Can You Deliver Frozen Liquids By TSA?

You’re heading on a visit to have fun heat climate whenever you encounter an issue. You aren’t checking a bag, so you need to match all of your toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, face wash, physique wash, fragrance, and so on.) 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 you need to undergo airport safety. Thousands and thousands of vacationers face the identical situation due to the 3-1-1 liquids rule from the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA). 

Just 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’ll be able to freeze them earlier than reaching the airport and take them by way of safety. We spoke with the TSA to substantiate the validity of this methodology and perceive any potential restrictions. 

Right here’s the whole lot it’s good to find out about carrying frozen liquids by way of airport safety. 

3-1-1 Liquids Rule

In line with the TSA, you need to comply with the 3-1-1 rule for liquids in your carry-on baggage. This rule states you’ll be able to carry 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 have to be smaller than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Any liquids which are bigger than this or don’t match inside your single quart-sized bag allotment have to be packed in your checked bag. 

Take into account that belongings you don’t sometimes consider as liquid should fall below this rule. Because it’s spreadable, peanut butter is taken into account a liquid for TSA functions and have to be smaller than 3.4 ounces to undergo the checkpoint. I bumped into this situation just a few years again when attempting to carry jam dwelling from Italy. In my thoughts, it was strong, and I believed I’d haven’t any drawback flying from Italy to the U.S. Nonetheless, after I tried to board my connecting flight to my ultimate vacation spot, I needed to test my bag or throw out the jam.

Whereas the 3-1-1 rule is strict, there are two vital exceptions: drugs and toddler and little one nourishment. In line with the TSA web site, “TSA permits bigger quantities of medically mandatory liquids, gels, and aerosols in affordable portions on your flight, however you need to declare them to TSA officers on the checkpoint for inspection.” Equally, formulation, breast milk, toddler drinks, and child/toddler meals are thought of medically mandatory liquids, so you’ll be able to carry bigger portions of those by way 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 baggage in the event that they had been bought internationally and you might be touring to the USA with a connecting flight. Be aware that it’s good to have the unique receipt for the liquids and will need to have made the acquisition inside 48 hours. 

Associated: 25 Issues You Ought to Do Earlier than Boarding a Airplane, In line with 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 way of safety so long as they’re utterly 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. In the end, the TSA officer will resolve whether or not an merchandise is allowed by way of the checkpoint.

“Absolutely frozen liquids are acceptable as solids at TSA checkpoints in larger portions,” a TSA spokesperson advised Journey + Leisure. “Liquids, gels, and aerosols – which embody these issues you’ll be able to spray, unfold, spill, pump, or pour – are topic to TSA’s 3-1-1 rule at airport checkpoints.” 

Most of the liquids you wish to get by way of TSA, like shampoo and toothpaste, can’t be frozen. In these instances, this hack received’t get you very far. Though you’ll be able to freeze water, it’s going to possible be extra effort than it’s price, particularly contemplating most airports have water fountains you need to use to refill your water bottle at no cost on the opposite facet 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 way of safety, your frozen drink may begin melting and should be thrown out anyway. 

Backside Line

Sure, you’ll be able to carry frozen liquids over 3.4 ounces by way of TSA, however they have to be frozen utterly strong. Is that this a journey hack that I’ll commonly use? Most likely not. I’d somewhat refill my water within the airport lounge than carry round ice and await it to soften.