to think that the reason for liquids restrictions at airports is commercial rather than security?

[mustbetimeforacreamtea]

Just back from holiday and it struck me that all the items (bodywash, shampoo, toothpaste, make up, perfume) is all stuff you can buy and take on board without restriction once you are in the departure lounge.

Most annoying was buying a bottle of water in the airport only to have it taken off me unopened at security. Then once in the lounge several vending machines selling exactly the same thing.

Once I'm through security I just load up on all the things I wasn't allowed to take through!!

That's why I think it's a bit of a rip off, I can't take my reasonably priced liquids on the plane, I have to buy the super expensive airport stuff.

I'll always be sat on the plane with bottles of coke and or water in my hand luggage, if I'm going for a week or so I'll get some full size shower gel from the shop...

Why on earth wouldn't you?? No checks after security....

I think that the cost of the staff needed to do all the extra checking outweighs the profit on a few bottles of water...

Totally agree OP. I think the liquids thing could be relaxed but where would that leave the profit of the duty free and shops the other side of security? It pays in profit to keep it like this.

Besides which, an airport I use regularly in Europe (naming no names) lets me through security scanning with a half litre bottle of water that I drink on the plane. I'm prepared to be challenged and chuck it. I never am. No consistency.

sob, sob.... just got home from northern isles having had my whisky marmalade confiscated because I just didn't think... boo hoooooooooooo....

security chap asked if he could put it in the charity box though, so someone will benefit.

I've never had a problem finding "free" water in an airport, there is usually a drinking fountain by the toilets that I use to fill up my empty bottle.

I'm sure (hope) there are good reasons for the security restrictions but I do think greater efforts would be being made to have them lifted sooner/find a way around them if a consequence was that it cost the airlines/airports money rather than made it for them.

I feel the same about bottle tops at football matches/concerts. I know some stupid people have in the past thrown them and caused nasty injuries but you can say that about coins too. Strangely no-one has ever suggested we shouldn't be allowed to take cash in...

Never found a drinking fountain at Gatwick, North.

Should any of you ever go through Geneva airport there is no problem with having an empty bottle in your hand luggage and, as I was told by security there, all the water for the airport comes from an underground spring. You can fill the bottle from the cold tap in the loos & the water is lovely. Whix is great as Geneva is even more overpriced than most airports & if you pay in euros you get you change in Swiss Francs - which aren't much use anywhere else.

I thought I was an expert on managing this stuff as I travel just with hand luggage. Not so in Paris CDG when I lost my Klorane dry shampoo as that's a liquid

I go through wearing my insulin pump (it can't be x-rayed) and only once have I set off metal detectors. Further more when they 'patted me down' they didn't pick up the pump. It's not that small, maybe I just don't fit the terrorist profile if there indeed is one and so they didn't bother?

I kind of think a lot of it just makes us feel safer. If someone really wanted to get something on the plane they would.

last time I was at Luton even the cold water taps in the toilets were locked off to prevent water bottle filling. Bastards.

can normally find a tap elsewhere though. Singapore Changi even has water fountains in the final departure lounge and they encourage you to fill up!

OP, I kind of agree with you. I have actually had empty water bottles confiscated at security (and I do mean empty, drunk, dried on draining board, not refilled before security) and all they would tell me was "you can buy water airside" (costing more than diesel....). In that sense, yes I agree. Having said that, I do agree with the security measures and have no issue with them whatsoever, AS LONG AS you can get free water as a minimum. Having said that, I've also had water from duty free confiscated at the gate (Nairobi I think). Thank God I was on scheduled, the hostesses must have loved me (I try to drink 0.5litre every hour I'm on the plane - 5hours or whatever Nairobi to Dubai? Lots of pestering air hostess)

3 years ago DS had his beloved ELC BOSCH drill confiscated at security because 'we could have put a towel over it and pretended it was a gun'. Luckily he was a very easy-going 3yr old and there were no tears.

We've just flown back from holiday and I accidentally brought a razor blade home in my wash bag. So, a harmless toy gets confiscated but a potentially deadly weapon gets through.

I did feel guilty about the razor but it was a total accident.

I think the whole liquid thing is pretty nuts. Surely they can tell if the shower gel bottle really has shower gel in it can't they? Ah well, I guess they have their reasons.

Shonajay What do you want sunspray on a plane for?

Shonajay What do you want sunspray on a plane for?

Sun protection at the destination perhaps?

I've taken water through several times. OH took a full big bottle of sunscreen this year. He forgot to pack it in his checked in luggage so chanced it and got through. The security isn't that great!

I accidentally boarded a BA jet with a tool kit just two weeks after 9/11. I completely forgot I had it in my work bag.

surely you'd put sun protection in your case?

the ban only applied to carry one luggage

and yes OP YABU

"I'm sure (hope) there are good reasons for the security restrictions but I do think greater efforts would be being made to have them lifted sooner/find a way around them if a consequence was that it cost the airlines/airports money rather than made it for them."

They won't be able to lift them until someone finds a way to alter the chemical reaction that occurs when you mix substance X with substance Y, releasing gas Z.

There is a way of managing the situation that would cost airlines/airports money. The would be to increase security check times (probably to several hours or even previous day) so all liquids can be tested to ascertain they they are what the passenger says they are. You probably won't feel like shopping after an experience like that. I doubt that would gain much support from the travelling public though.

Set of empty mini-bottles to decant smaller quantities of liquid into, readily available from various supermarkets and thrift stores for not much money.

Foldable water bottle that any one of the coffee shops and bars beyond security will fill readily if asked politely.

job done. No need to spend anything in the airport.

gordy what if you only have hand luggage?