Carry on luggage - what is a liquid? About This Page:

[soonerprices]

Deodorant. Are any types considered liquid?

Toothpaste. Is it is considered a liquid?

[pamsparkle]

You should check the TSA guidelines. Roll-on antiperspirants/deodorants are liquids. Toothpaste is a paste, and is subject to the rules, also.

[soonerprices]

The TSA guidelines are not specific to deodorant and toothpaste. So i didn't get a clear answer by visiting the TSA site.

[tinker_me_happy]

If you have a large toothpaste they will throw it out. You might get through, but technically they can throw it away. Get the small ones in the travel section at Walmart or Target or a store like that. I bring my regular deodorant and put it in my 3-3-3 quart size bag and have never had a problem, but I'm pretty sure it is not over 3 oz. Check your deodorant container. If it's over, either buy a travel size or put it in your checked luggage.

[Carousel96]

There used to be a sign in our airport that said if you could pour it, spill it, spread it or smear it, it was a liquid.
So that included the obvious (water and shampoo), pastes and gels (deodorant and toothpaste) and things you wouldn't think about (peanut butter and lip balm).

There are exceptions to the 3-1-1 rule for medicines, baby formula and breast milk, but generally the rules apply to all liquids and gels, which would include toothpaste and deodorant.

The package size needs to be smaller than the 3 oz size allowed. You can't take a bigger container that's half full.

[Ashli]

I can understand why this is confusing, because you don't always get the same answer depending on who you deal with (in the TSA). I have had them throw away a tube of toothpaste that was .5 oz over the limit, so I would put my toothpaste and deodorant in my ziploc. On the other hand, I've flown many times with my little zipper bag of lip balm (I am kind of an addict so I usually have 5-8 different lip balms, glosses, and chapsticks at any given time) in my purse and NOT in my ziploc bad and never had anyone say anything about it. So you never know. But better to be safe than sorry and not have to worry about buying new toothpaste or deodorant once you get where you're going.

[Nova]

You need to have thoes things in the bag and show them at security. Coming home I had gotten one of thoes baby cups with the stuff floating around sealed inside and never gave it a thought, they took it. I didnt have any checked luggage and even if I had thoes bags were already gone.

[ShellingConnie]

I use a solid deoderant and because it says solid I've never put it in my 3-1-1 bag. I do buy a smaller size though just in case I need to.

I buy the travel size toothpaste and that has to go into my 3-1-1 bag. I also put in the 3-1-1 the chapstick I use. I forgot to do that this past trip and the TSA at the Atlanta Airport caught it and told me I had to put it in my 3-1-1 bag or throw it in their bin. It fit in my 3-1-1 bag easily so I was good there.

Also in my 3-1-1 bag is my tiny spray can of hair spray, my travel size face moisterizer, mascara, and my travel size hand cream, travel size saline solution for my contacts.

I usually travel with one checked bag so most of my things go in there. I don't bring my own shampoo/conditioner since most hotels have some for my use but if I did I'd put it in my checked bag.

[sk8mom6]

Don't bring any glycerin soap in a carry on--even if it's a small bar. It registers like nitroglycerin. DH found out the hard way-he bought one at the Canada pavillion and put it in his carry on. They didn't make us throw it out, but it did mean unpacking his carry on and taking a lot of extra time in security.
I usually pack most of it in our checked luggage, but take hand sanitizer, some lotion and small sample size of sunscreen in my 3-1-1 bag.
Sometimes, it just depends on the TSA agent. DH got hassled about his insulin and insulin cooling bag in our local rinky dink airport, even though that is allowed and is very clearly stated on the TSA website.

[sixkristy6]

What about eye makeup primer? The stuff I use Electric Eye Primer is just gooey but not gel-like or actual liquid.

[Fortissimo]

If it can be poured, spread, smear, or spill it, it must be in a 3oz or less container and fit into a quart-sizede ziplock.

Any makeup that is not powder must be 3 oz or less and fit in the baggie.
My SIL had deodorant that was a solid taken away.
Toothpaste must be less than 3 oz.

Chapstick can go either way depending on the TSA agent, but lip gloss is a no-no (just ask my SIL that one, too )

[sixkristy6]

It can be smeared, so I guess it will be a 3:1:1. Thanks!

[Jennifer2003]

Roll on and aeresol deoderant are liquid. Solid stick deoderant is not, but gel stick deoderant is.

Toothpaste is a "spreadable" substance, so it is considered a liquid. Bring travel sizes or stick it in your checked bag.

I found these lists on the TSA site the other day:
TSA: Traveling with Food or Gifts
TSA | Transportation Security Administration | 3-1-1 on Air Travel

[WillCAD]

TSA regulations are fairly clear on this issue, but the application is not.

The actual size limit on liquids and gels is 100ml, or 3.4oz, not 3oz. Once in a while you'll run into a TSO who is under the mistaken impression that the limit is 3oz and won't listen to reason. When the rule was originally put into place (I think it was 2005), the rule WAS 3.0oz. But it was later amended to 100ml (3.4oz), since the overwhelming majority of the world used the metric system. But there are still documents and publications in existence from before the switch, and the rule is called the "3-1-1 Rule", so lots of people get confused about it.

Remember that the container size must be below the limit; you cannot pass through the c/p with a 5oz container that only has 1oz of liquid in it. The container itself must be 3.4oz or smaller.

The definition of what constitutes a liquid or a gel varies from TSO to TSO. They're not properly or consistently trained, and sometimes they make up their own minds about stuff and get it wrong. Case in point - a recent flap wherein a traveler was forced to discard a cupcake in a jar (apparently a delicacy from a bakery in DC); she was told that the icing on the cupcake was "gel-like" and because it "conformed to the shape of the container", it was not allowed aboard - despite the fact that the TSA web site specifically states that pies and cakes are permitted items.

Toothpaste and deodorants are considered gels and are subject to the 3.4oz restriction, so if you need them in your carry-on, be sure to buy them in travel sizes that are under 3.4oz.

Generally, if something seems gooey or smearable, TSOs will consider it a gel and it's subject to the 3.4oz limit.

NOTE: TSA does not have the power to confiscate, destroy, or dispose of your property; they only have power to ban it from passing into the sterile are of the airport. If you have something that they won't let in, you have the option of leaving the security line, packing it in your checked bag (if you can get access to it), or mailing it to yourself at home, rather than discarding it.

Many TSOs will make the assumption that you are willing to throw away your prohibited items, and simply toss them in the trash without even asking you - but they're not supposed to do that with your property.

In the case of a bottle of water or a tube of toothpaste, it's not a big deal to toss it. But in the case of something more expensive, like a snow globe, child's cup, or some sort of $100 tool that you forgot was in your carry-on bag, you HAVE the option to make other arrangements rather than allowing the TSOs to throw your property in the trash.

Personally, I avoid any problems with the liquids and gels rule by simply packing all of it in my checked bags. I'm lucky enough that I can travel without any liquids or gels that I can't get from the airport shops inside the sterile area. This isn't possible for everybody, though, so knowing the actual rules, as well as the way the rules are commonly interpreted (and misinterpreted) is key to smoothing your transit of the checkpoint.

[cperry100]

We just flew to Disney last week. For at least a week before I was going on to everyone we were traveling with about the liquid rule. Guess who got stopped by TSA at the very first airport because he decided to throw a tube of hand lotion in his check bag at the very last minute? Yup...That would be me.