Prescription Suitcase

Some of the most stressful parts of a trip happen before you even get to the plane. Have you seen the security lines in airports lately? It’s absurd. I’m convinced that a major cause of these long lines are infrequent, inexperienced travelers who don’t understand the 3-1-1 rule or its permutations.

Bottom line: you can’t take anything liquid through the security checkpoint unless it’s in a 3 ounce or smaller container and stored in a quart-sized zippy bag. There are some exceptions, such as medications, breast milk, and baby food, which the TSA has handily outlined on its website. (Smokers, take heart: the TSA has also recently lifted the ban on your trusty Bics!)

I’m a girly-girl, so I don’t even try to bring all of my toiletries and cosmetics along in a quart-sized bag. It just wouldn’t work. I check my toiletries and pack a day’s supply of my prescription and over-the-counter medicine in my zippy bag, along with some hand sanitizer, a travel-sized deodorant, my lip gloss, Tide-to-Go pen, breath freshener spray, and anything else I might be carrying that could conceivably be construed as a liquid.

I’ve learned to stock up on quart-sized bags, because even the toughest ones wear out after a few trips. I also pack a few extra with me in case I need to retire a thrashed zippy bag while on the road. There would be nothing worse than arriving home after a long trip only to discover that my liquids have leaked all over the inside of my carry-on because of an unanticipated rip in the plastic bag. In some airports, they’ve got bags available at the checkpoints for unprepared travelers, but I have found these to be pretty flimsy as a general rule. Also, be aware that in some (smaller) airports, they’ll make you buy a zippy bag from the airport gift shop if you forget the sacred rule of 3-1-1 and don’t bring your own.

The lesson to take away is this: if you come prepared with your zippy bag containing liquids in three ounce containers or smaller, you’ll be good to go. Here are some additional hints to speed you through the checkpoint:

• Take your bag o’ liquids and gels out of your carry-on. It has to be x-rayed separately.

• Three ounces or less of liquid in a container that is larger than three ounces won’t fly. The screeners will make you get rid of it. A lot of people don’t realize this and show up with their monster shampoo bottle with just a few dribbles of shampoo left in it, thinking that because there is less than three ounces of liquid that it’s OK. It’s not. The container itself has to be smaller than three ounces.
• It’s possible nowadays to buy your own empty three ounce containers — check out your local drugstore, dollar store, or “-mart”-type retailer and chances are you’ll find what you need. Some of the containers I’ve found even have the volume printed or stamped right on them, so if a TSA screener tries to argue with you about the size of your bottle, you can show him or her the label with the volume on it.
• Some of those containers can be a little leaky, though, so if you’re looking for the Cadillac of empty bottles and jars, check out this set of Nalgene travel bottles from L.L. Bean. I use them all the time and they just refuse to leak. A word to the wise, though: a couple of the bottles in the set are four ounces rather than three, so save those for packing your shampoo or lotion in your checked luggage and save the smaller ones for your carry-on.
• Most stores now carry a lot of standard toiletry items in three ounce or smaller sizes. Odds are you’ll be able to find your favorite brand of deodorant, toothpaste, shaving cream, or shampoo in a cute miniature travel size — great for shorter trips!
• Finish your beverage before you go through security, or wait to buy that bottled water or juice until after you’ve made it through the checkpoint. Anything liquid that you buy after clearing security (whether something to drink or a bottle of fragrance from an airport shop) is OK to bring onto the plane with you.
• Show up early. Just because you’ve got 3-1-1 all figured out doesn’t mean everyone else does.

If everyone paid more attention to the rules governing liquids on flights these days, getting through airport security would be a breeze. A hassle- and hurry-free start to a plane trip is a very good start indeed.