Since the airline liquid ban in 2006, savvy retailers have been "minifying" their toiletries and beauty products in response to liquid allowance rules, and the unfortunate airline luggage downsizing and pay-per-bag trend. Although mini toiletries help us pack light, bring less and lower the weight of our carry-on bags, it would be nice to have the option to bring a bottle of perfume/cologne that wouldn't otherwise be used by confiscated at security.
End of an Era? It looks like our mini toiletry toting days might be coming to an end. On Monday, before a 6-day day meeting in Montreal, the secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organization (IAOC) announced "the (liquid) ban will end." Predicted to come into effect in two years, it is still unclear if the ban will be completely lifted, or lifted but with limitations. Think how much bottled water you could bring on the plane, or not dump out/feverishly gulp at security. Bye, bye dehydration!
Why Will the Liquid Madness Stop? If they can make a controversial machine to scan your body for explosives, I would hope they could make one for liquids too. It turns out they can, and hope to have it installed at most security checkpoints by 2012.
What Will you Do? After 5 years of downsizing my packing, I'm so used to the large liquids ban, I don't know that I'll go back. Given my preferred packing medium involves a carry on, in order to maximize the bag's real estate, bringing regular-sized liquids like shampoo, creams, etc. doesn't make sense, except for extenuating circumstances when I check a bag. What will you do?
Until the ban is lifted, here's what you can and can't bring on a flight originating in Canada or the US. If you're travelling outside of Canada or the US, check the country's regulations, they could be different!
[image by klyphord]