Speed through Security this summer

It’s one of the questions we get asked the most when it comes to Security at Manchester Airport: How much liquid can you bring on a flight / plane?

There are airport restrictions for liquids in your hand luggage, but it’s quite simple - it all comes down to the liquid allowance on airlines, which is set at 100ml. Follow these rules when you’re packing liquids in your hand luggage:

• When packing your hand luggage, liquids on flights must be under 100ml each.

• The maximum amount in total is 1L.

• These must be packed in a clear, resealable plastic bag, no larger than 20cm x 20cm

• Passengers can only pack one of these clear bags of liquids in their hand luggage - the limit is one per person

• This clear plastic bag should be removed from your hand luggage and placed clearly in the tray provided

Read our Guide to Going Through Security page to find out more details about packing liquids for a flight / plane.

We’re often asked about whether you can take food through airport Security. Generally it’s okay, but it might be easier to pack food in your hold luggage (the bag that you check in), as there are a couple of rules about packing food in your hand luggage:

• You can’t take any frozen food through airport Security.

• Some food might count as a liquid - for example, jam or butter. This would form part of your liquid allowance on a plane. Read more at our Guide to Going Through Security page.

• Some food items in your hand luggage can obstruct images on X-ray machines, meaning bags may need to be checked again manually by Security, and this can slow things down.

We get asked this question a lot! The short answer is no - lipstick is not classed as a liquid when flying in the UK. And lip balms follow the same rule as lipsticks, so there’s no need to pack these make-up items in your clear plastic bag.

However, lip gloss is different - this is a liquid, so must be packed in your clear plastic bag. And the same goes for mascara, too.

Read our Guide to Going Through Security page to find out more details about packing liquids for a flight / plane.

We always get questions about flight scanners in the UK, especially as there’s a lot in the news about scanner upgrades and scanning guidelines, which can make things confusing for passengers.

But passengers can be assured that nothing has changed for now. Manchester Airport Security is in the process of upgrading its equipment, but this takes time, and until we've upgraded all of our Security screening equipment you should prepare for Security as normal.

If there are any changes to our scanning technology and Security experience, then we’ll communicate this on our Guide to Going Through Security page.

This might sound like an unusual question, but this is a popular toy that’s often packed by parents taking children on a summer holiday!

But unfortunately, even if it’s just a toy, toy and replica guns are strictly prohibited in your hand luggage, so please don’t pack them - they will just get confiscated at Security.

Read our Guide to Going Through Security page to find out more details about prohibited items.

This depends on the type of deodorant you have. If you have an aerosol deodorant or spray deodorant, this will count as part of your liquid allowance, which is set at 100ml per item. So you’ll only be allowed to pack it in your hand luggage if it’s 100ml or under. All standard aerosol deodorants are more than 100ml, these are frequently confiscated at Security.

The same applies for roll-on deodorants - it might be more obvious as an aerosol deodorant, but roll-on deodorants are liquids, so will also count as part of the liquid allowance set by airlines, which is 100ml per item.

However, stick deodorants don’t count as a liquid, so you can take these through Security in your hand luggage. If you’re unsure, please ask a member of staff at Security, who’ll be more than happy to help.

You can take disposable razors or closed cartridge razors in your hand luggage (these are standard razors, which have been designed for a safe, close shave) - but razor blades, including open razors, are strictly prohibited.

This is due to aviation security rules that prohibit sharp items or blades (with a length of more than 6cm) in your hand luggage. Frequently confiscated items also include scissors, multi-tools, and packs of darts.

For more information on prohibited items, please see our Guide to Going Through Security page.

You cannot take darts onto a flight. Darts are strictly prohibited from being carried onto the plane in your hand luggage, and will be confiscated at Security.

This is due to aviation security rules that prohibit sharp items or blades (with a length of more than 6cm) in your hand luggage. Frequently confiscated items also include scissors, multi-tools, hacksaws and open razors and razor blades.

You may be able to pack darts in your hold luggage, but please contact your airline for more information.

Passengers are permitted to carry one disposable lighter with them in their hand luggage, but because of the lighter fuel, this also counts as part of your liquid allowance. This means that you must put the disposable lighter in your clear plastic bag at Security.

Bringing through multiple lighters is not allowed, and they will be confiscated. It’s our most-confiscated item at Security - we recently confiscated 284 lighters in one morning!

Read our Guide to Going Through Security page to find out more details about packing liquids for a flight / plane.