“Exciting” and “Heathrow” rarely go in the same sentence, but the airport has today announced a milestone that passengers will no doubt appreciate.
In this post:
Heathrow Airport completes installation of new scanners
Heathrow Airport has just completed a £1 billion tech upgrade, intended to deliver faster and smoother security. The biggest implication here is that the traditional 100ml liquids restriction has been lifted across all four terminals (T2, T3, T4, T5).
Now passengers can travel with liquids of up to two liters in their carry-on bags. There’s no need to remove liquids or electronics from bags. This move is also expected to save around 16 million plastic bags per year, since previously liquids had to be placed in them.
Heathrow is now the largest airport in the world to have fully rolled out next generation CT security scanners, and by connection, to not have a 100ml restriction on liquids. These updated scanners are capable of servicing thousands of passengers per hour with significantly greater efficiency, while maintaining high safety and security standards.
For context, the UK started relaxing liquids restrictions back in 2024. This had some ups and downs, but the idea was that if a checkpoint had the next generation scanners, then the liquids restrictions didn’t apply. As you’d expect, that can be sort of tough to plan around, so it wasn’t exactly an ideal system.
It’s fantastic to see the airport now complete this rollout, so passengers know exactly what to expect. To state the obvious, just keep in mind that if you’re connecting elsewhere and have to clear security, then the 100ml restriction could still apply, so be prepared for that.
When will we see a similar move in the United States?
Here in the United States, we of course still have the 100ml restriction for liquids in carry-on bags. When could that change? Well, in 2024, under the Biden administration, a TSA spokesperson indicated that restrictions would likely remain in place until 2040, which is the timeline with which next generation scanners are expected to be rolled out:
“TSA is still deploying Computed Tomography (CT) units that are capable of screening larger sizes of liquids, however the agency will not be able to change the current 3-1-1 liquids rule for some time to come, because there are about 2,000 screening lanes in about 430 airports. We are anticipating that it may not be until 2040 that we have CT units fully deployed across the nation and have the capability of changing the requirement across the system.”
That being said, under the Trump administration, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has indicated that this policy might be revisited sooner than that. In an interview, Noem said “the day I walked in the door, I started questioning everything TSA does,” adding that “I will tell you, I mean, the liquids I am questioning.” She stated that “maybe the next big announcement is what size your liquids need to be,” and that they’re “looking at it.”
So we’ll see if anything comes of that. The Trump administration certainly goes through a lot of headlines, but whether something actually becomes of a situation is a different story…
Bottom line
Heathrow Airport has completed installation of new security scanners, and as a result, has also fully lifted the 100ml liquids restrictions for carry-on bags. Travelers can now take liquids of up to two liters, and can leave them in their bag, along with electronics.
This is fantastic news, as Heathrow is now the biggest airport in the world to have such a policy. Here’s to hoping we see similar changes in the United States sooner rather than later.
What do you make of this Heathrow Airport milestone?
Still would not travel through Hatethrow if there was any other option. C'mon, its called Hatethrow for a reason.
Heathrow Terminal 3 transit security still has an unofficial rule where this one lady (if others have experienced this, I’ll describe her further) who seemingly must take at least one item from me every time, regardless of 100ml rules or now. It’s usually unopened mini-mouthwashes, which I assume she sells on the blackmarket or uses for herself and her family. It would be ‘nothing’ if it were a one-off, but, folks, it’s happened like 6x...
Heathrow Terminal 3 transit security still has an unofficial rule where this one lady (if others have experienced this, I’ll describe her further) who seemingly must take at least one item from me every time, regardless of 100ml rules or now. It’s usually unopened mini-mouthwashes, which I assume she sells on the blackmarket or uses for herself and her family. It would be ‘nothing’ if it were a one-off, but, folks, it’s happened like 6x over the years. It’s a thing. Not a fan. Corruption is a scourge.
Australia has no liquids restrictions for flights out of domestic terminals. The US-type restriction remains in place for departures from international terminals, including domestic routes departing an international terminal.
Australia domestic flights don’t even check ID. Just simple security with boarding pass.
So, you’re an Ohio-native that visits AU/NZ once a year, eh? And, who occasionally flies TATL in J/F, too. Yet, always checks a bag…
2040? It took seven years to put a man on the moon.
We were willing to spend money to put man on the moon.
Does this change impact the One Stop security program where a few flights from LHR were clearing right into the terminal upon arrival in the US for connections?
No, it doesn't. (You do make a good point: maybe this will be what gets TSA to finally retire the 3-1-1 rule? The shoe removal rule went away shortly before One Stop Security was launched.)
But yet synthetic belts and Wellies still have to be removed!
It's the belt buckle that triggers the scan.
Yes I had a $3 all plastic belt and they insisted I take it off. Annoying.
Good news. Now if we could just get the UK to lower their exorbitantly high departure tax.
You will likely need to have your bags checked for liquid on flights bound for the USA, this is the procedure in Tel Aviv where they allow liquid
Are you sure? Keep in mind that currently, Heathrow is the only non-preclearance airport that's approved for One-Stop Security for seamless connections in the US. (This is done pursuant to an agreement where the US government formally recognizes the security measures at Heathrow.)
