The ban on liquids is a completely illogical overreaction to a very very minor issue. It offers absolutely NO additional security benefit. There is almost 0 chance that anyone could carry enough liquids on to a plane and mix them together to come up with something capable of bringing the plane down or even damaging it in any sort of meaningful way.

Back in 1996 over in the far east, someone tried to do something similar and it was investigated at the time and found to be a non-credible thread and thus was never elevated to something that is checked for.
The US FAA and other security agencies have known it for years.

The TSA is a joke. The security screenings are a joke and flying today is no more or less secure than it was prior to 9-11.
They are screening for yesterdays threats.

The best thing they did post-911 was to put bars on the cabin doors so that noone can break into the cabin mid-flight and take the plane down. Everything else is just "security theater" - it gives the illusion of security without actually providing any significant benefits.

You can add Argentina to the list of counties enforcing the ban on liquids. While there in September and about to take our 4th and final domestic flight on Aerolineas Argentinas, we were dismayed when the restrictions were begun without warning. Although we had to toss our bottles of water, we witnessed a few folks who threw away bottles of wine.

I miss juice boxes. We don't use them at home and so it was a special treat for the plane. They are easy to transport, hard to spill and always fresh. Now we use sippy cups and almost always remember to dump them before the security line. And then we buy overpriced juice and water to refil them. Not a big deal but it adds another step and takes away a little bit of ease. And I am still on the fence about how much safer we are without the juice boxes.

I miss being able to carry on all I needed for short trips. Now I either have to check a bag, or constantly repurchase expensive cosmetics, sunblock, and toiletries.

you can add Changi airport in Singapore to the list of airports that enforce the ban, at least for US-bound flights. It didn't appear to be enforced for Asian flights.

the security check is at the gate and there are no facilities past the gate so there is no opportunity to purchase water or whatever before you board the plane.

At least most of the larger US airports still have shops between scanners and the plane.

The statement on TSA's site says, "The following nations are implementing new security measures as part of the international harmonization of security:"

Should that not read, "The following nations are succumbing to TSA pressure to implement our new security measures, despite the fact that even this loophole can be exploited:" ??

I agree that the rules are stupid and onerous. But don't give up your favorite cleanser, lotion, etc. You're not limited by whether your brand comes in small containers -- liquids do not have to be in the original containers. Go to the Container Store. They have an enormous selection of clear plastic containers in various shapes (round or square) and sizes (1/2 oz., 1 oz., 2 oz., 3 oz.) and with different lids (screw-on, spray pump, flip-top). (No, I don't work for them, own shares, etc. It's just the only place I've found a big selection.) You can take exactly what you want, and exactly the amount you need (the 1/2 oz. is great for something like moisturizer, if you use a pea-size amount per day), which allows you to make the most efficient use of space in your quart bag. I've flown about a dozen times since the ban and have never had any problem getting through security.

And remember that contact lens solutions count as meds and don't have to go in the bag. (Not sure whether those must be in original containers, but they are available in smaller sizes -- I have Renu bottles in 2 oz. and 4 oz. sizes (meds aren't limited to 3 oz.).) You're supposed to declare them, though I always forget to and have never yet been asked about them. Maybe the screeners recognize the distinctive caps on the x-ray and don't bother.

I just wish I could find saline solution in a 3 ounce container. The smallest I can find is 4 ounces.

Its a slow morning: Yes, I miss all those creature comforts I could provide for myself since it is exceedingly uncomfortable to travel anywhere. Alitalia won't let you use electronic devices such as cd player and dvd player -- whoa, wish I would have known that before I booked a flight with my 2 and 4 y-o to Italy! Here's my modest proposal: Let's just stop the charade of piecemeal action.
Each airport shall have an offsite check-in location where your vehicle, your bags and your person are scanned, you check in for your flight and you receive and change into a TSA paper jumpsuit and those disposable flip flops you get with a pedicure. You are not permitted to bring anything to the terminal other than a brown paper bag (three sizes available: lunch, liquor store or grocery), in which you may place your ziplock baggie full of 3-oz toiletries, a pimento cheese sandwich (or two slices of bread for the lactose intolerant) book, newspaper or magazine (coloring books for kids), ear plugs, eye mask, necessary medications cleared by TSA when you purchase your ticket, socks or slippers, and gum. You may bring a wallet or money clip that is no bigger than a standard deck of cards. Or, you can put your valuable cards and money in a box for a deck of cards. That's it.

