, and they are then thrown away or put into luggage. Moreover, even if canned food contains 99% solid products, in any case they subject to the concept of liquids. Well, since the standard volume of canned food is 250 ml, this already violates the rules.

To transport “liquids,” you can purchase plastic containers that will simplify their transportation without raising customs questions.

If you take food for a child under 2 years old to the salon, it may be more than 100 ml. But the supply should be enough to feed the child during the flight.

Concerning alcoholic drinks, then they are also a controversial product for transportation in hand luggage. Some air carriers had prohibition laws prohibiting the transport of alcohol on board. Even drunk passengers are not allowed into the cabin. Well, if you suddenly start drinking alcohol on board, you may be fined. Therefore, you need to keep an eye on this as well.

Medicines on the plane

Medicines are an important topic of discussion when transported on board. by law transportation of medicines is not prohibited However, there are also restrictions on them. Bubbles for transportation in baggage in the cabin of an airliner must be 100 ml each and no more than 1 liter. If they contain a substance classified as a narcotic, you must have a certificate from a doctor with a stamp stating that you need this medicine.

Some airlines allow you to transport if necessary. You should also have a prescription with you, which will allow you to transport liquid medicines in bottles no larger than 100 ml in hand luggage, but only in original packaging. Do not try to pour medications into separate containers. If this does happen, pack the drug in a transparent bag and you must report this when going through security.

Important! When crossing the country, you will have to have the recipe translated into English by a professional translator.

Moreover, Some countries have introduced a ban on drugs that are approved in our country. For example, this could be Nurofen, Corvalol, Valocordin, various cough syrups. Therefore, before flying, you should study the legislation of the host country. It is also prohibited to transport panthenol and similar aerosol medicines. If there is a need for you to have medicine on board, you must take an extract and a certificate from a doctor.

Remember, if you fly without a prescription, and the receiving party finds drugs prohibited for import on you when passing through customs, a criminal case will be opened against you.

Duty Free and liquid

Transporting liquids on an airplane from Duty Free stores. If you purchase any liquids from duty-free shops, they The “100 ml” rule does not apply. Therefore, you can freely buy perfumes or alcohol there, but remember that your hand luggage does not exceed the allotted weight limits. Also, during the flight, do not unpack the goods before boarding; let them be sealed.

Important! If you are flying with transfers, you should not unpack products from Duty Free, as they will immediately fall under the rules and regulations for the carriage of hand luggage. Some EU countries have vetoed the import of goods purchased in a free trade zone outside the EU.

Transportation of caviar

No matter how strange it may sound, but caviar also refers to liquids. It, like other liquids, is subject to the “100 ml” rule. That's why it's important to take this into account. Also caviar should be transported in factory sealed packages. When flying domestically, you can safely carry caviar even in plastic containers and even above a certain limit, but it should be carried in the luggage compartment and not in the cabin of the airliner.

You should also know that all countries have restrictions on the import of caviar. For example, more than 250 g of black caviar and up to 5 kg of red caviar cannot be transported into the territory of the Russian Federation. But import into European countries is no more than 125 g of black caviar.

Rules for transporting liquids in baggage

If you are wondering how much liquid can be carried on an airplane in luggage, having studied all the standards and limits for transporting liquid contents in the cabin of an airliner, then airlines have not introduced restrictions on them. – do not allow excess free baggage. The main thing is to ensure that the liquids you carry are securely packaged to prevent leaks and damage to the luggage of other passengers.

Concerning alcoholic drinks, then customs officers of different countries set restrictions on their import, this is especially important if there is an international flight. Therefore, if you are flying to a certain country, carefully study its rules on the amount of import/export of alcohol, because they are different for all countries.

After the terrorist attacks in Great Britain, a clear program to combat extremists was developed and very strict restrictions on the transport of liquids on planes were introduced in 2007.

General requirements - in hand luggage in the cabin passenger can take if desired no more than one liter of liquid, packaged in at least 10 bottles or containers, packaged in one transparent zip-lock bag or large transparent cosmetic bag. We clarify that each bottle or container can be full or half-empty, but the volume must be no more than 100ml, less please. These requirements must be met on domestic or outbound flights to the US, EU, Russia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cyprus, Asia and the Middle East.

