Flight carry-on liquids

[BryanS]

We're preparing for upcoming flights between the EU and US. The EU has liquid restrictions for carry-on of a max of a 1 liter bag (not including medicines), not a lot if you include cosmetics and other non-medicine creams. Seems like it is hard to get past this without checking a bag - which of course some airlines/routes will charge you extra.

Unfortunately driving to visit our families, across the pond, isn't an option.

Air travel, albeit necessary, has not been anything close to an enjoyable experience for many years!

 

[Ian Sutton]

Fully agreed on air travel. It can feel like cattle herding in some airports, with far too much waiting around in a very artificial (and captive audience) environment.

For a very long time I've preferred shampoo soap bars to liquids, mostly from Lush, but there are others on the market. That certainly helped avoid the hassle of the liquid carry on ban.

 

[Penn251]

You can always buy small quantities of what you need when you reach your destination.

 

[Tina]

The restriction is for when you go through the security check. Each individual item must be max 100ml and, as you say, a maximum of 10 in a 1 litre bag. I had to travel a lot in 2024 for family reasons and needed various items I couldn't buy at my destination (I'm allergic to a lot of things) but I realised that at security when you put your stuff in trays, the important thing is that there is only 1 bag per tray. The person looking at the security screen has no idea if the following tray is yours with a second bag or belongs to the next person along.......(at least nobody noticed when I did it). The same - for example leaving the UK - when you don't have to remove liquids - make sure there's only one 'liquids bag' per baggage (I just shoved some stuff in a smart carrier bag once). The worst that can happen is that they confiscate it. Once through security I put everything back in my hand luggage.

 

[BryanS]

Problem is compounded when you have specific requirements for what you can buy as liquids or creams - what comes off a store shelf is not always a viable option. Allergies, availability and costs in other countries all play a factor. Getting older and certain medical conditions are no fun !

 

[California Go Girl]

Keep in mind that there are similar restrictions when flying in the US, if you have any domestic flights planned in the US, as well as for your trip home. Liquids, gels, creams, pastes and aerosols in containers of 100 ml or less, one quart sized clear zip lock bag, one bag for passenger. Some prescription medicines and other medically necessary items (like contact solution) are allowed in larger quantities, but must be declared for screening and should be in their own zip lock bag.
I hope you have a great trip!

 

[NoSpin]

I realised that at security when you put your stuff in trays, the important thing is that there is only 1 bag per tray. The person looking at the security screen has no idea if the following tray is yours with a second bag or belongs to the next person along.......(at least nobody noticed when I did it).

Tina, you are so sneaky and devious, love it!

The other unpredictable is there is so much variance between TSA agents. Some will let things go while others are sticklers.

We just saw this yesterday when we flew back from Orlando to Boston. It wasn't TSA but the Delta gate agent. My wife had a carry on, a personal bag for under the seat, and a tiny pocketbook. She had no trouble boarding in Boston, but in Orlando the gate agent made her put her pocketbook in one of her bags since she had 3 items. And we were in first class no less.

 

[NoSpin]

Problem is compounded when you have specific requirements for what you can buy as liquids or creams - what comes off a store shelf is not always a viable option. Allergies, availability and costs in other countries all play a factor. Getting older and certain medical conditions are no fun !

See my problem when we go to Italy is you can't buy the kind of cold medications you can get here in the US. I am very susceptible to catching colds, so I always have to pack cold medications just in case. The ones I prefer are liquids and are over the limit. Fortunately when we travel to Italy we have to check bags anyway.

Funny story, many years ago I packed my cold medication for Italy. In the third week my wife (who rarely catches a cold) got one. She used my cold medication and by the time she was cured, I caught her cold. Well guess what, no cold medication left for me. I suffered for the last week we were there!

 

[BryanS]

See my problem when we go to Italy is you can't buy the kind of cold medications you can get here in the US. I am very susceptible to catching colds, so I always have to pack cold medications just in case. The ones I prefer are liquids and are over the limit. Fortunately when we travel to Italy we have to check bags anyway.

Our problem is the reverse - medications we can easily and inexpensively buy here at the pharmacy that we can't get (or would cost a LOT more) in the US.

 

[NoSpin]

Our problem is the reverse - medications we can easily and inexpensively buy here at the pharmacy that we can't get (or would cost a LOT more) in the US.

Are those cold medications you are referring to? If so please tell me what they are. We are heading to Italy for a month on April 16. I will be packing cold medications, but if there are some good ones in Italy I'd like to know, just in case.

 

[BryanS]

Are those cold medications you are referring to?

Not really. There are things you can get here over the counter that you can't in the US, and vice-versa. If there is something specific I can try and ask a pharmacist here to see about availability.

 

[NoSpin]

Not really. There are things you can get here over the counter that you can't in the US, and vice-versa. If there is something specific I can try and ask a pharmacist here to see about availability.

That's OK, I'll be packing enough cold medications. The Italian pharmacies are so different from the ones in the US. Here the typical CVS or Walgreens have aisles and aisles of all kinds of medications. The stores are about 12,000 square feet while an Italian pharmacy is probably 3000 sq. ft. or even less.

 

[Tina]

You can also try a 'parafarmacia' for anything which doesn't require a prescription. There are some chains in Italy now, especially in shopping centres and they are usually cheaper than a farmacia and you can 'browse'

 

[NoSpin]

You can also try a 'parafarmacia' for anything which doesn't require a prescription. There are some chains in Italy now, especially in shopping centres and they are usually cheaper than a farmacia and you can 'browse'

Thanks, browsing is what you can't really do in a farmacia.

 

[Ian Sutton]

As a counterpoint, I've found the advice in Farmacie to be generally of a very high standard, but there again I'm also a massive fan of smaller specialist food shops vs. supermarkets / hypermarkets.