TSA Relaxes 3-1-1 Rule

The TSA has finally loosened up their 3-1-1 rule (which only allows flyers to carry on liquids in 3.4 oz. bottles or smaller), but only for liquids bought at duty-free shops. CNN reports that travelers will now be able to carry on alcohol or other liquids bought at duty-free airport shops abroad on their connecting domestic flights.

The relaxed rule only applies to flyers returning home to the United States from other countries. Basically, if you are flying from London to Boston, with a connecting flight in New York, you would have previously had to pack any duty-free liquid purchases over 3.4 oz. into your checked luggage after clearing customs in New York and before going through security for your connecting flight to Boston. Now, you can carry your liquids all the way through on both flights, as long as they are sealed in the special tamper-evident bags provided at duty-free stores.

However, you should be careful about what you’re buying if you don’t want to have to throw it away at the checkpoint anyway. According to the TSA website, “Technological advances may allow passengers to keep these liquids in their carry-on baggage, provided they are presented in a STEB (secure, tamper-evident bag) and are able to be screened and cleared by Transportation Security Officers at the checkpoint. Liquids that cannot be screened and cleared will not be allowed to remain in a passenger’s carry-on baggage. Passengers may elect to place these items into checked baggage, if available, or forfeit them prior to entering the secure area of the airport. This may include liquids in opaque, ceramic, or metallic bottles, or other containers that cannot be effectively scanned.”

Are you excited about being able to carry your duty-free purchases on a connecting domestic flight? Tell us in the comments.

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