What Family Travelers Need to Know About New Travel Guidelines for Liquids

It’s been so long since restrictions on bringing liquids on planes became a thing that many of today’s family travelers don’t even remember when things were different. But that may soon change as the United Kingdom recently announced plans to eliminate certain restrictions.

Starting in June 2024, the United Kingdom plans to relax the rules on what passengers can and can’t bring on planes in carry-on bags, as well as how those bags are handled by airport security. Thanks to an upgraded luggage scanning system using Computed Tomography scanning, security personnel at airports throughout the United Kingdom will have the ability to better detect problematic items in bags without everything having to come out first.

That means liquids, food and electronics can stay in your carry-on as you go through airport security. Not only will this make travel through the United Kingdom easier, but it will also cut back drastically on time spent going through security, something which has famously been an issue in U.K. airports for some time.

With that said, there are hopes the United States will soon follow suit. For now, however, restrictions remain in place. The current rule allows for liquids of no more than 3.4 ounces, all of which fit in a single, one-quart, clear plastic bag.

There are exceptions to this rule, however. For example, according to the TSA website, full-sized, duty-free liquids can be carried on planes if they were purchased internationally en route to the United States; sealed in a transparent, tamper-evident bag by the retailer; and the traveler has a receipt for the item purchased within 48 hours of travel. Also allowed are liquid prescription medications and formulas and nourishments for infants and children.

While there are currently no known plans for the United States to drop restrictions on liquids, there has been a move to upgrade security scanning technology at select airports around the country. As these upgrades reach more airports and we get to see the United Kingdom’s new policies in full effect, we may soon see a future where travel isn’t quite so complicated.