The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that it will be relaxing its restrictions on liquids and gels in carry-on luggage, and there are already 11 items that you can travel with in any size.
For nearly two decades, U.S. flight passengers could only fly with liquids in 3.4-ounce (100 ml) containers, tucked inside a quart-size clear plastic bag — but new TSA technology is about to change all that.
A Counter-Terrorism Measure Gets an Update
“It’s actually a counter-terrorism measure designed to prevent attacks using liquid explosives,” the TSA notes, “with 100 ml being the maximum amount that could detonate within a cabin without causing catastrophic damage.” The size restriction was put in place to “minimize the risk of hazardous substances slipping through security screenings unnoticed.”
CT Scanners Installed in Nation’s Busiest Airports
However, new computed tomography (CT) scanners that can analyze the contents in bottles are currently being installed in the nation’s busiest airports. This means that full-size items could soon be on the roster again, with the TSA releasing a list of 11 items that no longer have to fit the three-ounce rule.
The CT scanners provide a clear 3-D image of the contents of a traveler’s carry-on bag. “Using a touch-screen monitor, TSA officers can rotate the image to get a more complete view of what is inside each bag. In doing so, TSA officers are able to better identify items inside a bag, which results in fewer bags needing to be pulled aside and opened,” according to TSA.gov.
The 11 Items You Can Now Carry in Any Size
The following items have been approved for unrestricted quantity in carry-on bags:
- Over-the-counter medications
- Prescription medications in gel, liquid or aerosol form
- Ice packs or gel packs for medically necessary items
- Food and drink for infants and toddlers
- Wet batteries
- Live fish transported in water
- Biological specimens
- Breast milk or baby formula
- Liquid-filled teethers
- Duty-free items sealed in a tamper-evident bag
- Fresh eggs
More Items Expected to Join the List
And if everything goes according to plan, shampoo, perfume, sunscreen, and body washes could soon join this list.
“The list of permissible liquids is anticipated to gradually grow throughout 2025.” This technology has already been rolled out in Atlanta, JFK, and LAX — the country’s busiest airports.
Check Before You Fly
However, “remember that not every airport has adopted this rule yet, so it’s vital to check the rules on each airport’s website before you leave.”
You can download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may also send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).
“Similarly, international airports will take time to catch up, so it’s likely that you’ll still have to hang on to your travel-sized containers for just a little longer.”
A Note from TSA’s Federal Security Director
Christopher Murgia, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Maryland, said in a previous interview, “know the contents of your carry-on bag.”
“It’s best to begin packing for travel with an empty bag, because that way travelers are less likely to see their carry-on bag trigger an alarm. If you start with an empty bag, you know with certainty that you do not have anything prohibited inside,” Murgia says.
Faster, Safer Screenings
“Computed tomography (CT) scanners at airport checkpoints enhance security efficiency and decrease the amount of time travelers spend in the security screening process. Installation of the lanes began in late spring,” according to TSA.gov.
The new changes are expected to make travel smoother while keeping security measures strong — with an eye on expanding the list of full-size carry-on items through 2025.