Each arline shall be required to have enough pillows & blankets on board for each passenger. Flight attendants shall make water immediately available to all passengers throughout the flight -- I suggest they do more than the mini-bottles, but that's just me. They will have enough room for all the linens and water because every passenger will be limited to one paper bag, which -- even if it could be stuffed full -- can fit neatly under the seat in front of you.

Now, the trick will be to get your checked luggage at the end of the flight, and for people who get stuck in airports or bumped from flights, it will be a little inconvenient to be stuck in your paper jumpsuit. But, hey, maybe it'll take off as a fashion statement like that pink underwear designed by that sheriff in Arizona . . .

I miss being able to carry wine back from Napa, the Central Coast, Italy and various other wine regions. It makes me nervous to pack bottles of wine in my checked luggage, and if you're going to ship the wine home, you might as well just order it online.

The ban is so tough for women. I am a very heavy packer. I have always checked my luggage for a variety of reasons. However, pre August 2006 I could bring my toiletries bag (like a train case) on the plane chock full of my beauty things, jewelry and hair dryer. Every item was upright so nothing leaked. It was great.

Now all of the over 3oz products are next to my shoes, clothes and under items. Naturally, these liquids are ridiculously overpacked in plastic becasue I dont want anything to leak.

People fly to do important things--work, weddings, funerals, vacation. Why make things harder?

No one sells ginger ale past security at National. I can get some on the plane, but it gets taken away from me before landing, when I need it most, again because of FAA rules.

I agree completely with IAD flyer. The net result of all these sham rules and incompetent security is that flying stinks. If only people would put their money behind this and say,"look flying stinks now and do I want to do it or make anyone else do so unnecessarily?". If more than a few business people started waking up to the unnecessary costs of flying, it would result in a lot more meetings being held by teleconference and videoconferencing. The airlines would be further pinched and either pressure the government to do a reality check or just go out of business altogether. Either way, we'd all be better off. Added to that, reduced numbers of flights would go a long way towards reducing our dependence on oil.

My biggest complaint is that my child drinks lactose-free milk. I can't bring it through security - it's not formula - and I can't purchase it in the airport and it's not available on the plane. So just drinks a lot of over-priced watered down juice that just ends up giving her a sugar high. Thanks TSA!

The liquid ban keeps me from taking on board my usual germ-fighting fave: Odwalla Citrus C-Monster-- two containers-- one of which I had frozen. This citrus drink is not acidic, so you can drink lots of it without that acidic aftertaste. Citrus C-Monster is thick enough to taste like a thin syrup. I think that it helps keep my mucus membrane moist-- and I have read that a dry mucus membrane is where germs settle. The frozen bottle turned to a slushy after a couple hours into the flight, after I had sipped the first bottle. so I had something cold to drink cross country. Do NOT buy the Strawberry C-Monster by mistake unless the taste of Pepto-Bismol combined with liquid bubble gum is an appealing taste.

(I presume everyone already had frozen water bottles half-2/3 full of water, and then added fresh cold water just before going to the airport. The thawing ice part of the water kept it fresh and cold for 3-4 hours.) These Odwalls are not cheap, but were a great way to keep your throat moist when flying across the country.

And now, this one bit of passenger comfort is gone, based on some decision that appears to be fighting the last war, not the next war. I doubt that many frequent flyers think the next terrorist attack will be on an airliner.

I wonder why they can't manage to scan the liquids, or why they're so draconian about stuff in clear containers.

I also wish they'd be a lot less pedantic about the size of the bag you put the stuff in too. Having them get pissy because of using a gallon zip lock bag vs. a quart one is just stupid.

I agree with all the comments about the liquid ban being "security theater." It's completely useless and highly inconvenient for all the reasons everyone else has mentioned. Last fall I traveled to New Zealand and Fiji and they do not have liquid bans other than for flights to the US. I was really thankful to find that there is still some independent thinking left in the world.

