Sadly, traveling with personal hygiene products is no longer an easy task. A forgotten bottle of perfume at the bottom of your purse can turn into a 4 man investigation at the security check point. The good news is, the rules for traveling with liquids are the same across all US based airlines, so once you get it down you will be a lot less likely to have trouble getting through security.

What is this 3-1-1 business?
You’ll hear it and see it all over the airport: 3-1-1! What it means is 3 ounce bottles in a 1 quart clear resealable bag, 1 bag per passenger.

Each liquid must be stored in a 3oz (or smaller) plastic bottle. There is no limit to the number of bottles, but they must all fit inside a 1 quart size resealable plastic bag. Don’t bother trying to cram extra bottles in- if the bag cannot lay flat or close properly, you are going to run into trouble with security.

Each passenger is allowed one plastic bag. This bag must be taken out and X-rayed separately from all of your other items.

Exceptions:

The 3-1-1 rule applies to all basic items such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. However, exceptions are made for the following liquids:

• Breast milk, formula, juice and/or baby food
• Medications

When traveling with any of these items you must put them in separate clear plastic bags and declare them at the security checkpoint where they will be subject to inspection. The exact quantities allowed are not specified, airlines generally stick to the “within reason” rule when it comes to passing  up the 3oz mark.

If you travel with the 3-1-1 rule in mind, you should not have any problems. Just remember: when in doubt either don’t bring it or pack it in your carry on.

For more helpful travel preparation tips check out the Traveler’s Checklist.

Since 9/11, traveling with liquids has been a sensitive topic. The Transportation Security Administration has established a 3-1-1 Policy for your carry-on liquids, such as shampoo, toothpaste, drinks, perfume, etc. The policy breaks down as follows:

• You are allowed a 3 ounce or smaller container of liquid or gel, such as shampoo, toothpaste, perfume, etc.
• A 1 Quart, clear plastic, zip-top bag can hold as many containers as necessary so long as each container contains no more than 3 ounces of liquid or gel.
• You are limited to 1 bag per traveler.

Of course there are exceptions to the this rule. Breast milk, baby formula, medications, and water are allowed, but must be declared to the security officers for screening. To make the process as smooth as possible, make sure to adhere the the size and quantity limits listed above, and be sure to declare your exempt items at the front of the line. Adhering to these suggestions will make the security checkpoint part of your travel go quickly and as smooth as possible.

Source: Transportation Security Administration