.. to be shocked at airport security

[M5tothesouthwest]

I took a flight today, cabin baggage only. There was no queue so I was ushered straight to where you put your bags to be scanned etc. and quickly placed my bag and coat into the tray.
Waiting for my stuff to come down the conveyor from the X-ray machine, I realised I’d forgotten to remove my liquids and put them separately in the tray. This went undetected by the security staff (I presume) as my bag was returned to me unchecked and no mention was made of the liquids within .

I had 30ml facial oil, 2 x miniature shampoo / conditioner bottles, 50ml moisturiser, 50ml deodorant, 100ml toner and a couple of cosmetics - so not loads but not insignificant either.

I have done this, not in the UK though. I left 2 water bottles in my hand luggage. They weren't detected so nothing was said. I was really surprised when I found them.

They do more back ground checks than just the scanner

Two years in a row I've returned from Spain with calpol in my bag

Your liquids might have been detected on the X ray and recognised for what they were, and then returned to you because they were not deemed a threat. Security staff at airports know what they are looking for, and I suspect, who they are looking for, so your identity didn't trigger any flags.

I forgot I had a bottle of water once (side pocket of bag) in Spain.

They told me to drink it, then made DD (9) drink from it too.

DH had an unopened can of Red Bull (in UK) and they took that off him.

How do security staff know your identity though? I don't think you are required to present passports before scanning.

I flew from Dublin a few times recently and did the same thing, forgot to remove liquids in the plastic bag from the main hand luggage. I was called to one side, liquids removed and all my baggage was re scanned. I was delighted to see how thorough they were TBH.

cathy- you present boarding pass to enter the security area but there’s no way of knowing who each individual traveller was.
Maybe the machine could tell it was all ok but if that’s the case, why are we meant to remove them and present separately in a clear bag for inspection?

I accidentally left a jar of Nutella in hand luggage on way back from Italy (long story why, not usual for me). It was in OH hand luggage.

Naples security pulled him to one side and questioned him. I found it slightly amusing as it was mine. Bit gutted to lose the Nutella but luckily it is sold everywhere in this country.

You’re not allowed liquids over 100ml. You didn’t have any over 100ml. Not sure of the issue?

Got pulled for a tub of sudocrem last month and had to give it up at manchester

Frazzled- the issue is that they were in my suitcase rather than a separate plastic bag. So they couldn’t see exactly what was what.

I flew from Heathrow tow weeks ago and forgot to mention the liquids, I only had hand luggage and mentioned it just as it disappeared into the scanner and they said it was fine because it's not as though they won't see them and will ask for further inspection if required.

*two

@FrancisCrawford

My dad has 2 artificial hips. He keeps photos of his X-rays in his passport so he can show them even when he can't speak the language when he sets off the scanner

Yes- what Bigcomfyknickers said.

If you put the liquids in their wee bag on top of or right next to your bag, it actually looks almost exactly the same on x-ray as if they were inside it and unobscured. I.e. layer of bag then liquids then bag looks the same as liquids bag bag. They ask you to take them out because it's easier to read the x-ray and not misinterpret the liquids as containing something else, e.g. if they were lying on top of or underneath something metal. The outside the big bag aspect is more about efficient processes than security.

I know this through a combination of very regular flying, an airport security pal and many years of being forced to interpret x-rays as a student!

I've accidentally and unknowingly smuggled a 750ml bottle of water onto a plane in the bottom of my big carryon handbag.

It does happen. Your things were small and under the limits anyway so no need for much upset. They wouldn't have been sniffing them to make sure they weren't explosives or anything. The clear bag just makes it easier for them to process.

My DDad went through a flight this week from Italy with a (forgotten) Swiss Army knife in his pocket

I picked a scout leader up who’d come through Chicago and JFK with some Large bangers in his suit case. Only time I ever herd him swear

Airport “security” is largely an inconsistent sham designed to appease most people and dissuade the most casual attackers.

I once completely forgot I'd left my penknife on my keyring. I only realised once I was on the plane

not great to hear these stories the liquid one ok it was under th maximum-but knives?

Flew from tiny local airport the other day. Metal detector went off - I explained to the female security guard that it would be my underwired bra - absolutely the only metal on me. She assured me that it couldn't be as the machine had detected metal in 3 areas. One very extensive grope later I asked her where the metal had been detected - one just under each arm pit and one in the centre of my back - ie one underwire on each side plus the metal hooks and eyes at the back. Really not sure in that case why she spent quite so much time patting up and down my bare legs....

A couple of weeks ago I forgot to empty the DC's water bottles before going through security. This was picked up and they then spent a long time checking everything in our bags. Luckily the lady very kindly emptied the water out and gave the bottles back (they were reusable Sistema ones).
Goes to show they do sometimes check thoroughly!