Confiscations at Heathrow

But you had a good holiday?

According to another post, she is just now traveling, so Heathrow was a point of onward transit.

My experiences at Heathrow have been among the most strict. It's a shame you lost two important items. I hope you can find a replacement solution for your contacts.

I am sorry your items were confiscated. TSA regulations only apply to flights/airports in the United States as the TSA does not have jurisdiction outside the US. It is important to check requirements for the airports you will use outside of the US for specifics related to liquids or medicines that are important for you.

Here are the rules at Heathrow airport:
https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/security-and-baggage/hand-baggage-and-liquids

Only limited quantities of liquids may be carried through airport security into the departure lounge. This includes bottled drinks, suntan lotion, fragrances, cosmetics, toiletries and all frozen liquids.

The following restrictions apply to all liquids, creams, gels, pastes and aerosols taken through security control:

Liquids may only be carried in containers holding 100ml or less.

They must be carried separately in a single bag which is:

Transparent and resealable

No larger than 20cm x 20cm (8in x 8in)

Able to close properly with all the items inside.

At security control, place the bag in the tray with your other items.

Liquids in containers over 100ml will not be permitted through security – please pack them in your hold baggage instead.

The following exceptions may be made to the 100ml rule:

Baby food or baby milk: breast milk can be carried in the cabin; when it is stored in a clear, transparent container or bag. Flasks cannot be permitted. The volume of each container / bag should not exceed 2litres. Breast milk should be in a liquid format and not frozen. When travelling without an infant only breast milk can be carried in quantities greater than 100ml, this does not apply to formula milk or other baby juice / food. Please check with your airline as individual hand baggage allowance can vary.

You may also wish to take advantage of our pre-order service for collection after security by calling us on 0800 678 5324 or email us.

Liquid medicines: You are only permitted to carry quantities of liquid medication in excess of your personal liquid allowance where it is needed during the course of your flight. All medication should be accompanied by documentary proof of authenticity, such as a prescription or letter from a medical practitioner confirming that you need them for your journey. Liquid medication that is not required on the flight should be carried as hold luggage. Find out more about travelling with medicines.

Explosive or flammable liquids, and those that are considered toxic, are not permitted in either hand or hold luggage.

No, they’re not all the same as ours. I’m sorry you lost your items and hope you can find replacements.

Having gone through Heathrow many times since the 1970s, I can confirm their security is amongst the strictest in the world. I hope you are able to find contact lens solution that will work for you.

Heathrow is super strict but all British airports are strict. You can’t take those items through security at any British airport. You really do have to check and follow all the rules.

I had a "funny" experience with Heathrow security when returning to the US. When we check bags we always secure the zippers pulls with white nylon plastic wire ties. In my big carry-on bag I carry a large toe nail clipper in an unsecured pocket so I can cut the ties later. We had planned to check all our bags so all the zippers were secured with these white ties. Don't remember why at the last second I decided to keep the small carry-on bag. But the toe nail clippers went with the checked bag. At the personal security, all went well, small bag through the x-ray and there was nothing in it. As the end, someone walks up with a slip of paper and says I have been randomly selected for a detailed inspection and please follow to the this booth. It was an extremely detailed pat down and a electronic wand over all of my body and cotton swabs on my hands into some machine. Then he turned his attention to my bag and asked me to open it. I said I couldn't because I didn't have anything to cut the "seals." Don't know why I said sealed. Asked if he had some wire cutters. He was playing with the wire ties I am thinking I going to have a problem. He suddenly picks up the bag, hands it to me and say, "Well, if it is sealed, that is good." "Have a nice trip." "We are sorry that we had to detain you briefly." Stepped out of the booth and headed to my plane.

Oh my, Frank, the magic security phrase!

I just learned a magic boarding phrase with my dog. I didn't realize the significance until a gate agent asked me the same question twice about seating. Fortunately, I caught on.

Two different countries and two different sets of rules. Not a criticism, but I have no idea why you’d think U.S. and UK rules would be the same. At least you now know to look up the rules at your arrival airport for future trips.

