00:00Have you ever been held up in airport security because some knucklehead broke probably every
00:08liquid rule there is?
00:10Going through security is hard enough, what with taking off your shoes, emptying your
00:15pockets, pulling your laptop or tablet out of your bag.
00:19So why on Earth have they come up with this ridiculous liquid thing to slow us all down
00:24when you hear those dreaded words, excuse me, can you step aside and open your bag?
00:29Listen, I get it, corkscrews and scissors might not be anything special, but they are
00:34sharp and pokey, so I can understand why you're not allowed to travel with such items in your
00:40carry-on.
00:41Who knows, maybe they might hurt someone if your bag is up in the overhead locker and
00:46your neighbor is trying to push their bag in next to yours.
00:49Or you know, when the person behind you keeps pushing your seat with their knees and you've
00:53just about had enough.
00:54Hey, I'm kidding.
00:56But what's so dangerous about a bottle of water or your favorite perfume or cologne?
01:02Does it have something to do with the pressure in the cabin?
01:05Can my liquid somehow mess with the plane's navigational system?
01:09That's why they ask you to put your cell phone on airplane mode.
01:13Maybe the two are related.
01:15It's got something to do with liquids specifically being within your reach because you can pack
01:19as many as you want in your check luggage.
01:22Well, I'm sure you know by now that it all comes down to security.
01:26Yes, we're living in a different time, and believe it or not, there have been cases of
01:31bad guys making explosive stuff with water bottles and even tubes of toothpaste.
01:37And thus, the rules on liquids, aerosols, and gels, or LAGs for short, were adopted.
01:44Many argue that it's not the best fix since bad people can do bad things even if they
01:49only have a tiny amount.
01:51But hey, restricting liquids is the fix for now until they think of something else.
01:56What's surprising is that there's no single document on these aviation security standards
02:01that get used by all the airlines in the world.
02:04But there are some organizations involved in the maintenance of airplane safety.
02:09For example, the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, regulates everything related
02:15to flights, from aircraft design down to the rules of transporting batteries.
02:21The ICAO issues lengthy documents with standards that all member countries must comply with,
02:27as well as some recommendations to follow.
02:30They sometimes even send auditors to check if partner countries are abiding by the norms.
02:35But airports and airlines can even have their own rules.
02:39For example, in 2016, many of them banned flying with the faulty Samsung Galaxy Note
02:447, which, if you remember, tended to explode on airplanes.
02:49They made that call without waiting for an official ban from the authorities.
02:53But the lists of things that can and can't be in your checked and carry-on luggage are
02:57the same no matter where you go.
03:00So before you head out on your next flight, here are some things to keep in mind.
03:05In general, your carry-on luggage can't have liquids, gels, and aerosols in containers
03:10that hold no more than 3.4 ounces.
03:13That is, you can't take a whole bottle of shampoo, but you can divide it all up into
03:18smaller containers.
03:19Although not really, but I'll get into that here in a bit.
03:23You're also not allowed to take a whole 12-ounce bottle even if it's mostly empty,
03:28and there's only a little shampoo left at the bottom.
03:31Nope, you still need to get a travel size of the product or squeeze what's left of
03:35that bottle into a travel-safe one.
03:38Now if you're like me and thinking, okay, if I'm only allowed tiny bottles, then I'll
03:43just take a whole bunch with me, I've made that mistake.
03:47So here's my warning to you.
03:49All these 3.4-ounce containers must fit into a single, transparent, resealable plastic
03:55bag.
03:56And before you grab the biggest Ziploc bag you've got, remember that your liquids bag
04:00should also be no bigger than quart size.
04:03That's about 8 by 8 inches, give or take.
04:06So yeah, you still must limit your tiny bottles.
04:09It should also be able to close, so don't even think about stuffing it so full that
04:14technically everything's in there even if the thing doesn't zip shut.
04:18Again, just talking from personal experience here.
04:22If you're traveling with friends or family, you should also remember that all these rules
04:26apply for each passenger.
04:28And don't assume that liquids are just about drinks.
