Sneaky Way to Bring More Liquids in Your Carry-On

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has had the 3-1-1 liquids rule in effect since the earliest days after the 9/11 tragedy. This rule limits each passenger to carry liquids, gels, and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters, with a maximum of one quart-size bag.

Common travel items that must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule include toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, and lotion. However, some passengers may wish they could bring more liquids with them on their travels.

A Fix for a Problem

Recently, several readers have mentioned this "hack" to our team, which we've decided to share. This is not a hack, but rather a cheat that some passengers use to get around the rules. We don't recommend doing it because it goes against the TSA's rule.

The rule states that each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels, and aerosols. However, if you have Global Entry or PreCheck, you might be able to use this "hack" to bring more than one 1-quart bag through security.

What Are the Consequences?

If TSAOs on duty discover that you're using this cheat, they may revoke your Global Entry or PreCheck status. This could potentially mean you'll never be able to get these benefits again.

Potentially never being able to get your trusted traveler status back is a big reason why we don't recommend doing this "hack."

A Word of Caution

Remember that TSAOs are always watching and checking, so it's not worth the risk. If you need to bring more liquids with you on your travels, consider purchasing a larger bag or looking for alternative products.

The government is also updating TSA's scanning hardware to CT scanners that can assess if any substance presents a threat. This means that even if you use this "hack," it may not be worth the risk in the future.