I wonder if TSA will take note of this when deciding whether to change their policy domestically. (Coincidentally enough, the end of the shoe carnival came shortly before One-Stop Security was...
Are you sure? Keep in mind that currently, Heathrow is the only non-preclearance airport that's approved for One-Stop Security for seamless connections in the US. (This is done pursuant to an agreement where the US government formally recognizes the security measures at Heathrow.)
I wonder if TSA will take note of this when deciding whether to change their policy domestically. (Coincidentally enough, the end of the shoe carnival came shortly before One-Stop Security was initiated. I wonder why?)
You still have to take your shoes off at US airports. Go figure.
@ecco - not anymore. That rule was removed a few months back.
@Luke - $8 bottles of water is a US problem. Bottled water at Heathrow costs less than $4.
But how can we do pretzel-shapes and twist this post to make it Deltacentric? As it stands, there's no mention of Delta, so it's really not a complete piece.
Hopefully some lovelorn head case can stop by and do that for us. And yes, he's living rent-free in my head when I read (with dread) OMAAT now.
You have just carried out your own wish Willy …. you introduced the ‘D’ word.
As brain dead U.S. travellers (mostly) do not know how big a 1000ml bottle is, or, the difference between a pretzel and a pizza, when they arrive stateside and alight from their disappointing Delta flight, the airport Stasi will be awash with Buxton spring water.
but why does some tard always have to bring it up when he does not
For the same reason some twat, born of the union of his brother and his sister, leaves a comment with the word "tard" while gazing into a mirror.
"Heathrow Airport has just completed a £1 billion tech upgrade..."
It's fascinating to see so much money spent for so little benefit. Airport security is a joke.
You need to qualify that wild accusation Mr P, yes?
No!
As I suspected …. False News!
However Mr P, so far, you have given reason for Ben, to gain four more clicks towards today’s tally …. well done …. Xxxx
The most dangerous person at the airport, hands down, is the person getting plowed at the airport bar and hitting their vape like it's got oxygen inside of it. It ain't gotta nothing to do with toiletry or water bottles.
Airport businesses will lobby to not allow this change in the us in order to continue selling $8 water bottles
You hit the nail on the head. It's of course a ridiculous rule. What's making travel unsafe now? Unhinged drunks that get plastered at an airport bar. If anything, have a two drink maximum but again we come back to Luke's overall point.
I hate that you are right.
It's a shame that common sense wouldn't take place; you bring a water bottle from home that's halfway done. You can't bring it through so you either finish it before going through security or just dump it which would be a waste.
You can buy a bottle of water at Heathrow for less than £2. As for a two drink max, you could simply move to another vendor and drink more. The problem is less so at LHR. Stansted on the other hand attracts a different crowd.
Considering Heathrow was the strictest airport I've ever been to with liquids - and the ensuing lines for secondary baggage inspection that would build up - this is actually a big deal.
I agree - this is a big deal for those of us who use LHR regularly. LHR security has always been torturous, and those secondary inspections would often take more than 45 mins to clear, usually for the most minor of infractions. The inanity of pulling economy class amenity kits apart to take the tiny toothpastes out never ceased to amaze me.
I agree that they enforced the liquid rules to the letter. I once was pulled into secondary at Heathrow. While the process was efficient and the agent was polite, I had to toss a bottle of sunscreen because it was 101ml, exactly 1ml over the limit.
The security zealots (being polite here) were/are notorious for having fun confiscating liquid-like items willy-nilly.
They have no idea what 4.3oz of perfume, for example, was in terms of the allowable 100ml. And a 110gram tube of toothpaste? Debatable, but bin it anyway!
Truly ignorant, horrible people helbent on ruining your day!
Was thinkin of LHR T3 in particular...
Keep in mind that currently, Heathrow is the only non-preclearance airport that's approved for One-Stop Security for seamless connections in the US. (This is done pursuant to an agreement where the US government formally recognizes the security measures at Heathrow.)
Coupled with that, what this newest change means is that, for instance, passengers who depart from Heathrow and have a connection at DFW, will be able to bring large liquids into the sterile area...
Keep in mind that currently, Heathrow is the only non-preclearance airport that's approved for One-Stop Security for seamless connections in the US. (This is done pursuant to an agreement where the US government formally recognizes the security measures at Heathrow.)
Coupled with that, what this newest change means is that, for instance, passengers who depart from Heathrow and have a connection at DFW, will be able to bring large liquids into the sterile area in DFW and onto their connecting flights. I wonder if TSA will take note of this when deciding whether to change their policy domestically. (Coincidentally enough, the end of the shoe carnival came shortly before One-Stop Security was initiated. I wonder why?)
The way Kirsty Neom made her statement sounds more like they might relax standards rather than actually roll out new scanners..
Or that an idea popped into her head and she said it out loud without any plan or intent to follow through.
"Or that an idea popped into her head and she said it out loud without any plan or intent to follow through."
Just like 1990 and his posts across the travel blogs.
Noem's head is a vapid space. May as well relax the rules - she does not know rules.
It shudders me to think ICE Barbie Neom is in charge of airport screenings.