So, let’s remember what liquids include:
- cosmetics (shampoos, foams, gels, lotions, suntan oil, nourishing masks...);
- perfumes (perfumes, colognes, air fresheners, deodorants, mascara, lipstick...)
- food and drinks (alcohol, juices, soups, honey and jam, purees and everything else that is not free-flowing like sugar or cereal);

At the airport there are large special boxes where, after inspection, they throw in everything that is selected - something that resembles a liquid and exceeds the requirements and norms. Favorite haute couture perfumes and shampoos suffer the same fate - the destruction of cosmetics. You cannot violate the rules for transporting liquids on an airplane; you will not be allowed on the flight if you make a fuss. Therefore, on the road it is very convenient to take your favorite cosmetics and perfumes in disposable packaging, or use empty bottles of vitamins or medicines, the volume is already indicated - no need to bother. Pack the rest in large containers in your luggage. Difficulties await only those who fly without luggage; here you will have to buy either on the spot or in Duty Free boutiques. Keep this in mind when packing your bag for the trip.

Limits on liquid volume in hand luggage do not apply to baby or diet food, medicines and dietary supplements, liquids for lenses required during the flight. Additional baby food in bottles or vacuum jars, water, milkshakes, and juices for travel are allowed only for children under 3 years of age. During security screening at the airport, you may be asked to taste a questionable liquid..

The need for medications for personal use, dietary supplements (if they are classified as medications), and dietary nutrition must be confirmed by a doctor’s report and a prescription. When flying to Schengen countries, a form under Article 75 must be filled out.

If you are flying with a child and want to insure yourself against any force majeure situations (flight delays, etc.), then you can take two bags with your usual juices and drinks on the trip - take one with you that meets all flight safety rules into the aircraft cabin, and you will use the second smaller one in the waiting area. Any juices and drinking water can be additionally purchased in the duty-free zone; prices are almost always affordable.

Always remember that you can board the plane take purchases from Dutyk only in branded sealed packaging and a receipt, and open only during the flight. Only allowed on low-cost airlines one hand luggage, so purchase packages must be placed in your carry-on bag. According to reviews from frequent flyers, the lowest prices are at duty free in London, Rome, Frankfurt and Munich.

Aquarists suffered greatly from the introduction of standards for the transportation of liquids: - previously, fish could be freely transported in the cabin of an airplane, but now fig. You can only fry or small ones - 50 ml of liquid is poured into a sealed individual bag, the fry is released - the rest is pumped with oxygen, or air for labyrinth fish. Traveler fish survive freely for two days. When they fly in the cabin, there are no problems, but in the luggage compartment they will be frozen or crushed during loading.

When traveling, you can take a travel water filter with you - it’s very convenient, especially since during the flight you need to drink a lot of liquid so that your blood does not thicken.
Often, instead of baby food on a flight, it is better to take dry formula, a sippy cup, a sippy cup, a device for heating food, and the flight attendant will always bring hot water, and put a cooler bag for food in your luggage.

The amount of liquid allowed for export or import into a country in luggage is indicated in the customs code of a particular country.
For example, when flying within the EU countries you can import duty-free:
- 110 liters of beer or
- 90 liters of wine or,
- 60 liters of sparkling wine or,
- 10 liters of alcohol with an alcohol strength of more than 22% or;

and when importing alcohol from non-EU countries into Spain, completely different rules apply:
beer - 16 liters or wine - 4 liters
or strong alcohol only 1 liter.

And from Moldova you can export no more than 2 liters of wine and 5 liters of beer for personal drinking. When transporting alcohol, you need to clarify the export rate from the country of departure and the rate of import of alcohol in the country of arrival. They must either match, or your transported alcohol must meet the minimum standard, otherwise there may be trouble. A purely everyday story - one tourist took with her 5 liters of original fragrant wine as a souvenir of her beloved country, specifying the export norm - everything was within the limits of the law. She flew to her home country, was checked with a scanner and stopped for smuggling, since according to the rules of her home country, only 2 liters can be imported duty-free, for the rest there is a fine, confiscation and a criminal offense.

In addition, some airlines have special requirements for the transportation of liquids in luggage, for example, “AEGEAN AIRLINES” transports liquids in the luggage compartment only if they are packed in wooden skins.

Only adult passengers can carry alcohol.

In 2014, special equipment will be installed at airports in EU countries that will detect explosives. This will remove restrictions on the transport of liquids and alcohol. Finally, instead of a stopar, you will be able to freely take half a liter of a real drink and have a blast in flight, and in general, all restrictions on the transportation of high-quality and natural drinks are introduced so that people forget that they exist.

