Security and baggage FAQs

Liquids, aerosols and gels can be carried in containers up to 100ml. These must be placed in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag, no bigger than 1 litre capacity.

The maximum dimensions of the bag are: 20cm (8 inches) x 20cm (8 inches) and you must be able to close it. We allow one liquid bag per person.

Duty free liquids, aerosols and gels purchased after security can be carried as hand baggage. However, these must be sealed at the time of purchase with the receipt inside a security tamper-evident bag. 

Liquid medicines and special dietary products, such as baby food, are exempt. However, you may need to present prescriptions, and security officers may also need to carry out additional checks on these items.

Expressed breast milk is allowed, even if you are travelling without an infant. This may be carried in the cabin providing no single container exceeds 2 litres. There is no limit on the number of containers you can carry, but the milk must be in liquid form and not frozen. This only applies to expressed breast milk and does not include formula milk or other baby juice or food.

For follow-on or formula milk, you may reserve this through our Reserve and Collect service and you can pick it up once you have gone through security.

We often get asked about hair gels, creams and even yoghurt, so here is a quick checklist of what is considered a liquid and what is not:

Not Considered a liquid:

• Solid lipstick
• Stick deoderant

All these items are considered liquids:

• Drinks, soup and yoghurt
• Pastes and puréed food
• Formula milk (special rules apply for breast milk)
• Shaving foam
  
• Toothpaste
  
• Roll-on deodorant
  
• Atomisers, sprays
  
• Creams
  
• Gels
  
• Toothpaste

Laptops, tablets and Kindles may remain in your cabin baggage, but you will be asked to remove them to put them through the x-ray machine.

You may carry scissors and nail files where the blades are no longer than 6cm. You can also take knitting needles in the cabin with you. 

The Department for Transport considers that there are no known health effects from the scanners in use at Heathrow..

Everyone must go through a metal detector. You may also be selected to undergo a body scan. If you are worried about this because of pregnancy, a health condition or have a medical device fitted, please speak to one of our security officers who will organise a more extensive hand search. For more discretion, this may be done in private and you are welcome to bring a witness.