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Original poster

How strict are airports on size of plastic bags?

55 replies

ChimChimeny · 03/08/2023 10:31

We’re flying soon with hang luggage only so will have loads of minis in plastic bags, we’ve got some zip loc bags which are 20x30cm, guidance is ‘approx 20cm x 20cm’
would we get away with the bigger bags?!

OP posts:
caerdydd12 · 03/08/2023 10:32

Depends on the airport and the handler at the time? Some airports are stricter than others and 10cm is quite noticeable. Have you got a picture of it fully packed?

Sirzy · 03/08/2023 10:33

If it was fully packed it wokld be an issue in my experience.

i once had a bag they said was too big and had to move it to one the right size

cocksstrideintheevening · 03/08/2023 10:34

My daughter didn't in Dublin. She had to leave behind what she couldn't fit in the smaller bag. LGW were fine with it on the way out.

BarrelOfOtters · 03/08/2023 10:39

Our local airport are total bag nazis...

HundredMilesAnHour · 03/08/2023 10:40

Unlikely you'll get away with it. Just change your liquids into one of the correct size free bags at the airport. Note that there's also a limit of 1 litre max so you can't take more than that.

TheChosenTwo · 03/08/2023 10:42

I’d just buy what you need at the airport, saves all the hassle with the little bags and separating liquids etc. that’s what I usually do although we just buy things like shower gel/toothpaste etc when we get to the other side, there’s always a shop!

Original poster
ChimChimeny · 03/08/2023 12:43

I’ve repacked & taken a few things out so it fits in 3 bags of the right size.
i didn’t want to pay airport prices but I’m sure I’ve spent more on suncream minis than if I’d just bought one normal sized one 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 03/08/2023 14:03

ChimChimeny · 03/08/2023 12:43

I’ve repacked & taken a few things out so it fits in 3 bags of the right size.
i didn’t want to pay airport prices but I’m sure I’ve spent more on suncream minis than if I’d just bought one normal sized one 🤦🏻‍♀️

You're aware @ChimChimeny that it's restricted to 1 bag per person?

Whataretheodds · 03/08/2023 14:09

Exactly, only 1 bag per person.

You can buy Toiletries after you get through security.

Hoppinggreen · 03/08/2023 14:10

Manchester 2 weeks ago
We were told ours were too big and had to swap all liquids into smaller ones they gave us while being glared at by the rest of the Q.
They were only slightly larger than the ones we were given but we still had to swap

ApolloandDaphne · 03/08/2023 14:17

ChimChimeny · 03/08/2023 12:43

I’ve repacked & taken a few things out so it fits in 3 bags of the right size.
i didn’t want to pay airport prices but I’m sure I’ve spent more on suncream minis than if I’d just bought one normal sized one 🤦🏻‍♀️

You can't take 3 bags for yourself. It's one per person.

purplecorkheart · 03/08/2023 14:19

Depending on where you are going it might be cheaper to buy a bottle of shampop and shower get when you get there rather than bringing a load of minis

imnottoofussed · 03/08/2023 14:19

Manchester are always strict on this in my experience. Not sure about other airports.

Original poster
ChimChimeny · 03/08/2023 15:16

There’s 3 of us flying so we’ve got a bag each.
we already had various minis from holidays/weekends away etc, it’s just the suncream we didn’t have.

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 03/08/2023 15:17

Absolutely not, and it's worse than that I'm afraid. You have to fit it in to 'their' bags - which fit about 3 things in. That's easy jet/Ryan air type things.

Original poster
ChimChimeny · 03/08/2023 15:21

The bags we’ve got are from Birmingham airport, I think, we grabbed a handful when we flew so I’m pretty sure we’ll be ok.
and what I meant by having most of it already is that we haven’t spent loads of money on minis

OP posts:
Spinet · 03/08/2023 15:22

I flew from London City to Nice the other week and London City basically don't give a shit because their security equipment is so futuristic, but at Nice airport I ended up chucking a load of stuff out to fit in their stupid little bags. So check each airport basically.

Original poster
ChimChimeny · 03/08/2023 15:27

https://www.itv.com/news/2023-03-03/airport-security-rules-when-will-major-uk-airports-relax-liquid-restrictions

I’ll be glad when this is rolled out!

OP posts:
SilkenPilken · 03/08/2023 20:54

My question is why does nowhere sell suncream in 100ml bottles? That would be the right size size for hand luggage and take up less room than two smaller tubes. The best I found was 75ml in Boots.

BHRK · 03/08/2023 21:04

Never been told it’s one bag per person, I usually have at least 3 to myself!

friendlycat · 03/08/2023 23:33

It’s supposed to be one bag per person but considering they want you to put iPad, phone in a separate tray it’s easy to put one bag in that tray and then another bag in your tray with handbag, purse etc.

It varies everywhere and even from Gatwick for instance it changes depending on who’s on that day.

caerdydd12 · 04/08/2023 00:22

BHRK · 03/08/2023 21:04

Never been told it’s one bag per person, I usually have at least 3 to myself!

It's literally on all the signs at every UK airport

trrk · 04/08/2023 07:19

Stansted were being quite strict recently. What was stupid is they just made me put it in 3 separate bags (there were 3 of us flying including a baby but I had packed all of the stuff). What a pointless waste of time!

Chemenger · 04/08/2023 07:22

Just buy a big bottle of sun cream in the airport after security.