Passengers at EU Airports Not Allowed over 100ml of Liquids on Cabin Luggage
EU airports are reinstating a strict 100 ml-per-container limit on liquids in cabin baggage from September 1, even at terminals that had relaxed the rule after installing advanced 3D scanners. Commenters question the effectiveness and consistency of these security measures, arguing they amount to “security theater” that inconveniences travelers, creates crowded choke points, and boosts overpriced airside retail, while offering dubious gains in actual safety. Many also highlight practical irritations such as scarce water refill stations, confiscation of harmless items, and uneven enforcement between and within airports.
Scope of the New 100ml Restriction
- Thread clarifies that 100ml has long been the default liquid limit per container in EU cabin baggage.
- Some airports with new “C3” scanners had relaxed this rule, allowing larger containers (e.g., Schiphol, Arlanda, London City), but must now revert to 100ml from Sept 1.
- Official EU communication describes this as a temporary restriction due to technical performance issues in the currently certified scanner configurations, not a new threat.
Technical Reasons vs. Politics
- Several comments infer a software or configuration issue with the new scanners, based on EU wording.
- Others speculate (explicitly as rumor) that the rollback is partly to align with non‑EU partners and because some US-made scanners may be weaker than competitors’.
- No definitive explanation is provided in the thread; ultimate cause remains unclear.
Water, Refill Stations, and Bathrooms
- Some argue the 4€ water bottle is the real driver and that many European airports lack post-security refill stations.
- Others counter with personal experience that “every airport I’ve been to” has such stations; this is challenged as anecdotal.
- Specific debate over Hamburg airport: some insist there are refill points; others say they’ve never found them. Links and map directions are provided.
- Tap water from bathroom sinks is contentious: some see it as safe and heavily regulated; others worry about hygiene or bad taste and “dark patterns” like low taps or warm-only water.
Inconsistency and “Security Theater”
- Strong frustration with arbitrary enforcement: empty 500ml bottles confiscated, nearly empty toothpaste tossed because original volume >100ml, differing rules on shoes/electronics even within the same airport.
- Several comments argue airport security is largely theater, citing high failure rates in tests (US TSA example) and the ease of assembling multiple 100ml reagents.
- Some point out that security bottlenecks create dense crowds; an attack at security could be more lethal than one on a plane.
Liquid Explosives and Risk Perception
- Debate over whether liquid explosives are a realistic threat or “fantasy.”
- Others argue that even failed or rare attempts can justify large defensive costs from a terrorist’s perspective, by inflicting long-term economic damage.
Travel Alternatives and Workarounds
- Some travelers opt for long-distance trains to avoid security hassles entirely.
- Minor tips and workarounds appear (e.g., frozen water in the US, perfume decanting), but their applicability in the EU is unclear.