Airport security

[Cablestitches]

Clearly the airport is the last place you should be stomping your feet and arguing with staff

but confiscating a really really bloody expensive liquid because the SEE THROUGH BOTTLE says 150ml and it’s clearly half empty - therefore under 100mls purely because the label says 150mls?!

And she didn’t throw it in the bin she put it on the shelf in front of her. Robbed, I was bloody robbed

AIBU - the rule is the liquid amount; not the amount the bloody bottle says

(Yes I know the rules)

(yes I really do know the rules)

(yes I know you aren’t allowed to take more than 100mls through)

(why did I try then? - because the rule says you can’t take more than 100mls through - not yoh can’t take a bottle marked at 150mls which is clearly half empty through)

(no I didn’t check my baggage)

(because it wasn’t worth the cost for a two night stay and hang luggage was fine)

(yes I know this is a first world problem and some people can’t fly anywhere)

YABU - it was your own fault

Annoying but the rules have been in place for Years. I’m sure she didn’t steal your oil
I mean would you want someone’s second hand cosmetics/ skincare

It's fairly clear that you don't know the rules.

Sorry, this is on you.

Because some airports have a new security system that's getting rolled out

I’ve only travelled abroad once in the just 20 years. Even I knew it was the container size, not the contents. Sorry op, this one’s on you. You’re just mad that you didn’t read the rules properly.

Because half empty is subjective. Was it really 75ml or could it have been two thirds or three fifths. Was it 99.5ml or 100.05ml.

Rules make these things clear!

You can. All the travel bottles I have say 100ml clearly on them. I’ve had them for years, as I thought that was rule back then too (and if it wasn’t I wasn’t arguing with security that it was 100ml without being able to easily prove that).

So the upshot is multiple airports have different rules.

Some allow 2lt through, some don’t allow mini travel bottles unless they are pre-marked (not at home) as 100mls or less.

Some airports change their rules throughout the year

You might leave one airport with one set of rules and travel through another with a different set of rules.

The rules are there to keep us safe, except the rules are all different.

Nobody really knows what the rules are for but we all obey them anyway

Still pissed off tbh

YABU. The rules very clearly state the container must be under 100ml (or under 2L if you’re flying from an airport with the new scanners). You can’t take a water bottle through even if it is pretty much empty.

This is why you research.

It takes two minutes to google and check the rules for your airports.

Why not just own the mistake and stop whinging? You'd come across far better, IMO.

I suspect they were having trouble at Manchester with the 2l thing tbh.

They were having a lot of bags pulled and they were still having to manually check last time I went through. This is why they defaulted back to the 100ml. Tbh if makes more sense until all other airports bring in 2l rules anyway tbh.

Jersey briefly relaxed to the 2 litre rule, and now they’ve tightened up again. If you check the rules for all the airports you’re travelling through and stick to the minimum then you can’t go far wrong.

Yes, the rules are different at different airports.. And it's easy to find out which roles apply to them airport you are flying from.

Some, that haven't yet upgraded their security equipment, need the bottles to be under 100ml.

Some now can allow bottles up to 2l. These are currently, I believe, in the minority.

If you aren't sure then either check, or keep your bottles under 100ml.

There's only one person responsible for the issue that you faced, and it's not the woman that took the bottle from you.

It really doesn't matter what happened to it. It was no longer yours. You didn't follow the rules. You were not allowed to travel with it, so it was removed, it was that or forfeit your flight and bring your oil home safely. I would rather it was used than binned if it were me.

And that would be why most people check the rules of the airport they’re flying out from?

Haven't these rules been in place for approx 25 years now (since 9/11 I thought). I'm not sure how you've not known them in that time, unless this was your first time on a flight in which case sorry.

2l rules have nothing to do with what scanners are in use.

The CAA make the rules, not the airport.

My local airport have had the new scanners in for a couple of years now, it's still 100ml or less in a 100ml or less container.

The CAA make the rules, not the airport.

For info as far as I"m aware Transec, (a section of the DfT, not the CAA) make the rules, and airport security managers can impose their own restrictions on top of those demanded by Transec, hence it's a good idea to check the airport's website for the local restrictions.

The 2L rule is entirely related to whether they have the new CT scanners or not.

Correct.

And OP, you were in the wrong.

This really ties into a feeling I have. Somehow, every time I go to the airport, it’s everyone else’s first day on earth.

Infuriating.

I go through airport security wondering how many people have ever flown because because they are so oblivious and unaware.

DS has been better at airport security than most adults from age 5 or 6. He knows exactly what to do and just gets on and does it quickly. He doesn't faff or misbehave or whine. He understands it's important.

Yes you need to listen to and follow the rules. They bellow them out as you get to security to remind everyone. Yes this applies to everyone. No they are not being mean and singling you out. No they don't want your manky bottle of whatever. Yes you need to remove your coat. No this isn't a drama.

Sometimes things aren't consistent. I don't believe they are inconsistent for no reason. They can feel bonkers and pointless. But I also don't think they'd roll back on introducing rules unless there was a compelling reason though. It's expensive, time consuming and they have to deal with a bunch of knobs kicking off.

It’s pretty much been the rule for over a decade so of course you’re in the wrong. Look at the bigger picture.