It has been nearly 20 years since travelers were restricted by the TSA’s strict 3-1-1 liquids rule. The Rule simply limits carry-on liquids to 3.4 ounces or less.
For so long, it caused many headaches. After all, travelers had to put their products into smaller bottles when traveling, or even worse, dump their products at the airport before being able to board because they weren’t the correct size!
Luckily, we live in 2025, where technology improves daily to make our lives easier. So sit back, relax, and let’s take a look at the 11 approved items, why the 3-1-1 Rule existed in the first place, and which airports allow us this new freedom!
Why Was the 3-1-1 Rule Introduced?
It was the year 2006 after authorities uncovered a terrorist plot in the UK involving liquid explosives intended for aircraft. They decided it would be safer to implement the 3-1-1 Rule. Talk about your “don’t try this at home kids” experiment gone wrong!
Unfortunately, experts determined that containers of this size or smaller would not hold enough liquid explosives to cause fatal damage to an aircraft if it exploded.
While this Rule might be very inconvenient, it is essential to keep passengers and crew safe.
So, Which Airports Are Ahead of the Game?
The only way for us to bring these full-size liquids onboard is by installing new CT scanners that give detailed 3D images of carry-on contents. Here are some airports that have these scanners operational:
-Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
-New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
-Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Please remember that this only applies when flying from this airport, not to this airport. Other airports are still installing and upgrading to this new technology (so keep your fingers crossed. Hopefully, it will be at an airport near you!)
So, How Were These Specific Items Chosen?
It all comes down to 4 things:
-Risk Profile Evaluation
Each item was carefully assessed to see its explosive potential and concealment risk.
-Essential Traveler Needs
TSA considered traveler essentials that can’t be rationed due to their critical role in passenger health and well-being.
-Physical Properties Compatibility
CT scanners are made to excel at distinguishing dense, uniform materials. Some items have distinct imaging signatures that reduce false alarms.
-Container Integrity Requirements
Duty-free liquids must be in tamper-evident bags, while others require transparent containers. These packaging controls lessen the chances of tampering risks that scanners can’t detect.
Why They Couldn’t Include More Common Use Liquids
-Everyday Toiletries (shampoo, perfume, sunscreen)
These items were not accurately screened because of their varied compositions and packaging. TSA still needs to improve the algorithm training data to make it more reliable.
-Higher-Risk Liquids
Of course, items like alcohol or chemical solutions couldn’t be added to the list because of their flammability, and it could be very easy to misuse.
-Phased Implementation
This allows the TSA to test scanner performance with lower-risk items first. As algorithms improve, more items (including toiletries) will hopefully be added soon.
How Do CT Scanners Make This Possible?
Airports currently use 2D X-ray machines. These new CT scanners take hundreds of images and use a sophisticated algorithm to combine them and create a rotatable 3D image of carry-on bags and their contents.
This allows TSA officers to identify threats more accurately, passengers can leave their electronics, etc., in their bags, and it minimizes physical contact, which helps a lot after the pandemic!
Some Useful Tips for Travelers to Keep in Mind
As we know, only a few airports currently use the new CT scanners, but your nearest airport could be next! Before packing those bags to embark on your next adventure, checking if the airport has implemented those new CT scanners and liquid rules wouldn’t hurt. The TSA website and the myTSA app provide up-to-date information.
Also, please remember to declare any full-size liquids at security to ensure that you have a smooth screening!
Some Good News for the Future
The TSA expects to install CT scanners at more airports throughout 2025 and gradually expand the list of allowed full-size liquids.
Eventually, everyday items like shampoo and sunscreen may also be included on this list, making travel even easier and more convenient.
So, without further ado, let’s examine the 11 items that are allowed in full size at airports using the new CT scanners.
1. Prescription Medications (Liquid, Gel, Aerosol)
This is a game changer for anyone who uses prescription medicines, whether in liquid, gel, or aerosol form.
No more fussing over transferring those medications into tiny bottles, and more importantly, no more worrying that you are going to run out mid-trip. What a relief!
2. Over-the-counter medications and Contact Lens Solutions
Now, you can finally bring your full-size over-the-counter medications, such as cough syrup, pain relievers, and even contact lens solution!
This saves a lot of time transferring it to smaller sizes and less stress, knowing you won’t need to waste your precious exploring time going to the drugstore for a refill.
3. Breast Milk and Infant Formula
This should be a significant relief for traveling parents because they can now travel with full-size containers of breast milk and infant formula through security checkpoints without any size restrictions.
