Revealed: Hand luggage rules – which UK airports let you leave liquids in your case? And is lipstick a liquid?

Hand luggage rules for flights departing from UK airports are set by the Department for Transport. They state that liquids – other than those used for essential medical purposes, special dietary requirements or containing baby food or baby milk – must be in containers of no more than 100ml.

Confusingly, however, there is no definitive or universal list of what's considered a liquid for airport security purposes. For example, the Government's official guidance – likely to be the starting point for many passengers – doesn't mention a number of common cosmetic items, including lipstick. We found that airports' own websites often miss these out too.

Flying from Birmingham, Bristol or London Luton? Liquids can stay in your luggage

These airports have removed the requirement for liquids to be in a clear plastic bag – meaning you can take as many as you want, and you don't have to take them out of your case at security. This is thanks to new scanner technology.

However, for the time being, these liquids must still be in containers of up to 100ml each – so you can't take a 300ml bottle of shampoo for example.

In future, it's expected that all airports will adopt the upgraded technology, which could allow the 100ml rule to be scrapped altogether. The Government had initially set a deadline of 1 June 2024 for this to happen, but this was later postponed – and a new date is yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, the 100ml rule continues to apply.

The toiletries that count as 'liquids' at major UK airports

We asked 10 of the UK's busiest airports (according to data from regulator the Civil Aviation Authority) for their policies on 10 items not mentioned in the Government rules. Here's what we found:

Of course, be mindful that the table above only applies to flights departing from these airports. If you're returning to the UK, you will need to follow the rules from your departing airport, not your arriving one.

We've reported our findings to the Department for Transport

As shown in the table above, our investigation found a number of discrepancies in how UK airports interpret and enforce hand luggage security rules – while some won't even say what their rules are.

We're particularly concerned that people may not realise:

• Exactly which items do and don't count as liquids in hand luggage. For example, there are currently discrepancies between airports when it comes to lipstick, solid (stick) deodorants and solid perfume.

• ALL airports (not just most) still require all liquids in hand luggage to be in containers of no more than 100ml.

This lack of clarity means passengers may face extra faff and delays at security, or risk having to bin items they don't have enough space for in their clear bag – especially as many now travel with hand luggage only in order to avoid hold luggage fees.

We've shared our research with the Department for Transport and asked it to consider issuing clearer guidance.

In the meantime, if you're planning to take any make-up or toiletries with you on a flight, the safest option is to assume they'll be treated as a liquid.

If unsure, put it in your clear liquids bag

How to maximise your liquid allowance

Here are some tips on how to make your liquid allowance go further:

• Decant toiletries into smaller bottles. Save empty bottles from hotel stays or buy a pack of minis, for example, £1 for six from Primark.
  

• Collect make-up samples. Ask at beauty counters or order online. Find opportunities on the Freebies (no spend required) MSE Forum board.
  

• Share items between your party. If you're travelling with others, suggest taking one of each item between you – for example, shampoo or toothpaste – to save space.
  

• Buy toiletries from airport shops once you've cleared security. Some airlines, such as Easyjet, allow you to take "one standard bag of goods bought at the airport" on board in addition to your hand luggage. Other airlines will expect you to stow the shopping in your hand luggage. Either way, toiletries bought in the airport after security checks aren't restricted by the 100ml rule.
  

• Check if you can save by ordering toiletries in advance with click & collect to pick-up once through security. Boots, for example, told us its airport prices are, on average, around 10% higher than other Boots stores – though there are exceptions, which have the same price nationally, such as "premium" beauty items.
  
  The retailer added that click & collect orders will get the Boots.com price rather than the store price, though it does charge £4.50 for airport collection compared to it being £1.50, or free when you spend £15 or more, elsewhere.
  
  We also asked WHSmith and Well Pharmacy if their online prices differ from their airport prices and we'll update this story when we know more. If you click & collect at retailer World Duty Free (which is in lots of UK airports), you can get 10% off its in-store prices.

For more ways to optimise your hand luggage allowance, see our 60+ overseas travel tips. Plus we've more ways to save when flying in our Cheap flights and Easyjet tricks guides.