Can you take playdough on an aeroplane?

[LuckyNumberFive]

I'm a very frequent flyer but this isn't something I've had to think about before.

I know the liquid rules also cover items that act like a paste, or are spreadable (such as lipstick), do we think that extends to playdough?

Play doh would be a nightmare on a plane it would get everywhere!

Yeah almost definitely defined as a liquid. And a nightmare for the next person surely - play dough goes everywhere and sticks to everything.

Don’t take it on a plane
it will get stuck to the seat and floor making a mess

Where in my OP did I say I was opening the playdough on the plane, or even travelling with children?

I asked if you can take it on a plane. That's all.

I don't think OP is planning on playing with it during the flight. I take toothpaste in hand luggage but I don't brush my teeth during the flight

I would imagine it is weighed in grams so not classed as a liquid but agree that you should not use it on a plane as it would stick to everything. If you are talking about transporting it in your bag only then I'm sure it would be fine.

Lipstick is also measured in grams but counts as a liquid, so I'm unsure. It's malleable but would they consider that as spreadable? Not sure.

It can scan similar to Semtex or other plastic explosives on x ray machines, so it may delay screening if you take it through security (see also marzipan; learnt this the hard way one Christmas). Something about the structure/densities. Not saying you can't take it on board but you may be pulled aside for closer inspection.

You can take Play-Doh on a flight from the UK but it will be scrutinized by security, most likely you will be going through second security because Play-Doh's density is similar to some plastics that are used as explosives.
The Play-Doh could be confiscated if they consider it a risk.
Since I have no first-hand knowledge of this, this information comes from looking your question up.

So in 2000 (ie before 9/11 changed the rules and made it harder to take things!) I gave a friend en route to airport a gift for his 4 year old - gift wrapped bought playdough in a tub. He came a cropper at security as it looked like Semtex… I wouldn’t recommend taking it.

I've never had to take marizpan onboard but I can imagine how it went 😂

I've got a couple of small tubs still in the original playdough box, but this is what's making my second guess whether I can take it

I think you should err on the side of caution and not take it.

Can you, yes it’s not a liquid and even if it was you can bring liquids on.
Should you, absolutely not. I keep seeing influencers let their toddlers use playdoh on a flight and it looks like a fucking nightmare for the crew and following passengers.

A regular solid lipstick isn’t considered a liquid, certainly not by any UK airport security.

I'm aware I can bring liquids on. I'm also very aware I have a limited liquid allowance. I also didn't state anywhere in my OP that I'm travelling with a child or that the playdough is being opened mid flight. I swear sometimes people on Mumsnet like to answer questions nobody asked.

I took some on a plane when my dc were younger. It got through security in the uk but we had a stopover in Canada for a few days before flying to the US nd Canadian security binned it. This was a good few years ago though.

Where are you travelling from? A number of airports have scrapped the liquid allowance, or increased it significantly. You don’t have to put it in those tiny plastic bags anymore many times, the liquids just remain in your normal bag.

I'll be sure to let Birmingham airport know their website is wrong then.

Well I distinctly remember signs up in Heathrow around 2018 demanding that lipsticks be treated as liquid.

I think this is the right thing to do, it doesn't sound like it's worth the worry, the possible extra time and security scrutiny or the possibility of disappointment at it being confiscated.

East Mids. Still got the 100ml rules.

We got extra screening with plasticene but they let us on with it.

Well they are in the absolute minority, basically no other UK airport makes that classification. Strange choice from them.

That’s rubbish.

Guess you’re going on the lipstick though.

at East Midlands Airport (and according to standard UK aviation rules), traditional solid lipsticks and lip balms are not classified as liquids.