I flew from Hong Kong to the States two weeks ago, after a 2 1/2 week trip in mainland China. And yes, the Hong Kong airport personnel were enforcing the TSA liquid rules. In fact, I've never been so thoroughly inspected. The initial security checkpoint was perfunctory--the conveyor belt x-ray machine, the metal detector, etc. The real enforcement came at the gate, where travelers were funneled through a line that led to the inspection table. The inspector, gloved and very polite, checked out everything in my carry-on, unzipping and inspecting the various compartments and small bags in the carry-on. Luckily I was prepared--I had my liquids in legal amounts in a one quart zip-lock. I did have to gulp down the rest of my bottled water--couldn't take that on the plane, and like a previous poster experienced, there was nowhere to buy water before boarding the plane. At least the inspector didn't confiscate the box of moon cakes I had bought at one of the airport shops. (They were paste-filled, so I guess they could have been considered as dangerous!)

Regarding travel within mainland China, liquids didn't seem to be a problem. Airport authorites seemed to be more concerned with alcoholic beverages--you couldn't carry those on the plane. If you had a bottle of water, the inspector might sniff it to see if it contained alcohol. Or, sometimes you had to take a drink of it in front of them. Not sure why--perhaps to show it wasn't a dangerous chemical?

Regarding the TSA rules, I also think they are an over-reaction. While I'm all for good security, I don't think the liquid rules make us more safe.

The government should subsidize the airlines to provide full sized bottles of water to customers. It's not the airlines' fault that the government makes up these stupid rules.

We are not any safer than before 9-11. At least I dont feel any safer.

I'm not wishing for terrorist plots to gradually include every conceivable substance that the TSA could overreact to, but you can imagine how far this reactive mentality could go.

"Since the arrest of would-be 'underwear bomber' Schmitchard Schmeid, passengers are required to surrender their dainties ..."

Here is the real problem: Why are the regulations so exact (you can only have 3 ounces of liquid, with 4 you could do something dangerous)? If the knew to what exact ounce was dangerous, why wouldn't all countries agree on it! They are totally and completely making it up as they go. On another note, anyone know if the EU allows contact lens solution as medication?

Miss Andrea, you can put your cleanser into a smaller bottle! (Is what I've done with mine-- my favorite lotion, too.) Container Store, as mentioned above, has a *fantastic* selection of travel-sized bottles. Wal-Mart, Target, and most drug stores have travel-sized bottles, too. Less selection, but often under $1 per bottle. Options for flip-tops, spritz tops, atomizer tops, screw-tops, pop-up tops. I miss being able to carry-on a single suitcase, but I have *just* enough liquids and gels in my make-up and toiletries bags that a 1-quart limit is too small.

There is a way to bring water on board. Carry an empty bottle through security (I usually have an empty 20-ounce, see-through Pepsi bottle). I even take it out of my bag and set it in the bin with my my shoes so the screeners can see that it is completely empty. I fill it at a water fountain by the departure gate and carry it with me on the plane. When the liquid ban first went into effect this was not allowed, but now it is.

The whole thing is a total crock! Soon they will ban PEOPLE from the airplanes!

Let's face it. The terrorists have won. We should be ashamed of ourselves for allowing this to happen.

China is not on the list but perhaps should be. We went through Guangzhou recently and were suprised to find them give us the third degree -- more stringent than even Boston, LA, Atlanta, etc. (I did not get the impression that we were singled out)

Thass what happens when you give piss-ants a little bit of power. My wife has a couple of metal hips and consequently needs to be "patted down" every time we go through "security." Seems they can't always find a woman to do the job. We have missed airlanes that way. We have, it seems, abandoned any semblance of common sense.

Last December I went through an Air China security check point to board a flight to Tokyo. The agent pulled my unopened bottle of water from my carry on bag and I thought it was gone even though there was no rule against having it. But no, she unscrewed the top, sniffed, recapped it and put it back in my bag. I guess she wanted to make sure it wasn't gin or vodka!