You’re late. Your hands are full with your luggage as you’re rushing through the airport. Your mind is already on the plane. Suddenly, as you shuffle through the security line, you remember there is a water bottle in your purse, not to mention your toiletries, including your hand sanitizer. You’re next up in line, and you try to remember, can you bring hand sanitizer onto the plane?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is allowing you to bring a larger amount hand sanitizer on the plane, but there are still limits as to how much you can carry. Learn more about the updated policy from the experts at Sheffield School of Aeronautics in Fort Lauderdale, the world’s oldest and most reputable aircraft dispatcher school.
Can You Bring Hand Sanitizer on the Plane?
Yes, you are allowed to bring hand sanitizer on a plane. Rules have been in place since 2006 when TSA adjusted its flying ban on liquids and gels. Up to that point, no liquids, aerosols, or gels had been allowed in your carry-on luggage, starting in the early 2000s. At that time, TSA allowed passengers to carry 3.4 ounces of hand sanitizer on the plane. However, in recent times, there has been a significant increase in the amount of hand sanitizer you are allowed to bring on an airplane.
How Much Hand Sanitizer Can You Take on a Plane?
To promote the health and safety of all staff and travelers, the TSA has chosen to quadruple the carry-on allowance for hand sanitizer.¹ With the coronavirus on the rise, the TSA is urging passengers to fight against the spread of the coronavirus by changing the allowed amount of liquid hand sanitizer on the plane. The TSA announced in March of 2020 that, until further notice, it was going to increase the carry-on liquid limit to a maximum of 12 ounces for liquid hand sanitizers. This is a huge deal due to the strict liquid bans from the TSA in the past. This is not subject to change anytime soon.
Containers will be thoroughly checked during the checkpoints and will need to be screened separately. Keep in mind that this will add additional time to your checkpoint experience, so plan your trip accordingly. The new update only applies to liquid hand sanitizer. If you have any larger containers, you will be subject to additional screenings performed by TSA agents. Before your trip, make sure you are triple-checking the size of your liquids and ensuring they meet the maximum allowance. While the amount of liquids allowed has been modified, TSA agents will not be lenient if you are carrying more than the allowed quantities.
If you are checking luggage, you are permitted to bring much more hand sanitizer to have at your final destination. Each person can pack up to 70 ounces, though each individual container of hand sanitizer must be less than 18 ounces. By knowing these numbers, your trip is likely to be much smoother and healthier!
Sheffield School of Aeronautics is one of the oldest aviation training institutions in the United States, where you can take a flight dispatcher course and obtain your FAA dispatcher license. Sheffield has an outstanding reputation in the aviation industry, recognized for aircraft dispatcher training by companies like Delta, United, KLM, American, Virgin Australia, Cayman Airways, Shanghai/China Eastern, ExpressJet, Federal Express, UPS, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, United Technologies, Mobil Oil, Gulf Air, Atlantic Southeast, Comair, Mesaba, Horizon, American Trans Air, and many others. If you’re interested in becoming an aircraft dispatcher, contact us to get started: 954-581-6022.
Sources
- TSA – Hand Sanitizers
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