Anyway, a year ago I had to throw out a 95% empty tube of toothpaste at Heathrow because, if it had been new, it would have been more than allowed.

More recently at Baltimore’s airport, in September I went through security and didn’t have to take off shoes, belt, or take anything out of my hand carry. In October, same airport but different security line, shoes and belt had to come off and tablet had to come out of my hand carry.

Traveling is so much fun nowadays.

I want to make sure I understand. Was it because the contact solution was not in the quart bag that got it taken in Heathrow?

I wear contact lenses, so am always taking the solution with me. I wasn't aware that it might be an issue. But then, I also wasn't aware that it didn't need to be in the quart bag for TSA. I thought it did.

TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection. Any oversized medically-necessary liquids that alarm during screening, testing positive for certain chemicals, may not be allowed through the screening checkpoint. Some contact lens solutions contain chemicals that typically alarm and may not permitted through the checkpoint. We recommend placing contact lens solutions over 3.4 ounces in your checked baggage. The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.

At Heathrow, all liquids have to be in bottles 100 ml or less and they must all fit inside the 3-1-1 bag, zipped closed.

I suspect it was confiscated because it wasn’t in the bag.

I had a similar experience with contact lenses at Heathrow two years ago. I use daily wear contacts so a three week supply takes up quite a bit of space in the ziploc baggie (since the contacts are floating in liquid). TSA allows you to put extra contacts and solution in a second baggie. At Heathrow, I was allowed to bring the contacts, but I had to toss some of my toiletry items in order to make everything fit in just one baggie. They weren’t ok with having a second baggie, even though it was contact lenses. It was my fault for not checking the regulations. I had read that Heathrow was strict about such things, but I guess I was hoping to squeak by, haha. No such luck! So now I know and it was a learning experience. Luckily I only had to buy some new hairspray and mousse at my final destination.

This experience prompted me to check the rules before we flew out of Berlin this past summer. I found that you can’t take extra contact lenses or solution there either, without a doctors note. But at least I knew the rules ahead of time, and I was able to plan accordingly without throwing stuff away at the security check:)

Another reason that I do all I can to avoid Heathrow. Connections in US and in EU. Fly over UK unless visiting there.

Thanks for all the comments! So just a bit for clarification: I was one of the first employees TSA hired and I retired from the organization; I traveled twice a year to Europe since 9/ 11; I read blogs/articles/ forums like crazy; I was told by American Airlines customer service agent at my originating airport in the US that due to brexit, Heathrow is a Transit point they would be no customs, no security, nothing! I also never, ever, have read that different airports had different criteria! Traveling to Europe twice a year since 9/11 I have never encountered my Heathrow situation. I contacted my optometrist and I am only able to use one very specific contact lens solution and it is not available in Europe. Glasses for 6 weeks!

Why in the world would not different airports in different countries have different criteria for safety/ security inspections, the parameters of which are set into law by each country's government ???

True that countries do consult with each other and try to negotiate similar standards, but to think that every airport in every country would automatically have the same rules as the U.S. seems fantastical.

The American Airlines agent just obviously doesn't know what they are talking about.

Hope you could buy another bottle of hand sanitizer.

The UK has had a much longer history of terrorism than the US. We're not always the leader.

Next time, if in doubt, check a bag.

I appreciate that you took the time to share your experience so others can avoid making the same mistake. The whole point of the forum is to share knowledge and learn from other travelers.

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

“ I read blogs/articles/ forums like crazy;”

As helpful as blogs and forums may be, they have no authority. That’s why it’s always best to check official sources, in this case the website of Heathrow. The very clearly state on their website what the rules regarding liquids in hand luggage are; https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/security-and-baggage/hand-baggage-and-liquids

Glasses for 6 weeks!

Ugh - I feel your pain! Any chance you could get someone to mail contact solution to your hotel/lodging halfway through your trip? (I once forgot my glasses, so it was contacts or blind for 6 weeks….)