The rules for carrying liquids in hand luggage are of interest to almost all passengers, and the main reason is the increased dryness of the air on board the aircraft. Since the procedure for transporting liquids in the cabin is strictly regulated, before the flight you should clarify what and in what volume you are allowed to take on board.

Basic rules for transporting liquids on an airplane

First, let's clarify how much liquid you can take with you on the plane. In 2020, most airlines allow you to take no more than a liter of liquid in your hand luggage in total. In this case, the maximum volume of each container should not be more than 100 ml.

Secondly, liquids mean not only drinks, but also all kinds of cosmetic and hygiene lotions, creams and liquid food products.

Thirdly, all available tubes must be packed in a special transparent plastic zip-lock bag for easy checking before the flight.

What is meant by “liquids”?

The list of liquids permitted for transportation is quite wide. It includes not only drinking water and other non-alcoholic drinks, but also the following products:

  • Dairy products (yogurt, sour cream, kefir, etc.);
  • Alcohol;
  • Soft cheeses;
  • Honey and products based on it;
  • Baby food (except powdered formula);
  • Jam;
  • Canned foods;
  • Medicines;
  • Shampoos, liquid soap, gels and creams, deodorants.

Clarification regarding baby food: if you are flying with a child under two years old, then the rules for transporting liquids in hand luggage do not apply to you - you can take with you food for the child in the amount needed for the duration of the flight.

Vary depending on the airline's policy: some carriers allow a certain amount of alcohol in hand luggage, others completely prohibit the carrying of alcoholic beverages. Before the flight, you should clarify this point by studying the company's rules establishing the maximum amount of alcohol that can be taken on board.

Liquid medications in hand luggage

If you need to take with you an opened syrup, spray, ointment or lotion that is a medicine, then its volume should not exceed the established 100 ml. At the same time, medications are prohibited from being poured into standard plastic containers for flights - they must only be in their original packaging so that during inspection, inspectors can determine their composition and purpose.


If the medication contains narcotic substances, you must have a medical certificate from a doctor confirming the need to take this drug. When flying abroad, such a certificate must be translated into English and certified by a certified translator. In addition, before flying to another country, you should check whether your medicine is prohibited by local law.

Products from Duty Free

The 100ml rule does not apply to liquids purchased at a duty-free retail outlet before boarding. Alcohol and cosmetic products purchased by you are allowed to be included in your hand luggage in any quantity. There is only one requirement that needs to be met: all purchases must be packaged; they cannot be opened before the flight or during a transfer.

When packing your bags, it is recommended to pack all the liquids you would like to take with you, as airlines do not regulate the amount. Strict rules apply only to hand luggage, so you should take only the essentials into the cabin - water, medicine, food for babies - so that there are no problems during security screening at the airport.

Such substances are divided into dangerous and safe. All transportation rules that you will read below apply to safe substances.

Dangerous ones will not be allowed to take on board the plane in any form or packaging.

Hazardous substances not permitted for transport by air:

  • gasoline, brakes, antifreeze;
  • lighter refill;
  • means for quickly starting a fire;
  • paints, varnishes;
  • thinners, acetone;
  • liquid chemicals and fertilizers;
  • solvents, bleaches, chlorine-containing substances;
  • any substances that may ignite;
  • mercury.

Permitted include:

In the cabin or in the luggage compartment?

All of the above substances are allowed to be transported in the luggage compartment packed together with other cargo.

How many liters can you carry in luggage on a plane? Carriage on an airplane is calculated in accordance with the total weight of baggage allowed for transportation of one or another.

Usually it is 20-23 kg per passenger, and in hand luggage it should not exceed 6-10 kg. Check the exact numbers on the websites of specific air carriers.

Aerosols can be carried in luggage in cans with a volume of no more than 500 ml (or up to 0.5 kg) in an amount not exceeding 2 kg/l per passenger. Valves must be protected from spontaneous pressing.

The same quantity limit applies to other perfumes.

How to pack for carry-on luggage?

What liquid can be carried in the aircraft cabin? And how many milliliters can you carry in hand luggage on a plane?

1 person can take into the salon no more than 1 liter in 100 ml containers. If the capacity exceeds 100 ml, it will not be missed even if partially filled.

To avoid disputes and misunderstandings, use containers with the capacity marked on them, such as hotel shampoo packaging, etc. It’s better to put your favorites in a voluminous bottle in your luggage.

All containers must be placed in a transparent resealable plastic bag. Present it separately during inspection - this will make the inspection go faster.

