Liquids at security checks: what to really know

When and how to take out the bag

The right time to take out the transparent bag is when you're a few steps from the conveyor belt, with the bag already on top of your luggage: it should be placed in a separate tray from the rest of your personal effects, because the rule requires isolated inspection of liquids. If a container produces a blurry image on the scanner - often the case with irregularly shaped bottles or metallized labels - staff may ask you to open it or submit it to a quick chemical test: it's a routine check, not a specific suspicion about the contents.

Duty-free purchases and connections

Liquids purchased after security checks, in the duty-free area, are sealed in a transparent bag with proof of purchase and are accepted without issues on direct flights. In case of a connection with a second intermediate security check, however, some airports don't recognize the bag sealed elsewhere and may open it or confiscate the contents: it's worth finding out in advance what to expect from security checks during an international connection, especially if it appears in your itinerary.

Medications, milk and other exceptions

Liquid medications, including insulin and cooling gels needed for their transport, may exceed 100 ml if accompanied by medical documentation attesting to the necessity: they must be declared to staff before the check, not discovered during scanning. The same applies to milk and liquid food for small children, allowed in larger quantities when the child travels with a parent, typically with an additional non-invasive check.

Where the 100 ml limit no longer applies

Some airports with latest-generation CT scanners - in Italy, from some terminals at Fiumicino, Linate, Malpensa T1, Bologna and Turin - already allow carrying liquids up to 2 liters per container without removing them from luggage or using a transparent bag. However, this remains an exception limited to these hubs: it's worth checking in advance before counting on the same rule elsewhere.

The most useful advice remains one: keep the liquid bag in the most accessible pocket of your luggage, ready to be taken out without having to rummage right in front of the tray.