Starting today, passengers will be allowed to carry travel-size toiletries onto airplanes as well as beverages bought after passing through security.
The Transportation Security Administration has relaxed restrictions on liquids that were instituted in August, saying they are no longer necessary.
“I’m just happy that they’ve loosened up a little bit,” said traveler Rachael Drummond at Denver International Airport on Monday. “It’s kind of nice to have a bit more control over what you choose to do.”
It’s part of an ongoing struggle to balance public protection with travelers’ convenience.
“It’s more comforting that they’re cautious,” Drummond said.
The TSA has banned liquids carried onto planes since an alleged terrorist plot in Britain was thwarted in August. The U.S. “threat condition” for aviation was elevated to orange, or high, and remains at that level.
No liquids or gels, including shampoo and toothpaste, have been permitted in carry-on baggage, with some exceptions such as baby formula and medicines.
“After the initial total ban, we have learned enough from the U.K. investigation to say with confidence that small, travel- size liquids are safe to bring through security checkpoints in limited numbers,” TSA assistant secretary Kip Hawley said in a written statement.
“We have also taken additional security measures throughout the airport that make us comfortable allowing passengers to bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure area onboard.”
Travelers can now bring travel-size toiletries through security checkpoints as long as they weigh 3 ounces or less and fit “comfortably” into a quart-size, clear plastic zip-top bag. Passengers also can carry on items purchased in the secure boarding area, including beverages.
“It’s nice to bring your own water on board,” said traveler Lisa Keniry from Washington, D.C. “Beverage service is kind of infrequent” on flights.
The TSA has more information on its website, www.tsa.gov. The agency recommended that travelers allow extra time at the airport for the next couple of days.
Mike Gelski, general manager of Domino’s at the airport, said he expects the loosened rules will “probably increase our (beverage) sales a lot.” He said there was a slight dip in beverage sales after the liquids ban.
Although the recent TSA restrictions didn’t prohibit duty- free purchases, Michael Dunkle said he expects sales at his duty-free locations to increase sharply.
Travelers could buy duty-free alcohol and perfume and have it delivered to their gate.
“Everybody always could buy duty-free. They just didn’t realize that,” said Dunkle, general manager for the Nuance Group, which has two duty-free locations at DIA. Customers “wouldn’t even bother to walk into our stores.”
Dunkle said he closed his locations at DIA to eliminate confusion. After he reopened them a couple of days later, sales were down as much as 70 percent in the first couple of weeks. Sales at DIA locations have been down 20 to 40 percent for the past few weeks.
The Air Transport Association, a Washington, D.C.-based airline industry group, said it supports the refinement of banned items, “both because of TSA’s security assessment and because it will reduce passenger inconvenience.”
The National Business Travel Association also praised the change, saying many business travelers “have been challenged” by the ban on carry-on liquids, president Suzanne Fletcher said in a written statement.
“The change shows that TSA is listening to passengers and basing its policies on a true risk-management approach to security,” Fletcher said.
The TSA also said Monday that it will increase security throughout airports, including DIA. It will include things such as more random screening of employees, more canine patrols, more air cargo security, stricter identity verification and more security officers trained in “bomb appraisal” and behavior screening.
“We have always known that no one single security measure is 100 percent effective 100 percent of the time, and that’s why we have a layered approach to security,” said Carrie Harmon, a TSA spokeswoman in Denver.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-954-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