04:31Toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, liquid or gel makeup, even your mascara and lip gloss
04:37– these are just the toiletries that must abide by the rules.
04:41If you're packing a snack for a long flight, yogurt, butter, soft cheeses – they count
04:46too.
04:47Finally, here's a pro-tip.
04:48They're gonna ask you to take that liquids bag out and put it in its own tub to go through
04:54the scanner.
04:55While you're standing in line, go ahead and get it out and ready to put in a tub instead
05:00of fumbling around once it's your turn to put all your things on the conveyor belt.
05:05Trust me, you'll get fewer sighs and eye rolls from the folks behind you.
05:10And of course, there are some exceptions to this strict liquids rule.
05:14Anything to do with food for kids, you can take as much as a small child, usually up
05:19to 2 years, will need during the flight.
05:22Also, if you use any medications, you should provide proof from your doctor indicating
05:27the total amount you'll need during the flight.
05:30Otherwise, unfortunately, some airlines may ask you to leave them in your checked luggage.
05:35Oh yeah, and if you're ever unsure about a certain item, you can always check the airport
05:41security website, like the TSA or a similar authority in your country.
05:46But for now, you've got all the basics, so let's talk about what happens if you
05:51forget to abide by the liquids rule.
05:53Uh-oh, cue the horror music!
05:56It's not that bad.
05:57Inconvenient, sure, but not the end of the world.
06:00First off, if prohibited items were found in your bag before you check in, you can either
06:05give them to those who accompanied you to the airport or put them in your car if it'll
06:10be waiting for you out in the parking lot.
06:13Of course, I'm talking about things that can't even be kept in your checked luggage.
06:17You can also hand them over to the airport, and they'll keep your stuff safe until you
06:21get it back.
06:22If none of those options are available, check if the airport has a mail service so that
06:27you can send any items prohibited for travel to your friends or family.
06:33If the prohibited items are found in your suitcase after you've already checked in,
06:38in most cases, you'll be told to go back to the registration desk, pick the item up,
06:43and choose any of those options I just mentioned.
06:46Otherwise, the thing is going to be confiscated.
06:49It sounds scarier than it is, but no worries!
06:52You'll probably get it on the way back.
06:54In any case, if the thing is supposed to be confiscated, but it's near and dear to you
06:59– like, for example, your grandpappy's old pocket knife – explain this to the security
07:05personnel.
07:06Most likely, there is a way to save it.
07:09Finally, if any prohibited items were found in your carry-on luggage and you can still
07:14return to the check-in desk, then just put them in your checked luggage if you can.
07:19If you can't do that, then the thing will probably be confiscated.
07:22Again, not a big deal if you handle this situation the right way.
07:27On that note, items that have been seized are stored at the airport until the owners
07:32return.
07:33Just make sure that the thing wasn't simply confiscated forever, but that you get some
07:38sort of documentation of it giving you the right to get this thing back.
07:42Of course, I'm talking about legal and generally harmless stuff.
07:46For example, let's say they found an expensive cream that you're not ready to part with
07:51in your carry-on while you're going through security.
07:54If you don't have the option to put it in your checked luggage, leave it in the storage
07:58room at the airport, get all the necessary papers and documented proof, and just pick
08:03it up when you come back.
08:05Sure, it'll be a shame that you can't use this awesome cream while you're away,
08:10but hey, it's better than tossing it in the trash!
08:13I'd still say it's better to avoid all that mess in the first place and just stay
08:18in the know about what you can and can't transport while traveling.
08:22After all, airports are stressful enough, so why make it even harder on yourself and
08:27risk losing your precious things?
08:29You should be excited about traveling, not full of dread about all the security rules
08:34and restrictions.
08:35Hopefully these tips will help you on your next trip.
08:38Bon Voyage!
08:40Do you think airport security is too strict?
08:43Let me know down in the comments!
08:45If you learned something new today, then give this video a like and share it with a friend.
08:50But – hey! – don't go sneaking that smoothie through security just yet!
08:54Because we have over 2,000 cool videos for you to check out.
08:58All you have to do is pick the left or right video, click on it, and enjoy!
09:03Stay on the Bright Side of life!
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