Best ways to speed through Security

How much liquid can you bring on a flight / plane is one of the questions we get asked the most when it comes to Security at London Stansted Airport:

The liquid allowance on airlines is set at 100ml, so please follow these rules:

• When packing your hand luggage for a flight, individual liquids must be under 100ml each.

• The maximum amount allowed in total is 1L.

• Liquid containers must be packed in a clear, resealable plastic bag, no larger than 20cm x 20cm

• Passengers are limited to one clear bag of liquids in their hand luggage

• At security, this clear plastic bag should be removed from your hand luggage and placed in the tray provided for checking

Read our Guide to Going Through Security page to find out more details about packing liquids for a flight / plane.

Generally, it’s okay, but it might be better to pack certain foods in your hold luggage (the bag that you check in) as there are some rules about packing food in your hand luggage:

• You can’t take any frozen food through airport Security.

• Some foods, such as jam or butter, might actually be classed as a liquid, so would form part of your liquid allowance on a plane. Read more at our Guide to Going Through Security page.

• Food items packed in your hand luggage could obstruct images on X-ray machines. It can slow the process down if bags need to be re-checked manually by Security.

The short answer is no - lipstick is not classed as a liquid. And lip balms follow the same rule as lipsticks, so there’s no need to pack these make-up items in your clear plastic bag.

However, lip gloss is different - this is a liquid, so must be packed in your clear plastic bag. And the same goes for mascara, too.

Read our Guide to Going Through Security page to find out more details about packing liquids for a flight / plane.

There’s a lot in the news about scanner upgrades and scanning guidelines, and this can make things confusing for passengers. But passengers can be assured that all the body scanning equipment has been designed to put you at ease. You remain fully dressed and will be asked to either walk through a ‘door frame’ or stand still between two ‘walls’. These scanners do not use X-rays and will scan you in a matter of seconds.

If there are any changes to our scanning technology and Security experience, then we’ll communicate this on our Guide to Going Through Security page.

This might sound like an unusual question, but water guns are often packed by parents taking children on a family holiday.

However, even if it’s just a toy, replica guns are strictly prohibited in your hand luggage, so please don’t pack them - they will just get confiscated at Security.

Read our Guide to Going Through Security page to find out more details about prohibited items.

This depends on the type of deodorant you have. An aerosol or spray deodorant will count as part of your liquid allowance, so you’ll only be allowed to pack it in your hand luggage if it’s 100ml or under. As standard aerosol deodorants are more than 100ml, they are frequently confiscated at Security.

The same applies for roll-on deodorants - it might be more obvious as an aerosol deodorant, but roll-on deodorants are liquids, so will also count as part of the liquid allowance set by airlines, which is 100ml per item.

However, stick deodorants don’t count as a liquid, so you can take these through Security in your hand luggage. If you’re unsure, please ask a member of staff at Security, who’ll be more than happy to help.

You can take disposable razors or closed cartridge razors in your hand luggage (these are standard razors, which have been designed for a safe, close shave) - but razor blades, including open razors, are strictly prohibited.

Aviation security rules prohibit sharp items or blades (with a length of more than 6cm) in your hand luggage. Frequently confiscated items also include scissors, multi-tools, hacksaws and packs of darts.

For more information on prohibited items, please see our Guide to Going Through Security page.

No. Darts are strictly prohibited from being carried onto the plane in your hand luggage, and will be confiscated at Security.

Aviation security rules prohibit sharp items or blades (with a length of more than 6cm) in your hand luggage. Frequently confiscated items also include scissors, multi-tools, hacksaws and open razors and razor blades.

You may be able to pack darts in your hold luggage, but please contact your airline for more information.

Passengers are permitted to carry one disposable lighter in their hand luggage. But because of the lighter fuel, this counts as part of your liquid allowance, so you must put the disposable lighter in your clear plastic bag at Security.

Bringing through multiple lighters is not allowed, and they will be confiscated. Lighters are our number one most-confiscated item at Security. One morning we confiscated 284 of them!

Read our Guide to Going Through Security page to find out more details about packing liquids for a flight / plane.