You can use a zip-lock stationery file; some airlines provide these for free at the security checkpoint.

Aquarium fish lovers can transport their pets in the cabin, placing them in individual plastic bags with 50 ml of water in each. In such a container, the fish can withstand even a 24-hour flight.

These and airlines, only a few, increase the permitted volume to 2 kg/l per person, and the minimum container volume to 500 ml.

Some airlines, such as Wizzair, have restrictions relative to the size of the package (20x20 cm).

Also pay attention to the volume measures of the country you are flying to or from:

  • when departing from Russia, EU countries, as well as Norway and Iceland standard requirements for the volume of containers and the total volume of liquids apply; instead of 100 ml, the rules may indicate the international “1 deciliter”;
  • when communicating from any country with the USA in both directions, as well as when departing from Canada to any country Each container is limited to 90 ml (3 fl oz).

We take medicines and baby food to the salon

Some passengers who regularly take medications may need them during the flight. Traveling with small children under 3 years old, there may be a need to urgently feed the baby.

For such cases airlines allow the carriage of liquids in hand luggage as baby food, medicines, as well as, in case of special needs, dietary food and additional water.

The quantity of these liquids may exceed 100 ml, but they must be consumed during the flight.

They do not need to be specially packaged, but must be presented for inspection separately from other baggage.

The availability of medications and dietary nutrition must be justified by a doctor’s certificate. You may be asked to taste the contents of any container you take into the salon.

Is it possible to bring water on a plane? It is easier for the child to take instant food, and on board the flight attendant will provide hot water so that it can be diluted.

From Duty Free

Anything you buy in the duty-free area is allowed on board.

Your purchase will be sealed in a branded transparent bag with a receipt inside.. It must be presented in this form during inspection.

This package must not be opened during the flight, otherwise the contents will be confiscated upon landing.

Some countries, such as the Netherlands, prohibit the transport of goods, purchased in airport stores in countries outside the Eurozone.

Alcohol is also a liquid, but a special one

Features of transporting alcohol are mainly related to the customs legislation of the countries of departure and destination.

You can only take alcohol in your hand luggage in accordance with the general rules, that is, in a small container (flask or bottle) with a volume of no more than 100 ml or in a sealed bag from Duty Free.

Alcohol is accepted into luggage with the following restrictions::

  • strength up to 24% - in any quantity permitted for import;
  • drinks from 24% to 70% – up to 5 liters per person;
  • Strong drinks over 70% are prohibited for transportation by plane.

Alcoholic drinks must be in containers with a factory label. Some airlines, such as Aegean Airlaines, require a wooden frame for alcohol boxes.

Approximate norms for transporting alcohol permitted for duty-free import:

  • flights within the Schengen zone - 110 liters of beer, or 90 liters of wine, or 60 liters of sparkling drinks, or 10 liters of whiskey, brandy, vodka;
  • flight to Europe from other countries - for 1 person 2 liters of a drink with an alcohol content of less than 22%, or 16 liters of beer, or 4 liters of non-fizzy wine, or 1 liter of stronger alcohol;
  • in the USA – 1 liter of alcohol per passenger 21+;
  • to Russia – up to 3 liters for each person over 18 years of age;
  • to Ukraine – 5 liters of beer, or 1 liter of vodka, or 2 liters of wine;
  • to resorts: you are allowed to fly to Turkey with 1 liter of strong alcohol or 2 bottles of wine of 0.7 liters each; in Tunisia, Egypt, Thailand it is allowed to take up to 1 liter of alcohol; to Cyprus – 1 liter of a drink stronger than 22% or 2 liters of a less strong one, plus 4 liters of wine and up to 16 liters of beer; in Dubai – up to 4 liters of alcohol.

It is prohibited to legally import alcohol into Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Brunei. In the Maldives, your alcohol will be confiscated at the airport and carefully returned upon your return flight.

Why can't you carry alcohol on a plane in some cases? In some countries, restrictions on the import and export of alcohol are related to the age of passengers and length of stay.

So, When preparing to fly, check the rules for transporting liquids in hand luggage and checked luggage on your airline's website, and also check the Customs Code of your destination country.

Put bulky items in luggage, and pack the allowed number of small vials for carry-on luggage correctly.

Make sure they are accessible for inspection. Have a doctor's note for diet and nutrition. Don't open Duty Free packages.

Have a calm inspection, and, of course, have a pleasant flight!