If there is liquid inside the water bottle then it depends on which country you are in and whether you're flying on a domestic (flight that doesn't leave the country) or an international flight.
In most cases if the flight is domestic then there is no restriction on liquids and if it's an international flight the limit is usually 100ml (3.4oz). In this article, we'll dive more into the world of airline liquid regulations, explore the 3-1-1 rule in the USA, and provide some helpful tips for navigating the complexities of air travel with your favourite reusable bottle.
Why are there Airline Liquid Regulations anyway?
When it comes to liquids, airlines have certain rules in place to ensure the safety of all passengers and the rules are set by the airlines to make sure they abide by the laws of the countries that they fly to.
Before we dive into the details, let's take a moment to understand why these regulations exist. Airline liquid regulations are designed to prevent potential threats and ensure the safety of everyone on board.
For example, the limit of 100ml of liquid on international flights was introduced in 2006 after a potential terrorist attack was uncovered using liquid explosives. By implementing these rules, airlines can maintain a secure environment while still allowing passengers to carry essential items.
What are the General Rules when it comes to carrying a Water Bottles on a Plane?
Since you could be reading this from anywhere in the world, lets outline the general liquid rules that apply in most airports in most countries when it comes to bringing a bottle of water on board a plane. The first thing to note is that the material of the bottle does not matter, whether it's single-use plastic water bottles or stainless steel water bottles, the same rules apply.
Carry-on Baggage v Checked Luggage:
Secondly, the liquid rules and regulations only apply when you take the water bottle with you on board or in your hand luggage, checked bags don't have any security concerns when it comes to bottles, even if it's full of water.
If you are planning on brining bottled water or a reusable metal water bottle on board the plane with you (or in hand luggage), be aware of the type of flight that you are on. One thing to note is that basically all flights whether international or domestic will allow an empty water bottle of any size to be carried on board the airplane, as mentioned earlier, the issue is only with the liquid, not the actual bottle.
If in doubt, just empty the liquid from the bottle to avoid any hassle at airport security, you can always ask the cabin crew on board to fill up the water bottle for you if you don't want to purchase plastic water on board.
The water that the flight attendant will fill your bottle with is safe to drink and is know at "potable" water. If you have time, you can also refill the bottle at the airport once you clear security, as the liquid rules only apply when passing through airport security checkpoint to stop any unknown liquids from outside making their way on board the plane.
Most airports will have a water station once you're past security that you can use to fill up your bottle with to use for the rest of your trip. This will not only save you money as the airport prices for bottled water are very expensive, but will be a more sustainable choice too by cutting down on single-use plastic bottles.
Domestic v International Flight:
The good news is that most domestic flights that don't leave the country will not have a limit when it comes to the amount of liquid that you can carry on board, take the change to fill up your water bottle so that you have sufficient water for the flight. The exception to this is in the USA where the 100ml (3.4oz) liquid rule applies to both domestic and international flights.
All international flights have a 100ml (3.4 oz of water) limit when passing through the airport security gate. What most passengers don't realise is that if you choose to take liquid through an international airport, the security officer will usually need to see a label on the bottle to prove the size of the container in ml or oz.
To be safe, when planning on taking your water bottle with you in carry-on bags, just make sure it's empty. As mentioned earlier, most places will have airport water fountains available to refill your stainless steel bottle after you clear security which you can then take on board the plane.
