Thousands of passengers are being stopped at security at major UK airport due to confusion over hand luggage rules
AIRPORTS in the UK are slowly scrapping the 100ml liquid rules – leaving some passengers confused.
New CT scanners are being installed at airports across the country, which will change some carry-on rules.
The new CT scanners will increase the liquid allowance to two litres, and laptops and electronic items won’t need to be removed from hand luggage either, which will speed up the whole security process..
Last year, the Department of Transport implemented a deadline of June 2024 for airports to have the new scanners in place.
The new scanners are already operational at Teesside Airport, London City Airport and Aberdeen Airport.
Other airports like Liverpool, Bristol and Birmingham are all expected to hit the deadline – although the new scanners aren’t currently in operation at these airports.
Meanwhile, airports like London Heathrow and London Gatwick are expected to miss the June deadline, with both airports being granted extensions by the government.
As airports across the country are all operating under different rules, this has led to confusion among some passengers.
For example, 15 per cent of passengers at Birmingham Airport are having their carry-on bags rejected at security because they think the 100ml liquid rule has already been ditched.
According to the Birmingham Airport Guide, 772,000 passengers passed through the airport in February, 2024, which means around 3,860 daily passengers are confused over liquid rules.
Having carry-on bags rejected can cause queues and delays at security.
A spokesperson from Birmingham Airport told Travel Gossip said: “We wish to remind our customers that existing security restrictions remain in place.
“This can be confusing to our customers and on average 15% of bags are rejected as they are not compliant with current security restrictions.
“For each customer, a non-compliant bag adds 10 minutes on top of their security search time.”
Passengers are being encouraged to check the liquid rules at both their departure and return airports – especially because the rules could be different.
Until the new CT scanners are fully operational at UK airports like Birmingham, holidaymakers should adhere to the 100ml liquid rule that is currently in place.
Passengers should continue to pack liquids, gels and aerosols in containers of 100ml or smaller, and make sure they’re packed in a clear, resealable plastic bag.
Electronic items including laptops and tablets should also be removed from bags at airport security, unless stated otherwise.
Taking too much liquid is one big mistake that people make at airports, but there are plenty of others.
Belts and shoes
Wearing complicated clothes, including belts and shoes, always slows people down.
They dress forgetting that those items need to be removed and scanned, which not only holds them up, but everyone else behind them.
People are advised to dress with airport security in mind to speed things up.
Using airport screens
Relying on screens for information in the airport is not advised, according to flight attendants.
It turns out that the screens are updated later than other places and checking online is a much more reliable way to get details about your flight.
The UK airports using new CT scanners
Three airports in the UK are currently using the new scanners at security ahead of the June deadline.
- Last year, Teesside Airport became the first airport in the UK to ditch the 100ml liquid rule
- London City Airport also introduced the new CT scanners last year.
- And last month Aberdeen International Airport became the third airport in the UK to install the scanners.
Meanwhile, a popular UK high street chain has started selling this popular hand luggage bag that fits Ryanair cabins.
And these are the rules around bringing food through airport security.