Hey, you ever been held up in airport security
because some knucklehead broke probably every liquid rule there is? Going through security is hard enough, what
with taking off your shoes, emptying your pockets, pulling your laptop or tablet out
of your bag. So why on Earth have they come up with this
ridiculous liquid thing to slow us all down when you hear those dreaded words: “Excuse
me, can you step aside and open your bag?” Listen, I get it. Corkscrews and scissors might not be anything
special, but they are sharp and pokey, so I can understand why you’re not allowed
to travel with such items in your carry-on. Who knows? Maybe they could hurt someone if your bag
is up in the overhead locker and your neighbor is trying to push their bag in next to yours. …Or, ya know, when the person behind you
keeps pushing your seat with their knees and you’ve had just about enough! Hey, I’m kidding! But what’s so dangerous about a bottle of
water or your favorite perfume or cologne? Does it have something to do with the pressure
in the cabin? Can my liquids somehow mess with the plane’s
navigational system? That’s why they ask you to put your cellphone
on airplane mode – maybe the two are related? It’s got something to do with liquids specifically
being within your reach because you can pack as many as you want in your checked luggage. Well, I’m sure you know by now that it all
comes down to security. Yes, we’re living in a different time, and
believe it or not, there have been cases of bad guys making explosive stuff with water
bottles and even tubes of toothpaste! And, thus, the rules on “liquids, aerosols,
and gels” (or LAGs for short) were adopted. Many argue that it’s not the best fix since
bad people can do bad things even if they only have a tiny amount, but, hey, restricting
liquids is the fix for now until they think of something else. What’s surprising is that there’s no single
document on these aviation security standards that gets used by all airlines in the world. But there are some organizations involved
in the maintenance of airplane safety. For example, the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) regulates everything related to flights, from aircraft design down to the
rules of transporting batteries. The ICAO issues lengthy documents with standards
that all member countries must comply with as well as some recommendations to follow. They sometimes even send auditors to check
if partner countries are abiding by the norms. But airports and airlines can even have their
own rules. For example, in 2016, many of them banned
flying with the faulty Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which, if you remember, tended to explode
on airplanes! They made that call without waiting for an
official ban from the authorities. But the lists of things that can and can’t
be in your checked and carry-on luggage are the same no matter where you go. So, before you head out on your next flight,
here are some things to keep in mind! In general, your carry-on luggage can have
liquids, gels, and aerosols in containers that hold no more than 3.4 oz. That is, you can’t take a whole bottle of
shampoo, but you can divide it all up into smaller containers. (Although, not really, but I’ll get into
that here in a bit!) You’re also not allowed to take a whole
12-oz bottle even if it’s mostly empty and there’s only a little shampoo left at the
bottom. Nope, you still need to get a travel-size
of the product or squeeze what’s left of that bottle into a travel-safe one. Now, if you’re like me and thinking, “Ok,
if I’m only allowed tiny bottles, then I’ll just take a whole BUNCH with me!” – I’ve made that mistake, so here’s
my warning to you. All these 3.4-oz containers must fit into
a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag. And before you grab the biggest Ziploc bag
you’ve got, remember that your liquids bag should also be no bigger than quart-sized. That’s about 8 x 8 inches, give or take. So, yeah, ya still must limit your tiny bottles… It should also be able to close, so don’t
even think about stuffing it full so that, technically, everything’s in there even
if the thing doesn’t zip shut! (Again, just talking from personal experience
here!) If you’re traveling with friends or family,
you should also remember that all these rules apply for each passenger. And don’t assume that liquids are just about
drinks. Toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, liquid or
gel makeup (even your mascara and lip gloss!) – these are just the toiletries that must
abide by the rules. If you’re packing a snack for a long flight,
yogurt, butter, soft cheeses – they count too! Finally, here’s a pro-tip: they’re gonna
ask you to take that liquids bag out and put it in its own tub to go through the scanner. While you’re standing in line, go ahead
and get it out and ready to put in a tub instead of fumbling around once it’s your turn to
put all your things on the conveyer belt! Trust me, you’ll get fewer sighs and eye-rolls
from the folks behind ya! And, of course, there are some exceptions
to this strict liquids rule. Anything to do with food for kids, you can
take as much as a small child (usually up to 2 years) will need during the flight. Also, if you use any medications, you should
provide proof from your doctor indicating the total amount you’ll need during the
flight. Otherwise, unfortunately, some airlines may
ask you to leave them in your checked luggage. Oh yeah, and if you’re ever unsure about
a certain item, you can always check the airport security’s website, like the TSA or similar
authority in your country. But for now, you’ve got all the basics. So let’s talk about what happens if you
forget to abide by the liquids rule. Uh-oh, cue the horror music! Actually, it’s not that bad. Inconvenient, sure, but not the end of the
world… - First off, if prohibited items were found
in your bag before you check in, you can either give them to those who accompanied you to
the airport or put them in your car if it’ll be waiting for you out in the parking lot. Of course, I’m talking about things that
can’t even be kept in your checked luggage! You can also hand them over to the airport,
and they’ll keep your stuff safe until you can get it back. If none of those options are available, check
if the airport has a mail service so that you can send any items prohibited for travel
to your friends or family. - Now, if the prohibited items are found in
your suitcase after you’ve already checked in, in most cases you’ll be told to go back
to the registration desk, pick the item up, and choose any of those options I just mentioned. Otherwise, the thing is going to be confiscated. Hey, it sounds scarier than it is, so no worries! You’ll probably get it on the way back. In any case, if the thing is supposed to be
confiscated but it’s near and dear to you, like, for example, your grandpappy’s old
pocketknife, explain this to the security personnel. Most likely, there is a way to save it. - Finally, if any prohibited items were found
in your carry-on luggage and you can still return to the check-in desk, then just put
them in your checked luggage if you can. If you can’t do that, then the thing will
probably be confiscated. Again, not a big deal if you handle this situation
the right way. On that note, items that have been seized
are stored at the airport until the owner’s return. Just make sure that the thing wasn’t simply
confiscated forever but that you get some sort of documentation of it giving you the
right to get this thing back. Of course, I’m talking about legal and generally
harmless stuff. For example, let’s say they find an expensive
cream that you’re not ready to part with in your carry-on while you’re going through
security. If you don’t have the option to put it in
your checked luggage, leave it in the storage room at the airport, get all the necessary
papers and documented proof, and just pick it up when you come back. Sure, it’ll be a shame that you can’t
use this awesome cream while you’re away, but, hey, it’s better than tossing it in
the trash! I’d still say it’s better to avoid all
that mess in the first place and just stay in the know about what you can and can’t
transport while traveling. After all, airports are stressful enough,
so why make it even harder on yourself and risk losing your precious things? You should be excited about traveling, not
full of dread about all the security rules and restrictions! Hopefully these tips will help you on your
next trip. Bon voyage! So, do you think airport security is too strict? Let me know down in the comments! If you learned something new today, then give
this video a like and share it with a friend. But – hey! – don’t go sneaking that
smoothie through security just yet! We have over 2,000 cool videos for you to
check out. All you have to do is pick the left or right
video, click on it, and enjoy! Stay on the Bright Side of life!
