Holidaymakers jetting off from Manchester Airport can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the travel hub moves to clear up widespread confusion surrounding its hand luggage liquid rules.
The airport has rolled out a multi-million-pound fleet of state-of-the-art CT scanners across all three terminals. This cutting-edge technology is the key to the change, as it provides security staff with incredibly detailed 3D images of the contents of your cabin bag.
So, What Are The New Rules?
The new system allows passengers to carry containers holding up to two litres of liquid in their hand luggage—a significant increase from the longstanding 100ml limit. However, and this is the crucial part causing all the confusion, this new rule only applies if you are travelling through a security lane equipped with the new CT scanners.
Manchester Airport confirms that all its terminals now have these scanners. But here's the catch that has left many passengers frustrated: you must still follow the old rules until you are explicitly instructed otherwise at the security lane.
Why The Mixed Messages?
The issue arises because not every single security checkpoint within the terminals may be operational with the new tech at all times. To avoid any risk, the airport's official advice is to assume the old rules apply until you are at the conveyor belt and see signs or are told by staff that you can leave your liquids and electronics in your bag.
"We are advising customers to prepare for security as normal, until they are told otherwise by our team members," an airport spokesperson clarified. This means, to be absolutely safe, you should currently:
- Place containers over 100ml in your hold luggage.
- Ensure any liquids in your hand luggage are in containers no larger than 100ml.
- Carry these in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag.
- Be ready to remove your plastic bag and large electricals like laptops from your cabin baggage.
Once a staff member confirms you are in a 'new tech' lane, you can then keep everything in your bag and sail through. The airport urges patience as staff and passengers adapt to this new, more efficient system that will eventually make the dreaded security scramble a thing of the past.
