For years, preparing luggage to board a plane has forced travelers from all over Europe to transfer shampoo, gel, creams, or perfumes into small containers. The well-known 100 ml rule continues to apply as a reference in numerous security checks, but new equipment is starting to change the scenario.
The key lies in the state-of-the-art scanners installed in certain airports. These systems allow for more precise analysis of the contents of luggage and, when authorized to operate under the new conditions, make it possible to keep both liquids and electronic devices inside the suitcase during the check.
This does not mean that Europe has definitively said goodbye to the 100 ml. The rules depend on the airport and, in certain cases, even on the control used or the flight destination, so showing up with a one-liter container without checking the conditions beforehand may end up forcing the traveler to leave it behind before passing through security.
Heathrow allows liquids of up to two liters
One of the most important changes is found at London Heathrow Airport. It currently allows passing through its checks with liquids in containers of up to two liters and the measure is implemented in terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Passengers also do not have to remove these products from their luggage for inspection. The same applies to laptops, tablets, and other large electronic devices, which can remain inside the suitcase.
There is, however, a particularity with metal or insulated reusable bottles, which must pass through the check empty. Once past the security area, they can be refilled.
Rome-Fiumicino has also eliminated the 100 ml limit
Italy is another of the European countries where the new checks have allowed for the relaxation of restrictions. Rome-Fiumicino Airport has been accepting liquid containers of up to two liters since July 26, 2025 thanks to its EDS C3 scanners.
Travelers can keep those containers inside their carry-on luggage and do not need to extract electronic devices either. Containers with a capacity greater than two liters can only pass through the check if they are empty; otherwise, they must travel in checked luggage.
But there is one especially important exception. In Fiumicino, the controls for flights to the United States or Israel maintain the limitation of 100 ml, in addition to requiring that liquids and certain devices be separated from luggage during inspection.
Belfast City also allows containers of two liters
Belfast City also confirms that passengers can go through security with liquids, creams, pastes, gels, and aerosols in containers of up to two liters. These products can remain inside the cabin luggage and no longer need to be placed in a single transparent bag.
The airport has implemented new inspection technology that also allows large electronic devices to remain inside the suitcases during the control.
The infrastructure itself warns, however, of one of the main problems of this transition: the same conditions may not be available at the airport used for the return flight or during a connection. That is why it recommends checking the restrictions of other airports on the trip.
Table: European airports where the limit of up to two liters is confirmed
This table only includes airports for which the conditions are supported by current official information from the airport itself or from the competent authorities, avoiding assuming that having new scanners automatically means eliminating the 100 ml.
Not all European airports have eliminated the 100 ml
This is the fundamental aspect to avoid problems during vacations. There is still no single rule that allows carrying two-liter containers from any European airport.
Even the British Government currently warns that in most airports it is still not allowed to go through security with containers larger than 100 ml, while certain airports may allow containers of up to two liters.
Therefore, that an airport has installed new scanners should not be automatically interpreted as authorization to carry large bottles. The passenger must check the specific current rule at their departure airport before preparing their luggage.
What is considered liquid in hand luggage
The restriction does not exclusively affect water bottles. For airport security purposes, the definition includes a wide variety of products that many travelers usually carry in their toiletry bag.
Among them are creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara, lip gloss, shaving foam, hairspray, spray deodorants, toothpaste, hair gel, and shower gel, in addition to drinks and liquid or semi-liquid foods such as soups, honey, or syrups.
At the airports where the 100 ml rule continues to apply, what matters is the capacity of the container and not the amount of product that remains inside. A half-empty 200 ml shampoo bottle can be rejected even if it only contains a small amount.
The outbound flight may allow two liters and the return only 100 ml
The coexistence of two systems creates a situation that can catch passengers by surprise. A traveler may leave an airport that allows large containers and return from another that continues to apply the traditional restriction.
Heathrow expressly warns its passengers: many airports still have a limit of 100 ml, so it recommends checking the rules of the airport from which the return flight will be made. Belfast City gives the same warning for return trips and connections.
Thus, buying a large bottle of perfume, cream, or any other liquid product may not pose problems on departure but could do so later. For trips with multiple flights, layovers, or different airports, keeping containers of up to 100 ml remains the simplest alternative if all the controls of the itinerary have not been checked.
Medications, baby food, and dietary needs have exceptions
The airport rules provide exceptions for certain products necessary during the trip. The British government, for example, allows containers of up to two liters when they contain liquids intended for essential medical purposes, special dietary needs, or food and milk for babies.
That does not mean that these products are exempt from inspection. Security agents may conduct additional checks before authorizing them to continue inside carry-on luggage.
Liquids purchased after the security check also have a different regime. On certain routes, products purchased in airport shops can be transported as long as they remain properly sealed and the applicable conditions are met during subsequent connections.
What to do before traveling to avoid losing your liquids at security
The most important recommendation is to check the official page of the departure airport immediately before the trip. The rules are changing as the new systems are installed, certified, and put into operation.
It is also necessary to check the return airport and any intermediate stops. It is not enough to know the conditions of the first flight because a container accepted at the airport of origin may violate the restrictions of the next control.
Until the implementation is uniform, the historic bag with small containers will continue to be part of the luggage of many travelers. 100 ml bottles are starting to disappear at certain European airports, but they cannot be said goodbye to on all trips yet.