I've had my hand sanitizer (Purell) thrown out twice, by security in Paris CDG and maybe Heathrow too, can't exactly remember that one as this was years ago. Thanks to being remiss about this, it did surprise me. They were the small containers. Oh, well.

It's not Heathrow...I always travel through Heathrow and have never had anything confiscated, but my liquids are in a sandwich bag for my 311. It follows the rules. There are too many people who think they can put a liquid somewhere else in their bag and no one will know. I know you didn't do that and it was just Britain's rules that did you in. It is so hard to keep up on all the rules, everywhere we go, and, regardless, there is always a surprise IMO. That's just travel. Travel has never been easy through time and it is so much easier now. I think people forget they are not in Kansas anymore or in my case Massachusetts. These little challenges are just to remind us that We are traveling. Exciting!

It's a standard security screening technique, to ask unexpected questions and see if the person gets uncomfortable, lies, or flustered. It's probably hard to think of good questions all day long.

All those guys are trying to do a thankless job the best they can. If something does get through and something does go boom, people will be screaming they should have been stricter .....

Even if the contact solution was a prescription, it wouldn't be allowed if it was 105ml.

Liquid medicines: You are only permitted to carry quantities of liquid
medication in excess of your personal liquid allowance where it is
needed during the course of your flight. All medication should be
accompanied by documentary proof of authenticity, such as a
prescription or letter from a medical practitioner confirming that you
need them for your journey. Liquid medication that is not required on
the flight should be carried as hold luggage.

I'll bet those airport security jobs get old real quick. Kudos to those folks.

I am so sorry that this happened to you and that the American Airlines rep gave you bad advice. If you have a connecting flight at Heathrow, you go through security again before accessing the departure area for your next flight. They take the “1 bag for 3-1-1” so seriously that they supply bags for them and it better be able to close. Ditto for the amounts.

Liquid medication that is not required on
the flight should be carried as hold luggage.

This is why we will never fly out of Heathrow. We have a family member who takes two daily liquid medications that are not readily available anywhere (specialty pharmacy order) and without which his life might be compromised. If they go missing, it would take days to replace them.

No way we are putting those in checked luggage.

Thank you OP for posting your experience so that other folks can plan accordingly.

I had the same problem on a return flight to US from Athens-and my contact lens solution was inside my 9-1-1 bag and was the correct size.

"also never, ever, have read that different airports had different criteria!".

Really? Different countries have different rules - some airports I have to take my shoes off, others not. Some are strict about 1 bag bags of liquids others not. US agencies do not set the rules for the rest of the world (although I appreciate your were badly informed by your airline).

Heathrow is super strict but all British airports are strict. You
can’t take those items through security at any British airport. You
really do have to check and follow all the rules.

The UK is big on theatre. And that includes security theatre.

I remember travelling as a foot passenger by ferry from Zeebrugge to Edinburgh. On the outward leg we just boarded. On the return leg we had to pass our luggage through a scanner. I asked them if they did the same thing with the cars they were loading. They were not amused...

Unfortunately the U.K. has a long history with terrorism so some measures that maybe seem extreme or unusual to visitors are very normal to people who live here.

The reality is that average citizens don’t know what is going on behind the scene to thwart possible terrorist attacks so sometimes what looks like theatre may actually be something quite different.

You are coming from what we in Europe refer to as a third country, which means that European states are free to set whatever regulations they like to apply to you in most situations, so don't even assume the same regulations apply to you within individual states - check.

This is why we will never fly out of Heathrow. We have a family member who takes two daily liquid medications that are not readily available anywhere (specialty pharmacy order) and without which his life might be compromised. If they go missing, it would take days to replace them.

If (and when) Heathrow manages to install the new scanners then it will signal the end of the liquids rule and you should be able to fly with those medications in your hand luggage without fear of them being confiscated.

I dream of the day when all airports in the world agree on a set of rules. And all airlines agree on a size for onboard luggage.

Alas - it is just a dream.