It is recommended that the liquids be stored in clear, translucent bottles instead of bags or pouches so that the screening process can be smooth.
4. Baby and Toddler Food and Drinks
TSA has finally recognized that babies and toddlers need nutrition while on the go. This means it just got much easier for parents because they are allowed any full-sized or pureed baby and toddler foods in their carry-on bag!
To make it a little easier and quicker during the screening process, remove and declare these items to the TSA officers that is helping you. It is best to store these foods in clear, sealed containers, but homemade food is also allowed if that isn’t an option. It may take a little longer to inspect.
5. Liquid-Filled Teethers
Many people would think of a liquid-filled teether as a harmless baby toy, but others might surprisingly not. Lucky for us, the TSA has recognized that liquid-filled teethers are deemed medically necessary for teething babies and pose a low risk.
This rule helps you pack this item and ensure your baby can be calmer and more comfortable during the flight. It wouldn’t hurt to declare this item during screening so that TSA officers could screen it separately.
6. Ice Packs, Gel Packs, and Freezer Packs
Great news for people relying on medications or medical supplies to stay cool: the TSA now allows you to bring full-size ice packs, gel packs, and freezer packs through airport security without the usual 3.4-ounce liquid limit. These packs can be frozen solid, partially melted, or even slushy!
Keep in mind it should still be traveled in reasonable quantities; it might be somewhat suspicious to have 20 gel packs for your medications, etc. This exemption helps people with conditions like diabetes, where the insulin needs to stay cool. This is also another way of assisting the parents in keeping their baby and toddler’s milk or food fresh.
7. Fresh Eggs
Traveling with fresh eggs in my carry-on was not on my BINGO card for 2025, but hey, a small win is still a win! This might sound like a strange item to be happy about but for some travelers it is great news, whether it is because you bought them fresh at a local market or you need to transfer specialty eggs for cooking.
The world is now your oyster, I mean, your egg! While eggs are technically liquid inside, they pose no security threat, so the TSA treats them as solid food items.
8. Live Fish or Coral in Water
Here is another exemption from the TSA’s new liquid Rule: you can transport your live fish and/or coral in water-filled transparent containers.
Because these items are not permitted in checked baggage and cannot pass an X-ray machine, it is crucial to inform your TSA officer that you are carrying live fish or coral. They are likely to do a swab test of the water just to make sure that there are no prohibited substances. This makes traveling with your pet or being an enthusiast much easier, as they are very delicate.
9. Biological Specimens in Preservative Solution
Scientists, researchers, and medical personnel often must transport biological specimens preserved in liquid solutions. Remember that this only applies to non-infectious biological specimens stored in preservative solutions that must be carefully packaged.
Even though it is permitted, some specific requirements must be met to travel with it. Every inner container can not hold more than 30 milliliters of free liquid preservative, and the total amount in the outer packaging must not exceed one liter.
10. Non-Spillable Wet Batteries
I know what we are all thinking, batteries, really? These batteries, however, are different from the usual wet batteries because their electrolyte—the liquid inside that conducts electricity—is either absorbed in a gel or contained within a solid matrix, preventing leaks even if the battery is damaged.
The TSA allows non-spillable wet batteries with a voltage not exceeding 12 volts and a watt-hour rating of up to 100 watt-hours. These types of batteries can be found in some cameras, medical equipment, and mobility aids. Passengers are allowed to bring devices powered by these wet batteries and up to two spare batteries, but they need to be packed securely and marked “non-spillable” to be compliant.
11. Duty-Free Liquids in Sealed, Tamper-Evident Bags
So, it’s not entirely the win we were hoping for, but it’s a step closer! You are allowed to carry your duty-free liquids that were bought internationally. Still, they need to be packed into tamper-evident bags (STEBs) and remain sealed until you reach your final destination.
Because these bags are designed so that TSA officers can quickly verify the contents and whether they have been tampered with, the screening process is a little more straightforward. Also, remember that the purchase must have been made within 48 hours before you travel, and you need to keep your original receipt in the STEB as proof of purchase. Please do not try to tamper with the bag, or you could risk confiscating your items.
Here are my Final Thoughts on This
Although these items might not be applicable to your life and maybe feel like a worthless thing for TSA to spend their time on, these items can still help many other people to have a more comfortable flight experience.
At least it is still a step in the right direction by doing more good and causing less harm to others. The greatest thing about this is that it can only get better from here! We may be able to pack our full-size sunscreens and shampoos shortly!
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