While we're at it, can we be allowed to carry bottles of water through security? At least in Europe, having to pay 3€ for a 50cl bottle of water after passing through the checks is clearly just a money-making scheme and has nothing to do with stopping terrorism.
I learned that from one of the TSA line prep barkers. They were putting such a jolly spin on their spiel and it sounded so ridiculous that I assumed it was a joke. But, both happily and sadly, nope.
When I travel, I bring an empty cycling water bottle with me and send it through the x-ray with the top off so it's obviously empty. Once through security, I fill it up in a water fountain and hydrate for free.
Yes, I do this too. Incredibly, a lot of airports only have hot water in the bathrooms. Or sinks designed in such a way that a bottle can hardly be filled at all.
Only place I've seen that had an actual bottle-fill station was Copenhagen airport in Denmark. But in many ways that airport felt like it was 10 years ahead.
Pittsburgh, Chicago, Dallas Love Field and Dallas DFW all have special places in the water fountains for large water bottles. Of course it is generally cold as it is in the US and we like our beverages below room temperature ;)
I'm not sure about Europe, but in the US we can carry an empty bottle through security.
I did once accidentally leave a large, full bottle of contact lens solution in my carry on, though, and it passed right through. Maybe that's the trick.
I typically don't bother to remove "liquids and gels" from my baggage. The detection rate is less than 50%, and even then, they'll only find the most obvious offending water bottle (or whatever). You shrug, say "whoops", and move on.
You could probably claim contact lens solution as a "medically necessary liquid," which is exempt from the rules anyway.
>You could probably claim contact lens solution as a "medically necessary liquid," which is exempt from the rules anyway.
That's not a loophole that could be exploited. /s
On a side note, could one seek to get water treated as a medically necessary liquid? It is, and the rules say nothing about being limited to only counting medically necessary liquids that cannot otherwise be obtained on the other side of security.
I agree the security at LHR is far more intense. They caught a lighter and topical gel buried way down in a traveling medical kit I carry. I have gone through TSA 100's of times with this kit and they never once mentioned it.
I've stopped taking them out as well. The detection rate so far has been 0%.
The detection rate on a flask with vodka in it is slightly higher, which makes me concerned as to what other things you could bring with you as long as it's in an xray-opaque container.
Although for the record, a large full bottle of contact lens solution is permitted. It's an exception to the liquids rule.
Half the time, the TSA misses my solution bottle. The other half, they find it, have me open it, wave it under a chemical detector, and then send me on my way.
Contact lens solution is categorized like medicine and is exempt from the liquids rules. Once they did swab the outside of the bottle (for whatever they swab for?)
