How Much Liquid is Allowed in Checked Baggage?

 

Today is a rather special day. At least for me. Because today I will report about checked baggage rather than hand baggage. But these two types of luggage are closely related, o please don’t think of this as a betrayal of my love for hand luggage…

…and it certainly can’t be wrong to be informed about the current regulations for checked baggage. Because what may not be carried in hand luggage may still often be allowed in checked baggage.

So it makes sense for you to be informed about checked baggage as well.

But now, in the usual manner, straight to the point!

 

How much liquid may be transported in checked baggage?

In checked baggage, the amount of liquid that may be carried is not limited. Neither in total nor per container. This rule applies both within the EU and in the USA.

However, there is an exception rule for cosmetic or medical articles which are neither radioactive, toxic nor flammable (e.g. perfume or hairspray).

 

No limit for liquids in checked baggage: confirmation from various sides

In order to make sure that you can rely on my statements, I have personally contacted various bodies. The fact that there is no official limit for liquids in checked baggage was personally confirmed to me by the following institutions:

• Federal Police at Frankfurt Airport, which is responsible for security checks there
• London Luton Airport
• Transport Safety Authority TSA

Attention: For cosmetic or medical articles that are neither radioactive, nor toxic, nor flammable (such as perfume or hairspray) special regulations apply and there is indeed a limit, both for individual containers and for the total quantity.

 

Airlines usually do not disclose this information on their website

Most of the official airline websites offer clear information about liquids in hand luggage (liquids must be in zip bags, bags must be transparent and resealable, each container max. 100 ml, bags with a maximum volume of one litre, only one such liquid bag per person)

However, in the vast majority of cases, you will not find any information about how much liquid you are allowed to transport in checked baggage.

Often it just says that liquids that come in containers with a capacity of more than 100 ml should be stowed in checked baggage. However, the total amount of liquid that may be packed in checked baggage is usually left out.

 

No general liquid restriction in checked baggage in the USA either

Also in the USA, there are no restrictions for liquids in checked baggage. This was confirmed to me personally by the American Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The exception rule for cosmetic or medical articles, which are neither radioactive nor toxic, nor flammable, must also be observed in the USA.

If you have specific questions about liquids in your luggage on trips to the USA, you can also ask these questions directly to the American Transport Security Administration (TSA) via Twitter (via AskTSA).

Simply formulate your question and attach a picture if required.

The TSA usually answers extremely promptly and competently. So in case of doubt, just ask the TSA. You might ask them all possible questions about hand luggage and checked baggage.

And they will be glad to answer. You can trust me on this; I already asked them plenty of questions!

 

Exceptional rule for cosmetic or medical articles that are not radioactive

According to the dangerous goods regulation table of the IATA, the International Air Transport Association, there is, however, an exception rule to be observed.

The exception applies to cosmetic or medical articles that are not radioactive – including aerosol dispensers – are non-toxic and non-flammable. These include

• Hairspray
• Perfumes
• Eau de Cologne
• Alcoholic drugs

The normal regulations for liquids in hand luggage apply to these products when transported in hand luggage.

In checked baggage, however, this special regulation must be observed.

The rule specifically states that the total net quantity of non-radioactive cosmetic or medical articles (belonging to subclass 2.2 = non-flammable, non-toxic gases) and aerosol dispensers, which are non-flammable and non-toxic, may not exceed 2 kg or 2 l and the net quantity of each individual article may not exceed 0.5 kg or 0.5 l.

This quantity shall be interpreted as a combined quantity for hold baggage and hand baggage.

The IATA also points out in this context that the valves of aerosols must be protected by protective caps or other suitable means to prevent accidental release of the contents.

This exception also applies to the USA.