Can You Deliver Frozen Liquids By TSA?

You’re heading on a visit to have a good time heat climate whenever you encounter an issue. You aren’t checking a bag, so it’s a must to match all of your toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, face wash, physique wash, fragrance, and many others.) in a single quart-sized bag. You additionally wish to fill your Stanley tumbler up together with your favourite beverage to drink throughout your flight, however it’s a must to undergo airport safety. Thousands and thousands of vacationers face the identical concern because of the 3-1-1 liquids rule from the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA). 

Lately, a intelligent “journey hack” went viral on TikTok. It means that if you happen to want to carry bigger liquids onto your aircraft, you may freeze them earlier than reaching the airport and take them by means of safety. We spoke with the TSA to verify the validity of this technique and perceive any potential restrictions. 

Right here’s all the things you want to find out about carrying frozen liquids by means of airport safety. 

3-1-1 Liquids Rule

In response to the TSA, you should comply with the 3-1-1 rule for liquids in your carry-on baggage. This rule states you may deliver one “quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, lotions, and pastes in your carry-on bag and thru the checkpoint.” Every merchandise contained in the bag should be smaller than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Any liquids which might be bigger than this or don’t match inside your single quart-sized bag allotment should be packed in your checked bag. 

Remember that stuff you don’t usually consider as liquid should fall beneath this rule. Because it’s spreadable, peanut butter is taken into account a liquid for TSA functions and should be smaller than 3.4 ounces to undergo the checkpoint. I bumped into this concern a couple of years again when making an attempt to deliver jam dwelling from Italy. In my thoughts, it was stable, and I believed I’d don’t have any drawback flying from Italy to the U.S. Nonetheless, once I tried to board my connecting flight to my ultimate vacation spot, I needed to examine my bag or throw out the jam.

Whereas the 3-1-1 rule is strict, there are two essential exceptions: drugs and toddler and little one nourishment. In response to the TSA web site, “TSA permits bigger quantities of medically crucial liquids, gels, and aerosols in affordable portions on your flight, however you should declare them to TSA officers on the checkpoint for inspection.” Equally, method, breast milk, toddler drinks, and child/toddler meals are thought of medically crucial liquids, so you may deliver bigger portions of those by means of the checkpoint. Nonetheless, you have to to tell the TSA officer.

You’re additionally in a position to carry bigger portions of duty-free liquids in clear, safe, tamper-evident luggage in the event that they had been bought internationally and you’re touring to the US with a connecting flight. Be aware that you want to have the unique receipt for the liquids and should have made the acquisition inside 48 hours. 

Associated: 25 Issues You Ought to Do Earlier than Boarding a Airplane, In response to a Frequent Flier

Carrying Frozen Liquids By TSA

So, is there reality to the frozen liquids hack? Sure, however with some caveats. Frozen liquids are allowed by means of safety so long as they’re fully frozen. If they’re partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid on the backside of the container, they need to meet the usual liquids necessities. Finally, the TSA officer will determine whether or not an merchandise is allowed by means of the checkpoint.

“Totally frozen liquids are acceptable as solids at TSA checkpoints in higher portions,” a TSA spokesperson informed Journey + Leisure. “Liquids, gels, and aerosols – which embrace these issues you may spray, unfold, spill, pump, or pour – are topic to TSA’s 3-1-1 rule at airport checkpoints.” 

Lots of the liquids you wish to get by means of TSA, like shampoo and toothpaste, can’t be frozen. In these instances, this hack received’t get you very far. Though you may freeze water, it’s going to doubtless be extra effort than it’s value, particularly contemplating most airports have water fountains you should utilize to replenish your water bottle without cost on the opposite aspect of safety. Plus, if you happen to don’t have TSA PreCheck or Clear and find yourself ready a very long time to get by means of safety, your frozen drink may begin melting and should be thrown out anyway. 

Backside Line

Sure, you may deliver frozen liquids over 3.4 ounces by means of TSA, however they should be frozen fully stable. Is that this a journey hack that I’ll frequently use? In all probability not. I’d relatively replenish my water within the airport lounge than carry round ice and anticipate it to soften.